Hi Reader,

Telling someone they look better with a beard is basically saying they look better the less you can see their face.

Mustaches, on the other hand, are like a third eyebrow.

Mine has made me a better communicator as I can now hit new levels of facial expression.

That's just another reason why mustaches > beards.

P.S. In the (highly concerning) event you are questioning your manhood, watch this hilarious 90-second video on How to Kill a Mustache​

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What I'm learning about 🧠

The Yerkes-Dodson effect.

This phenomenon shows that increased arousal is correlated with increased performance on tasks, but only up to a certain point.

As arousal continues to increase, performance then declines.

Think of an inverted U-shaped curve.

Also, get your mind out of the gutter.

We are talking about physiological arousal from caffeine, adrenaline, etc.

Not from slamming 12 Viagra while watching the training montage from Rocky 3...

When you are in a hyper-aroused state, tasks that require collaboration and creativity are more difficult.

So ice-luging 11 espresso shots to the dome might be great for building a financial model in your data dungeon...

But it's terrible for big-picture thinking with Amy from Accounts Payable.

I am using this information to cut back on caffeine when I want to be creative or collaborative.

But when it's time to do boring tasks faster and with more fun?

Bring on the boiling bean water.

P.S. That's code for coffee. Please try to keep up.

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What I'm thinking about 💭

The "right" answer and my energy levels.

One of my superpowers is my ability to learn new things quickly.

I attribute this to how porous I am - I can consume knowledge like a sponge.

Have you ever seen me and Spongebob in the same room at the same time?

But with most superpowers, it's a double-edged sword.

This gift also makes me highly impressionable.

So much so, that when I hear someone I admire talk about the "right" way to do something, I often dive in headfirst.

This happened (again) about a month ago when I heard Alex Homorzi talking about morning routines.

He says you shouldn't have one.

His view is that your morning routine is something that simply delays the time you actually start working.

And that the anxiety that builds from noticing it's 10 AM and you still haven't started work isn't worth the potential benefits.

So without giving it much thought, I started to skimp on my morning routine.

I'd start working as soon as I woke up.

Ignoring the morning routine that I once held so dearly.

But yesterday I had a powerful realization.

My energy levels have been really low recently and I've had large fluctuations in my mood.

I was feeling anxious and unmotivated so I took a break yesterday to journal and meditate.

Not only did I instantly feel better, but I realized that skipping the things that filled my cup each morning had been messing with my mojo!

All this to say, I am now drinking the morning routine Kool-Aid again.

Just because someone you admire lives their life one way, doesn't mean you need to do the same.

Different things work for different people, and this feels like a lesson I continue to forget.

Maybe there's no "right" way to live after all.

Just what works best for you.

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Quote of the week 📜

"If you do what you did at the beginning, there will be no end."

-Shaan Puri on how to act in your relationships​
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Sent with love,

Gregory Russell Benedikt

Talk to me: hello@gregoryrussellbenedikt.com

Website: gregoryrussellbenedikt.com

Writing: Medium

Connect: Instagram & LinkedIn