Hi Everyone,

Happy Friday! Thanks for spending part of it reading The Lake Street Journal.

This week we’re talking about Bill Belichick’s compassion, doing good deeds, and forgiveness. Let's get into it.

Give Them Your Heart

The 2007 New England Patriots won 18 consecutive games only to lose in the Super Bowl.

The postgame locker room was silent except for the sound of grown men weeping. Every single Patriot was asking himself what he could've done better—looking inward rather than placing blame.

Then Belichick walked in and spoke for less than a minute. Donte Stallworth recounted the incredible experience.

"He said, 'We didn't prepare you guys well enough. The coaches didn't do a good enough job, and that falls on me. I didn't prepare you guys well enough, and I'm sorry for that.'

He didn't blame the coaches. He blamed himself for everything and he apologized for that. He could've easily said, 'It sucks, but we didn't make enough plays.'

He didn't mention the players at all."

The moment made an impression on Heath Evans too.

"Other than my father," Evans said, "I've never had more respect for a man at any moment in my life as that man in that moment...He owned the situation, and it wasn't verbiage...I loved, respected, and honored Bill before that moment, and this magnified it."

Belichick's biographer, Ian O'Connor, described the moment best:

"Belichick gave his heart to his men when he had nothing left to give them."

This story is so instructive because it's almost counterintuitive. We often see great leadership as being accompanied by constant victories and success. But that's not always true.

Even good leaders fail, and when they do, the best among them use it as an opportunity to lead. To unite. To endear.

When they have nothing left to give their people—no encouragement, no hope, no words of wisdom—they give their hearts. They give their utmost sincerity. They own the failure, unconditionally, and lift just a little bit of the burden off the team.

Belichick did it at the highest level. By looking to his example, maybe we can too. Our stakes might be lower, but our impact won't be.

This Hobby Can Change Your Life

I've heard Ryan Holiday talk about picking up trash before, but it feels like a small thing that can make a big difference, so it's worth sharing.

He started picking up trash years ago while going for walks on his road. In the years he's been doing this, he's picked up tires, mattresses, nails, bottles, dead animals, and almost any other junk you can imagine.

It doesn't sound pleasant.

But in a world where people dump trash, you have two options: complain about it or pick it up.

Should you have to clean up someone else's mess?

Of course not.

But does it feel good to know you made the world a little bit nicer?

Yeah, it does.

The important idea here is that the concept extends far beyond garbage on the side of the road. It's a philosophy for living. Do we want to be the people who create problems and complain or do we want to be the people who solve problems and make the world better?

I think the answer is pretty obvious.

The Fine Art of Old Dude Forgiveness

This was a touching story of forgiveness, as observed by the author in a coffee shop.

Two great lessons here:

First, grudges often aren't worth holding.

Second, you see a lot of cool shit if you just pay attention when you're out in public.

Enjoy!

Workout of the Week

I'm a week out from running a half-marathon, so the only exercise I've been doing is running. Luckily, my sister has been feeding me some good CrossFit workouts to share with you. I'm keeping a list of ones I want to try after the race, and this is one of them.

"White Knuckles"

5 rounds for time:

• 15 calorie assault bike

• 12 dumbbell deadlifts (50s)

• 100 ft. dumbbell farmer's carry (50s)

Goal time for this one is 12-14 minutes. Good luck!

Quote of the Week

“History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.” - David McCullough 

Have a question or a comment? Respond to this email.

Talk soon,

Joe