Hi Everyone,

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

I hope you had a great week. I've been doing a lot of thinking at work. My brain is tired by the end of the day. It's challenging, for sure, but I know it's good for me. So that's what I want to talk about this week: the value of exercising your brain in a world where letting it sit on the couch is the easier option.

There is No Substitute for Thinking

The last sentence of this piece sums up the message perfectly: In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.

It's a piece about how AI is killing our ability to think, and it's a sentiment I've shared for a long time.

AI is pretty cool, and it has some great uses. It's hard to deny that, but I largely try to avoid it. In some rare instances, I'll use it as a starting point to learn something.

When I wanted to learn about the coffee roasting process, I asked ChatGPT to suggest some reading material.

When I needed a refresher on statistics for something at work, I asked it a few questions on the topic.

But what I refuse to do—and encourage you to avoid—is to use it for writing.

As I've written in this newsletter over and over again, writing is the best path to clear thinking. And with the prevalence of AI, fewer and fewer people are doing much of their own writing or thinking.

That means you have a competitive advantage if you do any of it. If you spend a lot of time honing your writing and thinking, you'll be a wizard among muggles.

The best leaders are great writers, in no small part because great leadership requires clear thinking. Paul Graham echoed a similar sentiment in his essay I shared a couple weeks ago.

If you want to differentiate yourself, whether that's in the classroom, the office, or anywhere else that brainpower matters, don't outsource your thinking to a machine.

It's simple, not easy. Do the reading. Do the writing. Do the thinking. Exercise your brain like you exercise your body, and the rewards will fall at your feet.

The Devil's Plan to Ruin the Next Generation

This was a fascinating read from Jon Haidt about the devastating impact of technology on children today.

Specifically, smartphones and social media have led directly to decreases in attention, identity, wisdom, relationships, discipline, and trust. When those things walk out the door, happiness leaves with them.

Discipline is difficult. Focus is frustrating. Figuring out who you are? No easy task. Deep relationships take work. And wisdom is hard won.

But good things rarely come easy. And when we close our eyes and mistake easy for good, we open them and find ourselves lost and confused.

If you have young kids, you can't skip this article. Kids aside, these are important concepts for adults to understand too. Our minds might be developed, but that doesn't mean we're immune.

This article pairs well with what we discussed above. And it will definitely give your brain a good workout.

Workout of the Week

Speaking of workouts, this one was a blast. Classic CrossFit movements. Great rep scheme. Little bit of strategy. Little bit of grit. Little bit of type 2 fun.

"Damage Control"

15 minute AMRAP:

• 3 pullups

• 6 barbell thrusters (75)

• 9 lateral burpees over bar

• 12 calorie assault bike

My goal was 5+ rounds, and my score was 5 rounds + 10 reps. Let me know how you do!

Quote of the Week

"Ideas are like rabbits. You get a couple and learn how to handle them and pretty soon you have a dozen.” - John Steinbeck

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Talk soon,

Joe