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Know Better.
Do Better.
Be Better.
Read Time: 5 minutes
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Hi Reader,
September always feels like a reset button. The lazy rhythm of summer gives way to sharper focus, packed calendars, and fresh opportunities. It’s a season of momentum - whether you’re gearing up for the final quarter at work, helping kids settle back into school, or simply recommitting to goals you’ve been putting off.
The truth is, this transition can feel overwhelming, but it’s also the perfect moment to realign with what matters most. This week’s tips are designed to help you cut through the noise, sharpen your priorities, and take action where it counts.
It's also my birthday week! It would mean the world to me for you to take a look at the feature about the Oliver Patch Project below and consider making a donation as a BDay present to me;) September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month. I serve on the board of this incredible organization and have witnessed firsthand the joy these patches bring to these kids' faces. In fact, we designed our own patch that is now being worn by little warriors all over the country.
If you follow me on Linkedin, this was my most popular post last week:
This YouTube Shorts clip of John Maxwell really highlights the idea of my new book Designing Momentum. We underestimate the power of the moment we are in.
Ready to get better this week?
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Better @ Work
Boost your productivity by being kind on purpose.
The “Give to Feel Good” Strategy
We tend to chase productivity through planners, Pomodoro timers, or another “deep work” technique - but science suggests something way simpler (and way more human):
“Being kind boosts mental health more than seeking joy.”
— Adam Grant
Kindness isn’t just a feel-good moment. It’s a performance enhancer. When you give, your mood lifts, your stress drops, and your connection to others deepens.
✅ How-To:
• Do three unexpected, small acts of kindness this week
• Don’t overthink it - just be thoughtful and specific
• Focus on teammates you might normally overlook
🎯 Takeaway:
Kindness isn't a detour from performance. It's a shortcut to culture, confidence, and collaboration.
🔥 Try This:
• Buy coffee for a teammate (no need for credit)
• Send a quick DM to someone who crushed it last week
• Offer help before they ask
• Leave an encouraging sticky note
• Recommend a book, tool, or playlist that helped you
Bonus points: do one anonymously.
🧠 Reflection:
What’s one assumption you’ve made about a coworker that completely changed when you led with kindness instead of judgment?
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The Birth of Binge Culture: The $100 Million Gamble That Saved Netflix
This is the story of how Netflix’s $100 million gamble on House of Cards didn’t just launch a show - it rewrote the rules of television and birthed the binge-watching era.
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Better @ Home
Because your couch deserves more than background TV noise.
The “Fireside Podcast” Ritual
Back in the day, families would gather around the radio for fireside chats, nightly dramas, or presidential speeches - no screens, just sound and presence.
Let’s bring that magic back - with a podcast. We did this recently and truly enjoyed the time together.
✅ How-To:
Reclaim a night this week to slow down and tune in - with no distractions, no scrolling, and no “multitasking.”
• Pick a story-driven or thought-provoking podcast (like Radiolab, The Moth, Heavyweight, or Just a Moment 👀)
• Dim the lights, light a candle, or fake a fireplace on your TV
• Invite your partner, kids, roommates - or go solo and let your mind wander
• Set phones aside and just listen - it’s more powerful than you remember
🎯 Takeaway:
We don't need more stimulation - we need more intentional stillness. One night of screen-free, sound-rich calm can feel like a reset for your whole week.
🔥 Try This:
Start with this episode of Just a Moment:
🎧 A Cup of Tea with Kendrick Lamar - a reflective story about how one click can change your career.
🧠 Reflection:
When was the last time you really listened -to a story, a voice, or yourself? What might you hear if you gave it your full attention?
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🌟 September is Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month 🌟
🌟 The Oliver Patch Project lets kids with pediatric cancer choose their own custom patches, which they wear proudly on a personalized jacket or tote bag.
Over the course of 12 months, OPP stays in touch, sending new patches each month to encourage, uplift, and celebrate their courage.
Through this ongoing connection, children receive a year-long journey of positivity, creativity, and support, reminding them they are never alone. ✨
Join in this month to honor their strength and spread hope. 🎨🧵
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Better @ Life
Because the people around you are either rocket fuel or a slow leak.
Build Your "Personal Board of Directors"
You already know your environment shapes your energy - but your people shape your possibility.
Warren Buffett said it best:
“Surround yourself with people that push you to do better... Just higher goals and higher motivation.” Let’s build a personal board of directors that brings out the absolute best in you.
✅ How-To:
• Audit Your Atmosphere:
Pay attention to how you feel after spending time with someone. Drained? Doubtful? Or more focused and fired-up?
• Identify Your Expander Crew:
Who makes you think bigger, dream louder, act faster? Who doesn’t let you coast? That’s your inner circle.
• Ditch the Drama Loop:
You don’t need toxic positivity - but you also don’t need emotional quicksand. Protect your energy like it’s a trade secret.
• Invest Up, Not Out:
Give your best time to the people who bring the best out of you - not the loudest, the neediest, or the most dramatic.
🎯 Takeaway:
The right people don’t just support your growth - they demand it. Choose those who challenge, cheer, and champion you.
🔥 Try This:
This week, schedule a 30-minute call with someone who makes you feel more capable, creative, or calm. Not for networking - just connection.
🧠 Reflection:
Who in your life pushes you to grow without pushing you around - and how can you show up more for them this week?
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If you enjoy this newsletter and want to support it, there are several ways you can do it. Pick one right now and help us make the world a better place.
- Buy a Book - My new book is Designing Momentum
- Forward this newsletter with an invitation to subscribe here: https://brant-menswar.kit.com/profile
- Hire Brant for one of his top-ranked conference keynotes
Occasionally, we have sponsored content as well as recommended products. Better This Week is an Amazon Associate, and we earn from qualifying purchases.
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