Brewed From Within

Recursion

Recursion is a computer science term for the process of defining a problem in terms of itself, then dividing the problem into smaller parts of the same type.

After blogging every week for two years, it became clear how writing helps us think, translate, and index thoughts. This creative act was a commitment to contemplation and required discipline to be consistent.

Even with all the nourishing benefits, toward the end of the second year, was it time to take a break from this ambitious frequency? Indexing less would add ease, and the audience may not even notice.

Personal bandwidth and self-doubt aside, a proficiency in writing had developed, and a solid distribution system was in place. Publishing these ideas felt significant, each week’s topic guided conversations, and the timeless theme was growing a library for readers who may find lasting value long after a life well lived. It was still hard to know if this was time for a hiatus or time to double down.

By talking with mentors and considering different variables, a decision was made to double down. By continuing to write each week, a form of recursion set in and new ideas were unearthed. Each writing kept provoking more writings. The original problem was being divided into smaller parts, which made it easier to keep building without skepticism.

As more new writings shipped every week, an expanding web of thoughts fed an intrinsic motivation for perpetual learning. Along with personal growth, each piece was gratifying to share and thickened a library for leaders. After another full year of writing every week, new creative opportunities made the decision to push pause feel natural.

Extra Shot
It’s not a rainy day. It’s free water.

Sacrifices were made to stay consistent, but the beauty of this recursive exercise was that it strengthened my own understanding while also stretching the scaffolding that would continue to support even more vigorous art.

Action inspires action. What could you divide into smaller parts, then solve by doing more of the same?

Brewed From Within
#94 📖 Life & Happiness

By Ben McDougal, ago

Time Trappers

Storytelling enhanced with trapped time defines our civilization. Voices were first translated into writings to stretch the impact. Humanity continued to bring the past to life with audio, photos, and then video. We’re now adding telepathic communication and other weird ingredients to the technology soup that’s made to trap time. Leaders who leverage these tools are time trappers who wield an ability to appreciate life experiences more actively.

To test your time-trapping skills, grab a device and look through your own creative content. Whether it’s writings, audio, photos, video, or other types of art, go back to see what you’ve captured this week. Now, be kind and rewind. Revisit this day last year, two years ago, five years ago, and ten years ago. Embrace nostalgia, then consider the quantity, quality, and variety of content you’ve created.

Avoid distractions and stay in the moment, but if you’d like to enhance your time-trapping capability, think of fun ways to create more organized content.

This may be journaling, recording a podcast series, dedicating a day to taking an exorbitant number of photos, or editing a video from individual clips. As content comes together, organize it, and then push past fear by shipping the art. Creation, organization, and sharing will prevent everything from going numb within a device. The value in doing this can be seen as we write into physical notebooks or treasure a healthy bookshelf and when music lovers choose vinyl over endless streaming or a live theater performance over a TV show. Exertion from those generous enough to create, organize, and ship their art makes thoughtful time trapping more demanding but also more fulfilling as we extend time.

We are already cyborgs, and biotech will further augment the way we seamlessly capture, organize, and share our realities. Until we autonomously enhance our bandwidth, telling a story, writing, recording audio, taking photos, or shooting video will still take manual effort. Let’s mitigate the risk of AI and optimized efficiency. But might the elbow grease required to set each time trap make our personal creations more memorable? Yes! Even as future tools add ease, ingenuity and creativity will remain an essential currency that adds heartfelt context to trapped time.

Without a thesis, care enough to habitually go beyond what’s expected. When premium human time and ambitious initiative become a fundamental part of your creative practice, you’ll be a time trapper who stays in-tune, organized, and inspired with timeless purpose.

Brewed From Within
#72 📖 Technology

By Ben McDougal, ago

Not to Lose

Whether it was traveling with the teams my dad coached as a kid, playing club soccer at an early age, monopolizing my time in high school, playing all through college, or being the focus of my first entrepreneurial venture, soccer was a part of my identity for over 20 years. I’ve since shifted toward the more secret exercise of golf, but memories remain, and sports have so many playful metaphors.

Sports and other organized activities help us push to be our best, and the sense of belonging is the real magic.

No matter the sport, it can be easy to get ahead before slipping into a dangerous trap. Instead of staying sharp by maintaining the offensive pressure that earned an early advantage, it’s natural to start playing not to lose.

In soccer, this often means a team sinks back into an overly defensive formation. Less variety invites frantic desperation, and the added pressure often leads to the opposing squad scoring an equalizing goal. Even if the need for another goal shifts your team back into a more balanced attack, the momentum has shifted.

When applied to business, getting ahead and then playing not to lose can be seen all over the map. For instance, snagging a few early adopters, then assuming customer discovery is over. Hiring new talent, then just hoping everyone can work together. Launching a new product with existing customers, then not supporting them through the chasm of change. Securing product-market fit, then avoiding innovation due to a misguided sense of risk. Finding generous mentors, then forgetting to nurture relationships. Those are just a few ways we get ahead, then play to lose, but many leaders are lulled into this trap.

Tactics to stay ahead differ based on situational factors, but when in doubt, trust that uncertainty is certain. Be strategic to avoid recklessness, then maintain pressure and stay on the offensive by leaning into the pain.

As you find fresh ways to serve customers, continue celebrating milestones and stay ahead with more initiative to keep playing beyond the fear of losing.

Brewed From Within
#30 📖 Entrepreneurship

By Ben McDougal, ago

Intrinsic

We all have bad days. When they string together, the stress gets heavy. This mental weight becomes especially unwieldy when the cause is unclear. If down days stack up, searching for the origin can lead to liberating awareness.

This is not a simple pursuit. Emotions are transient, external factors remain in flux, and the labyrinth of life is winding. General therapy is helpful, but well-being within the entrepreneurial lifestyle is a moving target.

To start, destigmatize the circuitry between leadership and mental health. Be content knowing it’s not always rainbows and unicorns. This is a lonely rollercoaster with highs and lows at every turn. Recognizing this helps us appreciate the impermanence of emotions.

Leaders thrive on being exposed to new things, interesting problems, stories from different people, and building into whatever we care about. When there’s a lull in the action, it’s easy to think the ride is over. While this thought may be misguided, it’s disheartening and can lead to an isolating absence of joy. Identifying intrinsic motivations help leaders navigate and go beyond temporary despair.

As the highs of a milestone moment start to fade, be honest with your situation and don’t shy away from what got you there. Intrinsic motivators—like the love for family, fun with friends, helping others, thinking big, physical activity, and perceptual learning—guide us back to peace and happiness.

Along with internal observations, lean on peers who understand the realities of an entrepreneurial lifestyle. Welcome sincere conversations loaded with listening, and you’ll soon have others wanting to help you in return.

Here are a few more effective ways inquisitive leaders can actively maintain their mental fitness:

  • Try new things.
  • Reconnect with nature.
  • Travel to expand the mind.
  • Link teaching with learning.
  • Create more than you consume.
  • Stay centered with physical/mental exercise.
  • Avoid isolation; don’t be afraid to ask for help.

    Strength does not come from ignoring pain. Within the crucible of an entrepreneurial lifestyle, hardship is inevitable, but storms will pass and self-inquiry keeps leaders aware of their own fortitude. This reveals more stepping stones that illuminate fresh motivation to help leaders transcend momentary setbacks.

    Brewed From Within
    #121 📖 Life & Happiness

    By Ben McDougal, ago

    Winterizing

    As temperatures drop, those who live in seasonal climates prepare for winter. There are chores around the house and year-end tasks to wrap-up in business.

    Transitional times can be uplifting, but the coming chill can also freeze progress. A temptation to coast makes it easy to push action into the future, but in doing so, a message that once united momentum can start to feel dispirited.

    The team has earned a relaxing break, but what goals were not accomplished? Instead of putting progress on ice, reverse engineer past goals to determine whether a few final acts might move the needle. These sneaky achievements add closure and a positive boost for initiatives after the break.

    Doing what’s easy delays hardship, but this resistance causes suffering. Winterize your world by attacking hardship. This demonstrates commitment, and the cold will feel more like an elegant refreshment that conditions invincible warmth.

    Brewed From Within
    #102 📖 Life & Happiness

    By Ben McDougal, ago