Austin's Analects

Austin's Analects is a Substack dedicated to providing actionable insights on optimizing personal performance and living well. It covers a wide range of topics including personal finance, fitness, career advice, investments, and lifestyle choices aimed at enhancing overall well-being and financial independence.

Personal Finance Fitness and Health Career Growth and Goals Investment Strategies Lifestyle and Well-being Real Estate Investing Technology and Social Media Nutrition and Diet Retirement Planning Entrepreneurship and Side Hustles

The hottest Substack posts of Austin's Analects

And their main takeaways

Abstraction, Gentleman's Agreement, Buying Software Once

59 implied HN points ā€¢ 04 Apr 24
šŸ•¹ Technology Software Podcasts Subscription Models Abstraction AI
  1. Abstraction makes complex tasks appear simple for users, like starting a car with a key despite the intricate workings behind the scenes.
  2. Utilizing a 'Gentleman's Agreement' can boost subscriptions, as seen in podcast strategies like MFM's approach.
  3. Exploring the concept of buying software once as a contrast to subscription-based models, promoting simplicity and cost-consciousness.

2023 Year In Review

119 implied HN points ā€¢ 31 Dec 23
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Fitness Self-care Mental health Nutrition Lifestyle
  1. Setting experiences to live out rather than traditional goals can offer a unique perspective and focus for the year.
  2. Reflecting on milestones achieved throughout the year can provide a sense of accomplishment and progress.
  3. Lessons learned, like the importance of unpredictability in life, paying for expertise, and staying committed to goals, can guide personal growth.

Why I Write My Newsletter, Content Ideas, OG CrossFit Workouts

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 22 Mar 24
šŸ’¼ Business Content creation Personal Finance
  1. The purpose of writing a newsletter evolved to creating authentic relationships with readers, rather than just growing an audience.
  2. Struggling to come up with content ideas? Use prompts like TED Talk topics, life events that made you stronger, or public bets you'd back up.
  3. Explore the original CrossFit workouts from the early 2000s, maintaining their essence even after 24 years.

Life Monopoly, Protein Consumption, Unbundling Upwork

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 14 Mar 24
šŸ’¼ Business Personal Finance Housing Market Marketplaces Freelancing
  1. Owning mortgage-free rental properties for each child is a smart financial strategy for the future.
  2. Traditional advice on protein intake might be outdated, with studies suggesting the body can absorb more protein per meal than previously thought.
  3. The unbundling trend seen with companies like Uber is now happening with platforms like Upwork, leading to more specialized niche service providers.
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WOData: CrossFit Open 24.2

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 13 Mar 24
šŸŽ¾ Sports Fitness Strategy Analysis Training Performance
  1. The author shares their strategy and analysis for CrossFit Open Workout 24.2, achieving a high score and feeling proud of their performance.
  2. The workout consists of a 20-minute AMRAP involving rowing, deadlifts, and double-unders, with the author focusing on efficient transitions and pacing throughout the routine.
  3. By analyzing their execution in terms of time per round, movement, and transitions, the author reflects on areas where they excelled and areas for potential improvement, like quicker transitions for better performance.

Date on the Calendar, Where Our Food Comes From, Advice About Advice

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 07 Mar 24
šŸ² Food & Drink Food Industry Healthy Eating Advice
  1. Having a specific date on the calendar for a goal increases the likelihood of actually achieving it.
  2. Most of the food Americans eat is produced by big corporations, which can be harmful. Support local food sources and communities for better health.
  3. When taking advice, prioritize personal stories and insights from people you admire or aspire to be like over generic advice.

Six-Word Memoirs, Career Moves, Reverse Sear

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 01 Mar 24
šŸ² Food & Drink Cooking Career Finance Personal Finance
  1. Six-Word Memoirs offer a concise way to connect with others by describing yourself in just a few words.
  2. When planning your next career move, consider mapping out adjacent careers and necessary skills to see what roles align best with your interests and strengths.
  3. A simple 'reverse sear' method can help you cook a perfect steak every time: season, oven cook, sear, and rest to enjoy a delicious meal.

Worrying Less, Demystifying Happiness, Running Faster

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 22 Feb 24
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Mental health Physical health Running Personal Finance Self-Improvement
  1. Stop worrying about things that haven't happened yet; experiences in life add value and help us grow.
  2. Identify as a happy person to reinforce that belief; control your environment and inputs to support a positive mindset.
  3. Follow a structured running plan to improve speed and endurance; consistency and hard work lead to strength and success.

Building a Successful Company, Sharing Ideas Online, and Career Cheat Codes

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 15 Feb 24
šŸ’¼ Business Success Ideas Career Finance Personal Growth
  1. Key secrets for building a successful company involve getting the right people on board, showing category leadership, creating unique products, and ensuring everyone in the company is focused on sales.
  2. Sharing your ideas online allows you to grow your skills, learn publicly, and become the best version of yourself before pursuing corporate opportunities.
  3. To advance in your career, consider starting an internal newsletter to build relationships and standing out, as well as making a list of what you want out of your company to actively pursue opportunities and skills.

Passed CISSP 1st Attempt With 10 Weeks of Prep: My Journey, Study Plan, & Lessons Learned

3 HN points ā€¢ 05 Apr 24
šŸšŒ Education Certification Lessons Learned
  1. Consider getting a certification to boost your career even if you lack experience. It can help build confidence and knowledge.
  2. Create a structured study plan with practice problems and pacing. Consistent review and memory tricks can enhance learning.
  3. Prioritize materials that work best for you, such as crash courses and memorization techniques. Avoid excessive reading of success/failure stories for focus.

Picture Perfect Career Path

119 implied HN points ā€¢ 03 Jun 22
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Physical health Mental health Social Health Vocational Health Financial Health
  1. Reflect on past achievements and activities regularly to gain insights and set future goals.
  2. Physical health can be impacted by unexpected factors like high cholesterol, prompting a need for lifestyle adjustments.
  3. To build wealth efficiently, focus on building equity in businesses and investing in opportunities that align personal interests with financial gains.

My Life is Dope

99 implied HN points ā€¢ 01 Jul 22
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Physical health Mental health Social Health Vocational Health Financial Health
  1. Prioritize your main fitness goal to avoid injury or burnout when balancing sports and working out.
  2. Traveling can bring spontaneity and new ideas, but routine lovers may find it challenging at times.
  3. Taking a break from social media can lead to increased happiness, and reflecting on financial priorities can inspire long-term wealth building for better stories.

Injuries & Accidents

119 implied HN points ā€¢ 01 Apr 22
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Physical health Mental health Social Health Vocational Health Financial Health
  1. Taking rest days is crucial for physical health and recovery, even if it feels like falling behind in fitness goals.
  2. Avoiding injury is a key secret to long-term fitness success, and consistent exercise is more beneficial than occasional intense workouts.
  3. Prioritize spending time with friends and loved ones, as life is short and opportunities to connect dwindle as time goes on.

13 Workouts Under 20 Minutes Each

79 implied HN points ā€¢ 04 May 22
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Fitness
  1. Entrepreneurs struggle to find time to workout; here are quick 20-minute workouts to help.
  2. Fitness success isn't about working out more, but about working out effectively with shorter routines.
  3. The provided workouts include various movements like squats, burpees, push-ups, and more to target different muscle groups.

How Food Marketing Is Reinforcing Bad Habits

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 02 Jun 23
šŸ² Food & Drink Marketing Nutrition Health Deception Consumer behavior
  1. Eating before bed is unhealthy, yet 80% of Americans snack at night and $50 billion is spent on nighttime snacks per year.
  2. Big food companies are targeting the nighttime snacking market, despite the negative health impacts of eating before bed.
  3. nightfood, a company in the nighttime snacking category, uses deceptive marketing tactics to promote unhealthy snacking habits as a solution.

Creatine 101

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 02 Jun 23
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Nutrition Fitness Supplements Performance Body
  1. Creatine is a substance naturally found in the body that helps improve muscular endurance, increase muscle mass, and even enhance cognitive function.
  2. Taking creatine can lead to benefits like being able to work out longer and harder, lift more weight, and improve focus.
  3. You can determine if creatine is working for you by monitoring an increase in strength, the ability to complete more reps, and potential weight gain from water retention.

What Iā€™m Doing Now

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 Apr 23
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Fitness Travel Nutrition
  1. Austin is engaged and shared a humorous anecdote about the proposal. Rachael said yes!
  2. Austin signed up for Ironman 70.3 after a challenging experience surfing led him to focus on improving his swimming skills.
  3. Austin recently spent two weeks in Spain, enjoying various highlights like a cooking class, beach club, and more.

On financial freedom

59 implied HN points ā€¢ 12 May 21
šŸ’° Finance Personal Finance Investing Entrepreneurship
  1. Financial independence is about having enough income to pay for your living expenses without being employed or dependent on others. It's a goal that allows you to work on your own projects and time.
  2. To achieve financial independence, focus on building a diverse income stream, maximizing investments like a 401k and Roth IRA, starting a side business, and exploring opportunities like self-storage facilities and crypto.
  3. Learning from books, starting businesses, getting a good job, and continually seeking ways to increase income are steps on the journey to financial independence. Share your struggles and seek motivation from like-minded individuals.

Live-In House Flipping 101

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 10 Aug 22
šŸ’¼ Business Investment Strategies
  1. Real estate investing requires both learning and actually taking action - spending time learning is important, but actually doing it is crucial for success.
  2. The Live-In Flip strategy is a conservative way to start real estate investing without high risks, providing opportunities for learning and DIY renovations to build equity.
  3. Live-In Flipping has pros such as tax benefits, renovating at a comfortable pace, learning opportunities, saving money with DIY projects, but also cons like living in a construction zone, potential emotional attachment to the property, and continuous work requirements.

On 75 Days of Yoga and 3-Step Formula for Financial Freedom

39 implied HN points ā€¢ 07 Jul 21
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Yoga
  1. Participating in yoga sessions at home using resources like YouTube is a great way to improve flexibility and well-being.
  2. A 3-step formula for financial freedom involves finding ways to maximize time and balance work responsibilities with building and creating.
  3. Setting and documenting quarterly goals can help stay focused and motivated, fostering a sense of achievement and community.

Unconventional Money Lessons

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 22 Apr 22
šŸ’° Finance Personal Finance
  1. Open a savings account and build an emergency fund, you never know when you'll need it
  2. Sometimes you need to do things you don't want to do in order to achieve your goals
  3. Working for somebody can teach you valuable lessons and give you practical experience

On the FIRE Movement

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 11 Aug 21
šŸ’° Finance Personal Finance Retirement planning
  1. The FIRE movement focuses on saving aggressively to achieve financial independence and retire early by living off investments.
  2. Popular FIRE community advice includes maxing out a 401(k) despite the access limitations before age 59 1/2.
  3. Strategies like the Roth Conversion Ladder and Rule 72(t) offer ways to access 401(k) funds early without penalties.

Roth Conversion Ladder

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 04 Aug 21
šŸ’° Finance Investing Retirement Personal Finance
  1. The Roth Conversion Ladder is a strategy to access retirement funds early and penalty-free.
  2. Diversification of investments is crucial for a good investment portfolio.
  3. Understanding covered calls and identifying a fatFire number are important aspects of investing.

Austin in Austin, Fit Finances: Part 1, $25K/Week in Passive Income

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 21 Jul 21
šŸ„ Health & Wellness Fitness Nutrition
  1. A doctor started a Youtube channel in 2017 and now makes $25k per week in passive income, showing the potential of online platforms for income generation.
  2. Prioritizing key components like nutrition, metabolic conditioning, gymnastics, weightlifting, and sports can guide fitness training for better results.
  3. Creating a structured workout program tailored to address specific fitness goals can help maintain focus and progress in personal fitness journeys.

10: On making $40k/month and how to climb the corporate ladder faster than your coworkers

19 implied HN points ā€¢ 14 Jul 21
šŸ’¼ Business Finance Career development Entrepreneurship
  1. Make $40k/month by efficiently working only 4 hours per week. Tim Ferris shared his journey from $40k/yr to $40k/month in his book The 4-Hour Work Week.
  2. To climb the corporate ladder quickly, focus on building strong relationships and acquiring valuable skills. It's not just about what you know, but also about who knows you in the company.
  3. Prioritize community growth by sharing helpful content with friends and colleagues. Engaging with like-minded individuals can enhance personal and professional development.