November 2023
NOVEMBER 2023
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NOVEMBER 2023 -
Oh, man, we’re a month out from Christmas. WILD. Does anyone else feel like this year has flown by?
Let’s get into it!
THE SOUNDTRACK
I’ve been on a pretty good run lately, seeing bands. Most recently, I had the pleasure of seeing The Cure (amazing live) and, in mid-October, Depeche Mode for my birthday.
EPIC!
So this month, I wanted to throw a little ’80s mix together for all the older guys. Enjoy!
DAVID’S 3 thoughts for NOVEMBER 2023
Here are a few thoughts to consider DAILY this month. There are only 3 for a reason. Execute.
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I ripped this directly from Romeen Sheth from LinkedIn. I just recently set up some alarms along the same lines, and it’s fascinating how this little shift can change your mindset. Try it!
"𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗠𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗱."
Here's how it works:
𝗜. 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗮𝘆 - First, step back from your daily schedule. It’s filled with inertia. If you could refresh it and start from scratch, what would the day look like?
𝗜𝗜. 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗮 “𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿” 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁 - Take each component you come up with to the extreme. What are the characteristics that would make each component an out-of-the-park success?
𝗜𝗜𝗜. 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 - Take each character and ascribe it to a time. Ask yourself what times of the day, you want to “flip the switch” on a character.
When I did this exercise, here was my output:
I. Components of My Ideal Day:
- Physical Exercise
- Professional Excellence
- Family Quality Time
- Mental Exercise
II. My Names for Each Component:
- Physical Exercise – Morning Ninja
- Professional Excellence – Work Horse
- Family Quality Time – Husband of the Year
- Mental Exercise – Zen Master
III. My Times for Each Character:
- Morning Ninja – 5 AM
- Work Horse – 7 AM
- Husband of the Year – 6 PM
- Zen Master – 10 PM
All great things in life come from compounding. They are small, daily consistent habits that make minimal impact on an individual day and massive impact on an extended timeframe. Setting daily alarms has had a Pavlovian effect on me - it’s a short “buzz” that subtly reinforces a reflection loop.
Am I missing the “Husband of the Year” alarm every day? Am I snoozing the “Morning Ninja” alarm? Am I making space for myself during my “Zen Master” time? Am I productive during “Work Horse” time?
Your life is in your control. You set the pace and determine the journey.
This is a simple framework to help steer your ship to its rightful destination.
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I’ve been writing lately - more about personal brand, development, business, etc.
Here is my latest rant. (Follow me on LinkedIn as I’m going to start posting there more.)
How Balancing Consumption and Creation Can Supercharge Your Life
Have you ever found yourself trapped in a never-ending cycle of consuming information? We live in a world where abundant content and learning opportunities are endless. But what if this very abundance is holding you back? This blog post will explore the power of balanced consumption and creation and how it can be the key to personal and professional growth.
The Dangers of Over-Consumption
The modern world offers an overwhelming amount of content to consume. Whether it's articles, podcasts, videos, or online courses, getting lost in this sea of information is easy. But too much consumption can be detrimental, leading to paralysis where you’re learning but not doing.
The Necessity of Creation
Creating something, be it an article, artwork, or even a business plan, takes you out of the passive role of a consumer and puts you into the active role of a creator. When creating, you solve real problems directly related to your life and aspirations.
Finding the Right Balance
So, how do you strike a balance? Here are some actionable steps:
Audit Your Time: Note how much time you spend consuming versus creating.
Set Creation Goals: Allocate specific blocks of time for creative tasks.
Prioritize High-Quality Consumption: Make sure that what you are consuming is enriching and aligns with your goals. (Curate the people you follow.)
Use tools Readwise or Notion to store ideas to come back to later (during your creation blocks)
Conclusion
Balancing consumption and creation doesn't mean quitting one for the other. It's about making mindful choices that serve your ultimate goals. As you shift your focus from consumption to creation, you'll discover newfound personal and professional growth avenues.
Final Thoughts
If you find yourself stuck in the loop of endless consumption, take a step back and analyze how you can incorporate more creation into your life.
The results may just surprise you.
And remember, I write about things I’m working on as well. This stuff is hard. Let’s win together.
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I ran across Jesse Itzler, who was talking about planning for 2024. He mentioned a friend, the happiest person he knew, a cop in upstate NY. This guy had a unique experience every 8 weeks. It didn’t have to be big, but it was something he normally wouldn’t have done. So instead of sitting down on a Saturday and watching football all day, he’d try something new, from cooking classes to climbing a mountain with his daughter and sleeping in sub-zero temps.
You can hear him talk about this at minute 12:50 - he calls it “Kevin’s Rule.”
His point was every 8 weeks of a new experience makes for an epic year.
I love this - and I’m thinking of doing the same.
What are some awesome adventures I could book every 8 weeks?
Let’s build a life resume we’re proud of!
Who’s in?
THIS MONTHS LINKS
A collection of items worthy of a purchase, a read, or an action.
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18th Century Life - This is a wild YouTube channel where my man takes 18th-century recipes and remakes them exactly. There are so many unique people in this world. Love it.
Cereal Magazine Archive - My favorite site of all time now has an archive.
“Cereal is a digital archive. The archive spans 10 years of stories from Cereal Magazine (2012–2022) within art, design, and travel.
This digital platform is a space for reference and reflection and one of expansion.”
I miss it. If you need inspiration, it’s a great place to look.
Inigo House - Speaking of inspo - imagine living and preserving such a beautiful space from the 16th century. Oh, if these walls could talk.
Finance Bro Vest Season - Buddy sent me this. He said, “Don’t be the joke. Be in on the joke”. Tis the season! What sucks is I like vests, but let’s drop the ones for mountaineering with Barings embroidered on them. 😂
The Humane AI pin just launched - And this is nuts. Have you seen this video? If not, a good preview of how fast AI is taking over - everything.
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Outerknown Blanket Shirts - I’ve recommended these a few times to my more laid-back, surfer-outdoorsy-type friends. They love these. Pretty good sales going as well. The company is big on sustainability. Something we can all get behind.
Filson Tim Cloth Waxed Vest - Water and wind resistant. The fit is roomy for layering and unrestricted movement. Equipped with hand, stow, and tool pockets.
Barbour Harton Jacket - Clean lines. Timeless style with practicality thanks to its 6oz wax cotton finish, zip-front fastening, and spacious bellow pockets. Give me all the big pockets.
J Lindberg Jacket - Prefer your pockets up top - go with this. It’s an everyday style that features a 2-way zip, button placket, stretch lining, and multiple external and internal pockets. The water-resistant qualities and packable hood make it a great outerwear option for temperamental weather.
Levi's Washed Black Trucker - We can all use a trucker denim jacket. This is the most classic setup but in a washed-out black. It's already broken in, so you look a little more manly out of the gate.
Jungmaven Tee - Built from their iconic fabric developed in 1996, the Baja tee wears well anywhere. Slightly slubby but with a soft texture, makes this a staple tee.
Relwyn Bubble Knit Shirt - It’s all about the fabric—an all-cotton knit jacquard jersey with an insulated poly core. The result is an incredibly warm and comfortable garment that is lightweight and can stretch with one’s movement. Great for the upcoming chill.
Buck Mason X Eddie Bauer Down Jacket - How a collaboration should be. Direct inspiration from past models updated to fit the modern world.
Malloch's British Knitwear - Understated British knitwear that lasts. This military green jumper is classic.
Berg + Berg Shaggy Sweater - Brushed for a shaggy effect. I love this with tailoring as shown.
English Tweed Overcoat - Very detailed post about this oversized, heavy-as-hell, can’t be beaten tweed overcoat can be read here.
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Carhartt Abbot Pant Smoke Green - I love the single pleat.
Drakes Needle Cord Jean - Solid fall color in a soft, slim-fit corduroy denim fit pant. Lovely.
Berg + Berg Airforce Blue Flannel - Favouring a timeless silhouette, these trousers are made with a higher rise and slightly fuller leg, giving them a shape that's innately flattering whether worn casually or in a more formal context. This color is fantastic.
Mr. P Tapered Pant - Easy single-pleat pant. Tapers nicely. Dress it up or down.
Brunello Cuccinelli Cargo Trouser - Cargos are coming back, and I’m here for it. Keep them slim if you want to dress them up a bit.
Engineered Garments Field Pant - Love this black version. I’m a sucker for a field pant for those weekend adventures.
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Mid-Century Shoe Storage - I know everyones home style is different, but this is pretty slick - and damn, I could use all the shoe storage I can get.
Edward Green Galway Boot - This iconic boot has been made since at least the 1930s when Edward Green was the leading maker of officers' boots for the British military. It remains a stalwart, equally at home on the grouse moors of Scotland or on city streets when the nights draw in. (clearly, I didn't write that - beautiful)
Handball Spezial Adidas Sneaker - Interesting colorway in this classic shoe. Be the cool dad at the soccer field and give your on-clouds a rest.
Moras Alpine Boot - The Alpine Boot delivers all you want from a boot - Warmth, ease, and, most importantly, comfort. Crafted on a sturdy rubber sole and conveniently equipped with a zipper on the front. *Coming soon
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Garrett Leight Carlton Sunglasses - It still gets sunny in the winter and sunglasses get cheaper!
Tango Bag - Robert Spangle is an ex-marine turned menswear photographer. He designs the most functional, yet fashionable bags. He’s in Israel/Gaza now covering the war. Support his efforts.
Taylor Stitch Beanie - This dark spruce color is great.
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Cool Compost bin - Finally a compost bin you can actually leave on the counter if you so desire.
Uggmonk coffee mug - Not sure why I love this so much but I do.
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Miir x Night Swim 360 Traveler Mug - The boys at Night Swim are killing it with merch. This is awesome.
Biltmore at Christmas - I’d be an idiot not to mention this if looking for something local to do this holiday.
ON THE ASC BLOG
Breaking down fabrics: Waxed Cotton
Thank you - A beanie on me
As a thank you for being a club supporter, I’d like to offer you a comfy custom beanie gratis.
Just simply email what color you’d like.
(I have a ton of options but recommend light gray, navy, black, or for a pop of color red or burgundy)
As always, thank you for your time and attention.
Email or text (704) 737-4274 with any questions!
✌️ - DW
CATCH US ON THE GRAM!
<—— After a hard day’s work but make it fancy.