Five Bullet Friday - September 05, 2025

Dear A, 

Now that summer is behind us, it's time to move into my favorite season (and I don't mean hurricane season). 

Here's what I'm following this week...

AUDIOBOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

Swagger: Super Bowls, Brass Balls, and Footballs by Jimmy Johnson. Before he became the popular NFL Fox Sunday commentator, Jimmy Johnson was one of the most successful - and controversial - coaches in both college and professional football. Listening to his latest book makes me realize that his coaching style was actually forty years ahead of its time. There's a reason why coaches from all sports, as well as top CEOs, flock to his home in the Florida Keys year round, just to gain insight into his mental philosophies on coaching and on life.

BOOK I'M READING...

Wisdom of the Bullfrog: Leadership Made Simple (But Not Easy) by William H. McRaven, U.S. Navy (Retired). Once holding the title of "Bullfrog", which meant he was the longest serving Navy Seal on active duty, McRaven has had a stellar career leading USSOCOM, as well as the University of Texas. This is a short but powerful read by a true American hero who epitomizes what it means to be an authentic leader.

MASTERCLASS I'M WATCHING...

The Power Playbook: How to Win at Work with Stanford professor, Jeffery Pfeffer. I have been a loyal $180 per year subscriber to Masterclass ever since it came out a decade ago. The first course I watched was Getting Started in Comedy with Steve Martin (not that I ever wanted to be a standup). Since that the time, many of the courses have been watered down into one-hour lectures. This was the case with Pfeffer's video. However, there were still several useful nuggets about power that can be applicable to everyday life - whether we want to hear them (or even use them) in our own situations.

MOTIVATION I'M WATCHING...

Heather Dorniden Wins the Race. The 2008 Big Ten Indoor Track Championship delivered one of the most unforgettable moments in sports. During the 600-meter final, Minnesota’s Heather Dorniden was tripped and crashed hard to the track. In an instant, she went from contender to last place. But instead of staying down, she sprang back up, drove her legs with relentless determination, and surged past the field to win.

Her comeback wasn’t just a victory - it became a symbol. The race is now widely cited as a classic example of the Comeback Curve Principle: the idea that a setback - whether a stumble in life or a literal fall on the track - can ignite resilience, fuel a revival, and lead to an even greater triumph at the finish line. Very few people are able to pull this off in life... but when they do, it is a beautiful thing to behold.

QUOTE I'M PONDERING...

"You are responsible for your life. You can’t keep blaming somebody else for your dysfunction. Life is really about moving on.” - Oprah Winfrey

Thank you for your attention. As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions.

Stay safe and vigilant,

Luke Bencie