Welcome to the weekend.

Prime Numbers

35 — Chick-fil-A is centralizing its lemonade production to a California facility that processes up to 35 truckloads of lemons daily, improving efficiency by utilizing nearly 100% of each lemon (versus 40% in stores) and monetizing the extracted oils for fragrances and cosmetics.

42.4 — The NBA's three-point shooting revolution has reached new heights in the current season, with 42.4% of shot attempts coming from beyond the arc, surpassing the previous record of 40% from 2022, while continuing to spark debate about the sport's evolution.

92,000 — John Deere unveiled its next generation of autonomous farming equipment at CES, including enhanced self-driving tractors with 16 cameras and advanced GPU processing for expanded agricultural tasks, while also introducing an automated mining truck capable of hauling 92,000 pounds, all part of its push toward fully autonomous farming systems by 2030.

Black Swan Threats in 2025

Some extraordinary black swan events could reshape our world in unprecedented ways, such as: 1) The rise of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered cybercrime threatens to unleash the largest cyberattack in history, potentially bringing down major infrastructure and causing financial markets to spiral into chaos; 2) A devastating pathogen emerges from an unlikely rural setting, exploiting political resistance to public health measures and bureaucratic paralysis to spread rapidly across borders; 3) Most alarming of all, the fracturing of nuclear non-proliferation begins with South Korea's surprise atomic test, triggering a cascade of weapons development across Asia that fundamentally alters the global balance of power. Politico (12 minutes)

Why Boys Don’t Go To College

In the 1950s, men outnumbered women 2:1 in college. By the 1990s, the ratio was 1:1. Today, the ratio is 4:6 with fewer men than women attending college. The real reason behind plummeting male college enrollment isn't about money, politics or academic performance — it's about an unconscious pattern called "male flight," where men systematically withdraw from spaces as women become the majority. The game-changing evidence comes from veterinary schools, where research showed that for every 1% increase in female enrollment, 1.7 fewer men applied — a stronger deterrent than a $1,000 tuition hike. Most tellingly, once women reach 60% of enrollment in any field, male participation typically drops precipitously, followed by a broader cultural devaluation of that institution — a pattern now playing out in higher education where women make up precisely 60% of college students. Matriarchal Blessing (7 minutes)

Executive Coaching in Community

Our world, the market, and culture are all becoming more complicated every year, which makes leading even more complex. If you're looking to connect with other executives and founders, get practical tips from people who are in your shoes and sharpen your leadership acumen — I'd highly recommend checking out Cornerstone+. It's a membership-based community for leaders pursuing spiritual formation and business excellence — spanning across countries, industries and demographics. Cornerstone Coaching is a boutique firm that has been guiding leaders for three decades and recently opened up this community model. Cornerstone+ is application-based, so if you're interested in learning more, fill out the form on their site here and one of their coaches will reach out to see if you're a good fit. Cornerstone (Sponsored)

US Government's Nuclear Power Play

A groundbreaking shift in federal energy strategy signals a remarkable comeback for nuclear power. The U.S. government's unprecedented $1 billion deal with Constellation Energy will power over a million homes annually with carbon-free nuclear energy, marking the first major climate-focused agreement to embrace existing nuclear reactors. In a surprising twist, the contract includes innovative provisions for modernizing federal buildings and expanding nuclear capacity, while also protecting taxpayers against volatile energy prices with fixed rates over the next decade. Most significantly, this partnership demonstrates a dramatic reversal in nuclear power's fortunes, as concerns over AI-driven energy demand and climate goals push both government and tech giants to reconsider this once-controversial power source. Yahoo! (5 minutes)

Tech's New Trusted Companion

From Silicon Valley to Brooklyn tech enthusiasts (myself included), Claude has become the chatbot of choice for a crowd of savvy tech insiders who say it’s helping them with everything from health coaching to makeshift therapy sessions. Unlike other chatbots designed primarily for task completion or companionship, Claude has carved out a unique niche among tech insiders who value its blend of analytical capability and nuanced communication style. The most fascinating aspect isn't just its technical performance, but rather how even AI-savvy users find themselves drawn to its more thoughtful, empathetic approach — while still maintaining awareness of its artificial nature. Most importantly, this trend raises critical questions about the future of human-AI relationships and the need for careful consideration of their psychological impact. New York Times (5 minutes)

Fail Better

In 2025, you're bound to have some failures. The real question isn't if you'll fail but how well you'll do it. Through research and real-world examples, we've discovered that successful people follow a distinct pattern after failure: First, they acknowledge the physiological response — the racing heart and sweaty palms — as natural reactions rather than signs of incompetence. Next, they practice self-compassion through failure-sharing with others, understanding that "me too" are among the most powerful words in the English language. Most importantly, they've mastered a three-step "I Failed" process: pause to process emotions without catastrophizing; gather objective information about what actually happened (beating confirmation bias); and respond with calm, measured actions based on that data. This systematic approach transforms failure from a source of shame into a catalyst for growth. Nir and Far (5 minutes)

The Hemingway Effect

In our quest for maximum productivity, a counterintuitive lesson emerges from an unlikely source. Ernest Hemingway's genius wasn't just in his writing but in knowing precisely when to stop — specifically at "an interesting place" where he knew what would happen next, creating psychological momentum that made returning to work irresistible. Research now confirms this strategy's effectiveness through phenomena like the Zeigarnik and Ovsiankina effects, which show that unfinished tasks create a productive tension in our minds. Most importantly, this technique allows us to maintain both momentum and mental health by treating rest not as lost productivity, but as essential fuel for sustainable progress — a lesson particularly vital in today's "ultra hardcore" work culture. Big Think (6 minutes)

Should We Work Together?

Hi! I’m Kyle. This newsletter is my passion project. When I’m not writing, I run a law firm that helps startups move fast without breaking things. Most founders want a trusted legal partner, but they hate surprise legal bills. At Westaway, we take care of your startup’s legal needs for a flat, monthly fee so you can control your costs and focus on scaling your business. If you’re interested, let’s jump on a call to see if you’re a good fit for the firm. Click here to schedule a one-on-one call with me.

Founder Fridays

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Weekend Wisdom

Always do sober what you said you'd do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut. -Ernest Hemingway