Week 20 of 2024 has arrived. So much rain, and thunder, and hail... but then again, don't I say that every year?

Time to walk over to your 4K Weeks poster and fill in another square.  Done?

Last night, after I had already turned off the light, climbed into bed and was already half way down the dark tunnel to sleep, I had a thought, and it felt important so I scrawled it out blindly on my notepad.  This is what it said": {sic} "The people whos names you know built things not tear down."

It was enough to capture the thought... Here is what I meant... These days (and maybe it has been true for all of "these days") there is a growing group of people who have realized they can make a name for themselves by tearing things down. Some scream, some yell, some calmly, and with erudition, list all of the things that are wrong, and all of the people who are part of "the problem".  It is a super easy way to get noticed... and to get a lot of people who also see those problems to nod along and say "that guy is speaking truth!".

But no one makes a bronze plaque listing the name of the guy who demolished a bridge.

Nope... History remember builders and problem solvers, not problem noticers. It is much harder to solve problems than it is to bitch about them. Be a builder. It's more fun for all of us.

The coaching and accountability group is full! If you are interested in being on the waitlist let me know with a reply to this email. By the time you read this a few people will be on day 21 of a daily action streak!

Reminder: As a 4K Weeks newsletter reader, you always get 10% off your order.  Just email me and ask for a code.

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

The 4K Weeks Brightsider... For the colorful among us.

The 4K Weeks Fade to Black - Memento Mori, Anyone?

The Original 4K Weeks... A Striking Visual of Your Life

Remarkable Weeks

Week  20 of 1861, James Clerk Maxwell, unveiled what was known to be the first color photograph, which was of a tartan ribbon, at the Royal Institution in London. His work revolutionized physics in the 19th century, paving the way for modern electrical engineering, x-rays, and radar.  He was 1,561.57 weeks old (29.94 yrs).

Week  20 of 1995, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was acknowledged by the Dalai Lama as the 11th reincarnation of Panchen Lama, the second-highest spiritual figure of Tibetan Buddhism. People's Republic of China authorities detained him after his appointment, and he hasn't been seen in public since. He was only 315.86 weeks old (6.05 yrs).

Week  20 of 2017, a UK cybersecurity researcher, known as @malwaretechblog, uncovered a massive global ransomware outbreak that he stopped by accidentally finding the "kill switch." He was about 1,160 weeks old (22 yrs).

This Week's Quote

Decision is a risk rooted in the courage of being free. -Paul Tillich

We all always see the risks in action... It always seems less risky to stay under the rock and to never peek your head out.  But there is always a risk to inaction as well.

Have some courage, and change your default mode to the risk of acting.  Only then can you truly feel what it is like to be free.

What I am Consuming This Week

The Million Dollar Weekend, Noah Kagan Noah was on Tim Ferriss a while back, so when I found I had an extra Audible credit, I used it for this... It is a certain type of book... written for a person who hasn't yet had a "toxic hustle culture" success...  But... There were a lot of things in this book that I needed to be reminded of... If  you are on your own, making your own money, this is as good a book as any in the  "you can make money too!" genre.

I have been spending my time on a lot of things lately that aren't content, like posting in the Accountability and coaching group... Back to podcasts and articles next week!

While I was in the waiting room mentioned below, this is what I was reading...The Art of Living, A translation of Epictetus's Enchiridion by Sharon Lebell.

Insta Nuggets:

• Likely you won't need this... But man if you do!
• Get in to action.
• A good pair to the Liz Gilbert talk in the intro...
• We spend so much time ALONE

What I am Thinking About This Week

Stolen time. And a million dollar idea.

I had occasion to be sitting in a medical waiting room this week.  It was a level of hell.  The tv was blaring, and the gaze of every person in the waiting room had been sucked in, like a moth to a light.  They were all mindlessly watching some terrible show about people who buy crap, paint it, and sell it for a profit.

Now, I first want to be clear.  Not every second of everyday needs to be optimized.  Mark in the accountability group mentioned that this week, and it’s important to remember. Rest and recuperation is an important part of growth.

BUT, that isn’t what we are talking about here. This is stolen time. Everyone in that room had to be there, and they all knew they were going to have to be there.  They couldn’t leave, because at any moment between now and the next hour an a half, their name could be called.

This is the perfect opportunity for a book like Epictetus’s Enchiridion, or Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations, or any other book that is short essays on how to live a good life.  Hell, even the latest Game of Thrones book, intentionally chosen, is better than whatever channel the receptionist doesn’t hate.

There are myriad opportunities each week to inch towards the goal of being a better version of yourself.  All it takes is a tiny bit of preparation. Be ready to reclaim your stolen time, don't be a chump.

From my proofreader John G... Seinfeld #1, Seinfeld #2

Now for the million dollar idea.  Patient-focused waiting room design. Every doctor’s waiting room that I have ever been in has been terrible. Crappy lighting, a tv blaring daytime tv, no clear direction. All of these things are low level stressors adding to a somewhat stressful situation.

A waiting room that has given even the smallest consideration to being stress free would likely pay for itself with patient retention and 5 star google reviews.

There are likely a few key data-supported best practices that could be mostly repeatable in doctor’s offices around the country.  Combine that with a little kiosk that has a QR code that solicits 5 star reviews for the patient experience (not the doctor) and you could make a million dollars. Take that idea and run with it, it's free! 

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!

Spencer, Owner of 4KWeeks.com

Dad Joke O' The Week

Two windmills were sitting on a hill. One asks the other, "Do you have a favorite song?"

The other replies, "Well... all my life I have been a heavy metal fan."