Breaking Work Journal Michael Gardon You're least happy in your 40's and I know why. ↓ Hey Reader, I came across this chart last week: Mean reported happiness by age. I was shocked, but it also makes a ton of sense. Why your 40's are so hard On the surface, your 40's seem like they should be the best of times: Peak earning years Still have your health Kids are growing up Yet below the surface, your 40's carry a ton of tension: More meetings and responsibilities Demands that never stop Expense...
29 days ago • 3 min read
Breaking Work Journal #99 Michael Gardon Second Order Consequences of "Needing to Know." ↓ Hey Reader, For our entire lives higher education has been the pathway to success, right? Degree -> Resume -> Job -> Money -> Stability -> Success Things are different now, right? Record high unemployment for college grads Sky high debt Internet = free learning Most people I know right now are questioning the value of higher education, yet: Trillions in debt still floods into Universities for one...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Reader, Last month, I had a call with a hard working leader who voiced something he hadn't told anyone. Tom was the guy everyone want's on their team. He prided himself on being the team player to solve any problem. As "Mr. Fix It" he'd spent 12 years being his company's most reliable problem solver - taking on any task or project, most of them well outside his role. That can do attitude made him valuable, until he began to feel stuck. He'd gone for several promotions and come up empty, even...
2 months ago • 2 min read
Reader, This email is a bit raw, I'm not gonna lie. A few weeks ago, I started getting sick. I was lethargic, my recovery and HRV was down, without explanation. Then the fevers kicked in - 9 straight days curled up in a ball on the couch. Oscilating from freezing cold, to sweating through my clothes and bed. My wife, who's a doctor was very worried - "this is not normal." 3 blood tests revealed spiked liver and kidney enzymes. Tested negative for all viral and tick born disease. Then I got...
2 months ago • 1 min read
Reader, Change is happening NOW. And we have to take control of our futures. Check out my latest breakdown of the World Economic Forum jobs report and what you can do about the impending disruption Light that 🔥, Mike Sponsored by: Brain.fm Transform Your Focus With Brain.fm We know you’re always on the hunt for tools that genuinely improve your life—which is why we're excited to introduce you to Brain.fm's groundbreaking focus music. Brain.fm’s patented audio technology was recently validated...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Reader, What would you feel if you opened your bank account and saw this: Now, if this came from some stupid "passive income" hack it might feel great right away, but then it would be rather meh. But if you're like me, and you knew those deposits came from something you created in the world - that you poured your blood, sweat and tears into - and you KNEW without a shred of a doubt that it was making a real impact every single time you got a sale - well, my friend, let me tell you what it...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Reader, The first day in my corporate job I walked into a room of 100 people and felt so small. MBA's, pHD's, VC's and wicked smart software engineers filled the room. What was I doing there? I felt that way because I had not defined (what Warren Buffet famously coined) my Circle Of Competence. Check out this quick 8 minute video to see how and why the COC is the foundation of everything. Light that 🔥, Mike P.S. If this resonated, I help successful professionals break their corporate...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Good morning Reader, You've probably heard a lot about burnout, but it's not what you think it is. Burnout isn't a simple state of exhaustion. It's a complex syndrome that manifests across multiple dimensions. It's actually categorized as a syndrome by the World Health Organization. Here's how I define it: Burnout is a progressive deterioration of human ability occurring from chronic stress and mis-alignment. Here's how it can manifest: Physical Collapse Stress-induced illness Chronic fatigue...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Reader, We are conditioned for business. Constantly going, always 'on'. Proving we are up to the task. The reality is most things we do, just shouldn't be done at all. Here's the truth: Being busy isn't a badge of honor. It's sophisticated servitude dressed up as achievement. Every "quick check" of email... Every "this meeting could have been an email" moment... Every "I'll sleep when I'm dead" decision... They're all withdrawals from your life's most precious bank account: your energy and...
4 months ago • 1 min read