Hey there,

What a week it's been. We hope everyone is healthy and safe (and that your kids were able to attend in-person school). I started this 2022 with a bang - my decision to throw in the towel on solopreneurship. Buckle up!

We've also have a rad (and free) 3-day training event this week where we'll help you design your Roadmap for an Epic 2022. You'll learn how to:

• Focus your precious energy on the right things.
• Create a plan to stay on track for the year.
• Tap into leverage - your force multiplier - to design your dream life.

The free event kicks off this Tuesday (and so far we have 665 registered attendees).

​

Why I'm giving up on solopreneurship

A few a times a year, the stars will align in Nazaré, off the coast of Portugal.

The oceanic swell, tropical storms and tides will perfectly coincide to create the conditions for an epic sea monster.

The 100 foot wave.

Garrett McNamara is the OG trailblazer in this feat of man versus wave. The 54 year old with a salt and pepper buzz cut isn't exactly who you'd imagine slaying 100 foot walls of water.

No long sun-bleached hair. No six pack. No tattoos.

Yet as you see this tiny speck of a human careen down the face of a 100 foot wave - regardless of how much you care about surfing - you're left breathless and in awe.

It's tempting to see McNamara as the Man in the Arena. The gladiator looking to emerge victorious. The one who will bask in the accolades, should he exit the wave's barrel unscathed.

But that's actually not how the sport works.

Yes, you only see surfer and surfboard in the ocean. But like most things in life, there's an entire crew playing crucial supporting roles - which enable McNamara to surf the world's biggest waves.

There's his wife and business partner sitting on the light house "spotting" the oncoming sets of waves.

There's his tow partner, delicately navigating him on a jet ski around these water canyons - milliseconds away from a devastating crash of whitewater.

There are the geologists who helped him study the underground canyons creating the swell.

There the equipment makers who custom-designed a wetsuit with an inflatable air canister to prevent him from being submerged in the event of a wipeout.

And there are the paramedics on jet skis and on land, should the unthinkable happen.

Yes, surfing a 100 foot wave is supported by a team the size of a Formula 1 pit squad. It's not a lone wolf sport.

Now let's fast-forward to Manhattan Beach, California. My passion is surfing waves 1/33rd the size of the ones in Nazaré.

And over the past six years, my other passion has been growing RadReads.

First a newsletter. Then a blog. Then a podcast. Then coaching. And now we finally found our groove with online teaching.

To the untrained eye, it may look like the dweeb's version of the 100 foot wave.

A dude. In his garage. Banging away at his keyboard.

A creator. An "indie hacker." A solopreneur.

And during my short career as an entrepreneur, those were pretty much the right labels.

But it's no longer true. While I'll never be a big wave surfer, I've bumped against the limits of what I can do by myself as an entrepreneur.

So this year, I'm taking the plunge into "big kid" (or big wave) entrepreneurship and turning RadReads into a proper company.

Yup. One with payroll, benefits (soon), policies and an ambitious mission.

But I'd be lying if I didn't acknowledge the uncomfortable trade-offs.

For starters, I spent my Christmas vacation crafting OKRs, navigating payroll schedules, creating reimbursement policies and forecasting a year's worth of cash flows.

Not to mention the keep-you-up-at-night pressure of multiple mouths to feed. And staff meetings. Yikes, staff meetings!!!

And most importantly: Will I have to start working before 11:30 am and sacrifice my daily surf sessions?

​

Here are this week's top reads:

// one

Subtract: why getting to less can mean thinking more

6 minute | Behavioral Scientist
​

Our default behavior going into the new year often involves doing more. More meetings. More exercise. More learning. But what if your $10K Question involves subtracting certain activities from your life? Subtraction is the act of getting to less, but it is not the same as doing less. In fact, getting to less often means doing, or at least thinking, more.

→ Read the post​

// two

Your boss is tired of being your manager

2 minutes | Twitter
​

Managing your boss? Sounds counterintuitive, but it’s actually the secret to keeping your boss happy while getting what you want. Three tips to make it work? Offer solutions instead of problems, make requests instead of complaints, and keep your boss in the loop.

→ Read the tweetstorm​

// three

How to handle regrets

6 minutes | Ask Polly

​
You know what’s way easier said than done? Being gentle with yourself. Letting go of the shame that only lets you see your experiences through your regrets. Lots of us think shame means we’re embarrassed of ourselves, but it can also be the bad habit of continuously distrusting and questioning ourselves. What’s the remedy to shameful, regret-filled thinking? More art. More trust in your passions. And more talking to yourself like a loving-older-parent would.

→ Read the post​

// four

100 ways to slightly improve your life without really trying

7 minutes | The Guardian
​

There are so many ways we can improve our lives with very little effort. For insance, “always bring ice to house parties” (duh) or “learn a TikTok dance but don’t post it on TikTok.” A few that Rad Readers may resonate with? Cut your work week down to four days, try the Pomodoro technique if you’re feeling sluggish, and go for a walk without your phone.

→ Read the article​

// five

100+ Resources for Productivity & Performance

8 minutes | Forcing Function
​

Here at RadReads, we're well aware of the fact that Shiny New Toys alone can’t solve our problems. But after we’ve nailed the self-awareness and behavior change part of the equation, the right tool for the job can greatly accelerate our progress. Longtime RadReader Chris Sparks has a comprehensive list of apps, physical products and browser extensions.

Chris is also offering Team Performance Training, a ten-week program to upgrade your systems and optimize your performance in a fun, active group setting with other executives.
​
→ Read the post​

Below the fold

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

• ​Supercharge Your Productivity with Notion Fundamentals - During this webinar hosted by Notion, I demonstrated building a $10K task manager from scratch.

​

LAST WEEK'S MOST READ

• ​You’re not rich (if you’re constantly doing this) (RadReads, 902 clicks)
• ​I just learned I only have months to live. This is what I want to say. (Boston Globe, 759 clicks)

​

And finally, Phil Collins "In the Air" blooper videos.

Happy Holidays,

Khe

PS Refer two friends to RadReads and receive our free Weekly Review Cheat Sheet. Here's your unique link: https://sparklp.co/9ac1b50d

PPS Did someone rad forward this to you? Subscribe here.

​Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Facebook​