I want something from you.  I want  you to record a quick (10-30 seconds) video of you and your poster (selfie style),  mentioning how it has changed you. I don't have much creative direction other than that.  I will be using these videos to change more people's lives with a 4K Weeks Poster.  If you email me a video (spencer@4kweeks.com), I will say thank you with either a $75 gift card, OR signing you up for The 66 day Massive Action Society. Your choice.

Take a listen to the audio version of the weekly newsletter, usually coming in at around 15-20 minutes... try listening! 

Thanks for being here and reading! These blogs help me "Sharpen The Saw" and hopefully help you to sharpen yours!

Week  12 of 1941, James Stewart enlisted into the Army, marking him as the first major American movie star to don a military uniform during World War II. He was 1,713.43 weeks old. (32.86 yrs) 

Week  12 of 1969, Abebe Bikala, Ethiopian double Olympic marathon gold medalist, suffered paralysis in an automobile accident. He regained upper-body mobility but never walked again. Despite this life-altering event, Abebe participated in competitions for disabled athletes like archery and table tennis. He was 1,910.86 weeks old. (36.64 yrs) 

Week  12 of 1936,  Joseph Hamilton, administers a sodium radioisotope via intravenous injection to a leukemia patient, marking the first instance of such a procedure on a human. He was 1,480.00 weeks old (28.38 yrs).

Oh, so true.  

When I was in my mid twenties, one of my best friends and I were working, cleaning up leaves in the winter for a lawn company owned by one of our other best friends. It is HARD, dusty work. The winter is dry, but the leaves are heavy and wet, and if the sun is shining, you are working all day, dragging heavy tarps of leaves from backyards to curbs.

One day, sitting in the truck, leaving one house to go to the next, my friend lamented that the hard work was breaking him down a bit, and I said, "Yeah, but don't you think your body will just get used to it after a while?" And he said, "Maybe you will, you are working stock." (Which was hilarious... what does he think he is? Noble stock?!?)

He was wrong. We are all working stock. Your every faculty strengthens by exercise, just like an ox pulling a cart.

But also... if it is "hardship" or "exercise" largely depends on your perspective!  Repeatedly, research has shown that how you perceive stress determines how detrimental or beneficial it is. If it sucks, it's working, as long as you are enjoying yourself.

If you think of an activity as exercise, it is likely that stress will be beneficial. If you think of an activity as hardship, it is likely that it will be detrimental.

So, I suppose he was right.  Since he thought the work was beating him down, he was right. And since I thought it was making me stronger, I was right.

 Philosophize This! 

• "#196 The improbable Slavoj Zizek Pt. 1"
• "#197 The Improbably Slavoj Zizek Pt. 2"
• "#192 Anarchism Pt. 1" My good friend John G. sent me this podcast, and I LOVE IT.  It is thicker than a lot of the pods that I recommend, but If you are interested in thinking about thinking, and learning how other really smart people are thinking about thinking, then this is for you.

The Tim Ferriss Show, "#725 Barbara Corcoran". A great interview with this Shark Tank lady about how she defied the odds to create a real estate empire. She was serious about the marriage proposal.

The Daily, "The Billionaires' Secret Plan to Solve California's House Crisis".  As you listen to this, think about how hard it is for us to do big things in the US anymore.  The reason this country is great (and it is!) is because previous generations did great big things.  Were they wrong to do because they weren't 100% right? I don't think so.  Stagnation is worse.

Cautionary Tales. "Do Nothing, Then Do Less".  Chuck Yeager was courage.
 
Insta Nuggets: 

• I can't express how much I agree with this. Do the work. You might get lucky.
• Horrifying and fascinating. You couldn't have this without digital video... Progress!
• Interesting...
• Once you decide to, the hard part is discerning what is the authentic you.

You are clearly interested in thinking about: how to live well, how to not waste your life, how to enjoy it, how to focus on the things that are important to you... etc. However you phrase it, you are clearly a seeker. You are clearly someone who isn't afraid of learning and trying.

Have a great week!

Thanks for being a part of the journey with us! Please tell me if you liked/disliked the blog this week. Ask my wife... those are the only emails I like to get!