What I'm Up To - Vol. 70
Here’s what I’ve been up to since Vol. 69…
What I'm Up To Volume 70
Hey friends,
Here’s what I’ve been up to since Vol. 69…
1. Ten Years of TOT
April 1st, 2023 marked the 10th anniversary of The ONE Thing. Since publication, the book has sold over 3 million copies and appeared on 500+ national bestseller lists. It's been translated into 40 languages, launched a training company and my public speaking career, and created a podcast with over 11 million downloads. To celebrate, Gary and I recorded a special podcast (Apple Podcasts / Spotify) and we hosted special webinars and trainings throughout the month. It’s been quite the ride. Chances are you read it, talked about it, and shared it. Thank you!
2. Family, Friends, Food, and Futbol
We kicked off the month with a trip to Q2 Stadium to watch the US Women’s National Team play Ireland in a friendly. I’ve been an ardent supporter of the women’s team since reading about their first World Cup victory in 1991. I’m excited to cheer them on as they pursue a record 5th World Cup championship in New Zealand this July.
That weekend featured some of my favorite Austin foods. Good Friday was a holiday, so Gus and I went to Thoroughbred for Burridoughs™ and PB&J cookies. That little bakery is one of 78704’s best-kept secrets. Saturday, at the game, I chowed on an El Rey from Valentina’s TexMex BBQ. That night, we ordered in from Michi Ramen. We kicked off Sunday with Migas tacos from Vera Cruz All Natural. While we waiting for our order, I noticed a new trailer, Briscuits, and added an egg, cheese, and brisket biscuit to the order.
Since our kids are too old for Easter baskets, we played a game of Wingspan. My friend Todd has recommended we try it for years. While there was a bit of a learning curve, I can see how he and Amy played it daily through Covid. It’s a beautifully designed game with enough depth to stay fresh for many, many plays.
Some other quick hits from a very full month:
- Wendy and I had a blast at the Explore Austin Gala. It’s a great charity connecting kids to mentors and the outdoors, run by our friend and neighbor, Kathleen.
- Marc and Kristen King joined us at Better Ranch for hiking, clays, and a fantastic meal.
- I tried to order some Nike Ja 1s. I ordered at 9am, within seconds of them going on sale. When my screen refreshed, every size between 4.5 and 18 was sold out. Bots are disrupting more than just Taylor Swift ticket sales!
- My friend Ben introduced me to Will Guidara. He wrote the bestseller Unreasonable Hospitality. He also was the founder of Eleven Madison Park, the #1 restaurant in the world. Amazing guy. I’ll interview him for The ONE Thing podcast in the coming weeks.
- I spent the day at Southwestern University with Gus and learned about their Paideia philosophy. They push hard for an interdisciplinary degree program that exposes students to a wide range of topics and perspectives. He also connected to the board game club. So, we both left excited about his collegiate future.
- I planted two acres of sunflowers at the ranch with the help of some good friends. I can’t wait to see the field in bloom from the porch!
- Wendy visited the Grand Canyon with her gang from Her Best Life. They stayed in “glamping” tents, hiked, masterminded, and star-watched. Trivia question: How many human bodies would it take to fill the grand canyon? Answer at the bottom. This, by the way, is the kind of trivia my wife picks up on her travels.
On a sad note, Wendy’s step-mom, Kathy, passed away suddenly mid-month. Kathy has been in a memory facility for a while. Thanks to everyone who reached out and offered condolences to Wendy and her family.
3. What I’m Reading
A quick note on my reading and watching. I report on media the month I complete it. So it’s not like I’m consuming everything in the past 30 days. Some books or series take me many months to finish. So some months appear more packed than others.
For fiction, I enjoyed the next book in the John Milton series, Ghosts by Mark Dawson. The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave made it to the top of my stack. I enjoyed several scenes set in Austin and can see why the book was optioned for TV series.
On impulse, I picked up A Quick and Easy Guide to Queer and Trans Identities by Mady G. and J. R. Zuckerberg. I was at a comic book store with Gus and spotted the short graphic novel. Short, clear and educational. I had high hopes for Find Your Freedom by Jamie P Hopkins and Ron Carson, but it was a bit of a slog. I was skipping and skimming by the end. If you’re never read a book on planning for retirement, it’s a solid B effort. I learned nothing new. Finally, I browsed The Young Professional’s Guide to Making an Impact by Montaz McCray, a young real estate agent in our company. He’s off to a great start with his real estate career and I’ll be rooting for him.
4. What I’m Watching
I read a Hollywood Reporter article on the 50 best movies since 2000. It inspired me to rewatch Bridesmaids. I love it when comedies make these lists and Kristen Wiig’s masterpiece of gags will still make you cringe and chortle. I also checked off the martial arts movie, The Raid: Redemption. The 2011 classic launched Iko Uwais onto the scene and is so tightly edited for action that it feels like a straight video game adaption. Don’t tune in seeking deep meaning, just kicks, punches, and explosions.
Wendy and I watched season 3 of The Madalorian (Disney). We like the simple Western plots and marvel at the special effects. I grew up watching Gun Smoke and The Big Valley, before Star Wars blew up the special effects scene. Kids have it so good today. While Wendy was traveling, I finished CB Strike season 3 (much better than season 2) and Better Call Saul seasons 2 and 3 (Netflix). I’m now fully committed to witnessing Jimmy McGill’s transformation into Saul Goodman. The soundtrack, writing and acting are top notch.
Finally, I’ll share a couple of excellent podcasts. The If Books Could Kill podcast dissects popular self-help books and drips with sarcasm and humor. I loved the episode where they deconstruct Rich Dad, Poor Dad (Apple Podcasts /Spotify). Also, this episode of Money with Katie asks whether the 4% rule for retirement still works with inflation and interviews its creator, Bill Bengen (Apple Podcasts / Spotify). Great stuff.
That’s it for this month. Please reply back and let me know what you’re up to!
Be well, do good deeds, and eat tacos!
Jay
Forward to a Friend
See something that you know a friend would like? Forward this email to them so they don't miss out. And if you were forwarded this email and want more of What I’m Up To, you can sign up here.
Unsubscribe
If this isn’t for you, feel free to take your name off this list.