Dear A,

This month is almost over... the holidays will be here before you know it.

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

AUDIOBOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

The Technological Republic: Hard Power, Soft Belief, and Future of the West by Alexander Karp and Nicholas Zamiska. From the co-founder of Palantir - named one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025 - and his deputy comes a critically acclaimed, sweeping indictment of the West’s culture of complacency. They argue that timid leadership, intellectual fragility, and Silicon Valley’s limited vision for technology’s potential have left the United States dangerously exposed in an era of escalating global threats. It's definitely more historical and academic than I would have guessed.

STUDY I'M READING...

How Writing Down Any Goals Helps You Achieve All Goals. Most people think goal-setting only matters if you’re writing about the exact thing you want to improve. But research shows it can boost every area of your life. I...

Dear A,

It's football season and my Tampa Bay Bucs are 2-0, while the Michigan State Spartans are 3-0. Needless to say, I'm in an upbeat mood.

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

AUDIOBOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

Stay Sane in an Insane World: How to Control the Controllables and Thrive by Greg Harden. I’m really enjoying this audiobook. Every morning, I put it on while I run and during my commute, and it’s quickly become a highlight of my day.

Greg Harden rose to fame as the athletic advisor at the University of Michigan — best known for convincing a frustrated, bench-warming quarterback named Tom Brady not to transfer to USC, instead instilling him with the confidence to eventually become the starter.

But this book goes far beyond that one famous case study. Harden shares incredible stories of countless athletes he’s helped over the years, many of which are even more inspiring. At its core, the book is about “controlling the controllables” — learning to tune out outsid...

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 ha...

Dear A,

It's been a whirlwind of a week... how is it already Friday? The funny thing about about entrepreneurship is that nobody every says, "T.G.I.F." when you own a business. It's just another day that ends in "y".

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

AUDIOBOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

The Challenger Sale by Matthew Dixon and Brett Adamson. I have a simple philosophy when it comes to business: if you can't sell, you can't eat. I am always amazed at the number of people who claim they want to start a business, but absolutely hate the idea of selling their product, service, or, most importantly, themselves to a stranger. A "Challenger" sale essentially means challenging a prospective customer's idea of how something has been done before. It's about educating them, as well as offering them a new way of thinking about their problems.

BOOK I'M READING...

The Art of Thinking in Graphs by Delov Erez. I am a highly visual person. Therefore, I enjoy learning through charts and...

Dear A,

The CARVER Washington DC course is open for registration. You can find details below.

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

AUDIOBOOK I'M LISTENING TO...

Marinovich: Outside the Lines in Football, Art, and Addiction. Anyone who followed football in the late ’80s and early ’90s remembers the saga of Todd Marinovich. Hyped as “Robo QB” by Sports Illustrated, the All-American high school quarterback was meticulously groomed by his father, Marv Marinovich - a former NFL player turned strength and conditioning coach for the Oakland Raiders.

From the start, Todd’s upbringing was anything but typical. He endured an over-disciplined and often dysfunctional childhood, subjected to advanced training regimens overseen by a revolving door of specialists: strength coaches, vision coaches, throwing coaches, dietitians, and sports psychologists. Legend has it he never tasted a Big Mac, Coke, or Oreo as a kid. His father even recruited NFL offensive coordinators to teach To...

Dear A,

We're currently planning a big CARVER course in the Washington DC area in October. More details to follow.

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

BLINK I'M LISTENING TO...

13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do by Amy Morin. This was a cool little blink that popped up on my Blinkist App. The solid advice about what mentally strong people don't do includes:

1. They Don’t Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves
2. They Don’t Give Away Their Power
3. They Don’t Shy Away from Change
4. They Don’t Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control
5. They Don’t Worry About Pleasing Everyone
6. They Don’t Fear Taking Calculated Risks
7. They Don’t Dwell on the Past
8. They Don’t Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over
9. They Don’t Resent Other People’s Success
10. They Don’t Give Up After the First Failure
11. They Don’t Fear Alone Time
12. They Don’t Feel the World Owes Them Anything
13. They Don’t Expect Immediate Results

STUDY I'M READING...

Implementation Intentions and Goal Ach...

Dear A,

It's been a crazy week. I have so many projects going on at the same time, it's been difficult to keep them all straight.

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

BOOK I'M READING...

Built to Sell by John Warrillow. This is a modern classic that I have read at least twice before. It serves as a great reminder for what I need to do to make my business more valuable in the eyes of others. It's one of those concepts that is simple to understand but difficult to implement.

IDEA I'M PROCESSING...

I stumbled upon this anonymous idea, which I think is outstanding:

• Laziness kills ambition;
• Anger kills wisdom;
• Fear kills dreams;
• Jealously kills peace;
• Doubt kills confidence.

NOW READ IT AGAIN FROM RIGHT TO LEFT.

VIDEO I'M WATCHING...

Supernatural Pickpocketing Skills with Apollo Robbins. Robbins is one of the best pick-pocket/sleight of hand magicians out there. This is a great example of how easily misdirection can be employed to distract unsuspecting victims.

WORK...

Dear A,

I can't believe it's already August 1st. It's been a hot summer down here in Florida and I'm honestly looking forward to some cooler months ahead.

Stuck inside with the AC set at 72, here’s what’s been on my mind this week...

REPORT I'M READING...

AI 2027 by Daniel Kokotajlo, Scott Alexander, Thomas Larsen, Eli Lifland, Romeo Dean. So, this report was brought to my attention the other day. After reading about "superhuman AI" or "Agent-4", I'm convinced that business as we have known it for the past 25 years will be radically disrupted in just the next 3-5. If you are not up-to-speed on the AI Revolution, you will be left behind. Read this is you are business person who doesn't want to become obsolete (NOTE - I was never a "techie" but I recognize the concept of adapt or die).

BOOK I'M WRITING...

CARVER Leadership: Lessons from the Board Room, War Room, and Locker Room. My colleague, former undercover mob-buster turned NBA referee, Bob Delaney, and I have been working on...