PN | Weekly #19: June 14, 2026
“The best adult life is lived by making commitments: commitments to a vocation, to a family, to a philosophy or faith, to a community. Adult life is about making promises to others, being faithful to those promises. The beautiful life is found in the mutual giving of unconditional gifts.”DAVID BROOKS |
Happy Sunday, Heroic!
Michael here. π
Hope you had a great week!
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And that you’re surrounded by people who light you up and help bring out the best in you.
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This week’s new Philosopher's Note, on Champion Mindset by Patrick Mouratoglou, has me thinking about the people we surround ourselves with.
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Patrick is one of the most respected tennis coaches in the world. His players (Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, and Coco Gauff among them) have won ten Grand Slam titles and two Olympic gold medals.
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In other words... he’s spent his career standing in champions’ corners.
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So his dedicating a whole chapter to "Your Entourage Matters," is born from experiences.
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As Brian highlights in the Note:
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“After surveying the results, the [2006] study clearly established that the presence of one 'bad apple' in a group can have devastating effects on the group, such as decreasing motivation and performance and increasing conflict."
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And that was after just ninety-six minutes together.
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"Now imagine having a negative person around you for years; imagine the impact this person would have on you."
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Modern science echoes ancient wisdom.
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Seneca warned that we can be "infected" by the character of those around us.
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Buddha told us to walk alone rather than keep company with the immature.
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Epictetus emphasizes:
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“Place an extinguished piece of coal next to a live one, and either it will cause the other one to die out, or the live one will make it reignite.”
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Our relationships are among the most important investments we will ever make.
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They shape our energy, our standards, our character... who we are and who we become.
So, two questions for the week ahead:
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Who's in your corner?
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And whose corner are you in?
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Reach out to one of those people, today.
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Then take an honest look at the rest of the entourage (yours, your team's, your family's) and choose with care.
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Because champions don't go it alone.
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It’s an honor to be part of your team, and to have you on ours.
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Day 1. All in. Let's go.
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-Michael
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P.S. If you're excited to improve the quality of your corner (your community, your team, your entourage), you’re going to love what we’ve got planned for the rest of the summer.
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More soon. π
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And, exciting news...
Philosopher's Notes TV is back!!!
After taking a five-year hiatus, Philosopher’s Notes TV is back!
Enjoy this past week's featured Notes!
Discipline Equals Freedom
by Jocko Willink
True and False Magic
by Phil Stutz
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor
by Donald Robertson
Champion Mindset
by Patrick Mouratoglou
Clean
by Alejandro Junger
How Life Imitates Chess
by Garry Kasparov
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“The evidence is clear: If you want to change a habit, you must find an alternative routine, and your odds of success go up dramatically when you commit to changing as part of a group. Belief is essential, and it grows out of a communal experience, even if that community is only as large as two people.”CHARLES DUHIGG |
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