Hi Everyone,

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

Action Is Everything

This is one of my favorite pieces I've ever written.

Everything good in our lives stems from action, but we default to inaction because it's easier. This piece is about how we can train ourselves to take action.

It's also about how I spent the night on top of a freezing cold mountain.

Advice to My Younger Self

This was a talk delivered to Berkeley students by Alex MacCaw, CEO of Clearbit.

One of the best ways to pick up life advice is to ask older people, "Knowing what you know now, what would you tell yourself at my age?" MacCaw shared some great points in this lecture.

Here are the key takeaways:

• You're the average of your five closest friends. Choose wisely.

• Focus on the things that give you energy.

• Ask for help often.

• Face your fears. "Most people live life on autopilot. They have two basic inputs: fear and short-term gratification. They use those inputs to direct their decisions in life. They live aimlessly and unconsciously. And then they die (often without leaving their home town)." 

• Making happiness conditional on external factors means you'll be unhappy.

• Take care of your body before you feel like you need to.

• Place more value on seeking truth than being right.

• Learn to quiet the voice saying you aren't good enough.

Just Five More Minutes

This was a valuable reminder about the shortness of life and a mindset we should embrace as a result.

Everything you do with your child, your parent, your spouse, your friend—they will all have a last time.

A last hug. A last conversation. A last workout. A last beer. If you treat every event like it could be the last one, you'll be happy to spend five more minutes doing it. Those minutes are a gift to ourselves and our loved ones. It's always time well spent.

Workout of the Week

I enjoyed doing (a version of) CrossFit Open workout 26.2 with my wife and sister last weekend. I was walking around with T-rex arms all week.

CrossFit Open 26.2

3 rounds for time:

• 80 ft. overhead walking lunge (one 35# dumbbell held overhead)

• 20 alternating dumbbell snatches (35)

• 20 pull-ups

The time cap was 15 minutes, and I came in at 14:05. Did you get a chance to do this one? What was your time?

Quote of the Week

"Make your choice, adventurous Stranger;

Strike the bell and bide the danger,

Or wonder, till it drives you mad,

What would have followed if you had."

- C.S. Lewis

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

Talk soon,

Joe