Every week I share ideas about leadership, presence, and building a meaningful life. Here’s a quick list of things I’m reading, listening to, and thinking about for the long weekend.
Read time: ~3 minutes
Thanksgiving week usually has a different vibe from a normal week. It’s slower in some ways and busier in others. Instead of a longer post, here are a few things I’ve been noticing, checking out, and thinking about lately — a link, a book, a song, a podcast, and a quote.
Use any of them to spark a moment of presence, reflection, or inspiration this week. Happy Thanksgiving!
A Link
A Battle with My Blood, The New Yorker, November 22, 2025.
Take a few minutes to read Tatiana Schlossberg’s New Yorker essay on her past 18 months fighting a terminal cancer diagnosis. This one will make you cry and then go hug the people you care about. Schlossberg, 35 is the daughter of Caroline Kennedy. The essay is filled with day-to-day details about what she’s going through and reflections about her family as she tries to stay present in their lives today while knowing she will not be present for long.
Quote to give you a flavor: (Referring to her 3-year-old son)
“When I look at him, I try to fill my brain with memories. How many more times can I watch the video of him trying to say ‘Anna Karenina’? What about when I told him I didn’t want ice cream from the ice-cream truck, and he hugged me, patted me on the back, and said, ‘I hear you, buddy, I hear you’? I think about the first time I came home from the hospital. He walked into my bathroom, looked at me, and said, ‘It’s so nice to meet you in here.’”
A Book
Finding Ultra, Rich Roll, 2012
Finding Ultra is Rich Roll’s story of going from an unhealthy, overworked lawyer to one of the world’s top endurance athletes. It’s part memoir, part transformation manual, showing how radical lifestyle change, discipline, and plant-based nutrition helped him rebuild his life from the inside out.
The transformation story is great — but make sure to read the last few chapters, which are a genuinely useful playbook for making a change in any life without needing to be an ultramarathoner.I am re-reading these chapters myself.
Quote:
“The only permission you need to dream, to explore your potential, and dare I say do what you love, is from yourself. But if you’ve been idly standing by, biding your time and patiently awaiting that green light as your life continues to pass you by, I’m here to give it to you — permission granted.”
“It begins at dawn. In the early mornings, carve out private space and quiet time to probe your imagination. Only have ten minutes? Great. Thirty minutes? Better.”
Question: What’s one thing you’re reading or listening to this week? Hit reply and let me know.
A Song
Shuffle a Dream, Little Dragon
I know — Swedish electronic music from 2011. Why? This was playing one night when our family ate at Four + Water, and it ended up on one of my playlists. Try it.
A Podcast
Habits, Generosity, and Cultivating Excellence with James Clear, on the Barrett Brooks Podcast, “Good Work”
James Clear talks through how he actually develops ideas, organizes his writing, and builds his creative process. He frames a lot of it around writing Atomic Habits, but also digs into how he does that kind of work while balancing the demands of family and friendship. It’s a really good long-form conversation with someone who is a principled, clear thinker. Everything he talks about is something he has genuinely spent time considering.
A Quote
Love this post on X (formerly Twitter) from Shane Parrish:
The best are always learning.
Read like crazy.
Think alone.
Keep a journal.
Write things down the moment you see them.
Review regularly.
Memorize the big ideas to fluency.
Attack your best ideas.
And never get high on your own supply.You don’t have to be gifted. You do have to be deliberate.
If you’re traveling, slowing down, or just taking a breath this week, I’d love to hear what you’re reading or listening to. Just hit reply.
P.S. A little ritual that always helps me during holiday weeks: finding one quiet moment in the morning to reset how I want to show up that day.
If this helped you think more clearly about leading teams or products, I write here once a week.
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