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📚 I had Dinner with a North Korean Defector, Add More Energy to Your Life, and more.

📚 I had Dinner with a North Korean Defector, Add More Energy to Your Life, and more.

A&B #263

October 05, 2025

👋 Hey everyone,

Here are a few popular posts you may have missed:

This week’s newsletter was made possible by Shortform.

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📚 Books Summary:

This week’s book is “Electric Life” by Bill Williams.

Bill is one of the most charismatic and energetic people I’ve ever met.

In his book, Bill shares 12 microsteps that anyone can follow to become more engaging, energetic, and enthusiastic.

Here are 3 lessons from the book:

📖

1) Give A Damn

When I first met Bill, I immediately sensed an aura of positive energy from him.

He greeted me with a smile, a firm handshake, and a curious mind.

He asked me about why I was in Toronto, where I was from, and what plans I had while visiting.

But it wasn’t small talk, it was care talk.

I could sense he cared about my replies and asked follow-up questions throughout our conversation.

Later, when I read his book, I realized this was part of his Give a Damn philosophy.

When you’re talking to someone, anyone, give a damn about the person and the conversation, no matter how short.

Greet people with a smile, eye contact, and try to learn one thing about them.

The best present you can give someone is to be present.

This is especially helpful if you’re going to ask for something.

By being nice and simply giving a damn about others, Bill has been able to get a ton of free hotel perks, such as a room on a better floor, late checkout, and even room upgrades.

📖

2) “Fine” Is Not A Feeling

How many times has someone asked you, “How are you doing?” and your response was, “I’m fine.”

But fine is not a feeling.

Bill argues that if you say you’re fine, it means you haven’t honestly reflected on how you’re actually doing.

Here’s Bill’s advice on how to better understand your own emotions:

1) Ask yourself, “Is today a thumbs-up or thumbs-down kind of day?” There’s a difference between a thumbs-up “fine” and a thumbs-down “fine” type of day.

2) Ask yourself, “How much of a thumbs-up or thumbs-down feeling am I sensing in my body right now?” Are you close to neutral or are you trying to hide from the negative feelings of a recent event?

3) Ask yourself, “What’s the effect I’m having on other people when I’m feeling like this?” If you say you’re fine but the people around you are saying you’re acting like a jerk, something needs to change. Or if you’re feeling great, share some smiles or high-fives with the people near you.

When we help ourselves notice and better understand our emotions, we can do something with our observations.

📖

3) Be Self-Ful

It’s hard to be happy, energetic, and enthusiastic if you aren’t taking care of yourself.

As cliché as it sounds, you need to put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others.

If you’re constantly putting others first, you’ll end up burning out and hurting yourself in the long run.

Take care of your mind, body, and spirit.

Get your 7-8 hours of sleep. Drink more water. Find the time to exercise or move throughout the day. Spend your free time doing activities that you find exciting and add energy to your life. Take a sick day or mental-health day if you need it.

Actually do all the health things you know you should be doing for yourself.

When you’re your best self, you can be the best version of yourself for others. And that’s one of the best ways you can help others.

It’s not about being selfish, it’s about being self-ful.

✅ Actionable Advice

1) Give a damn when you’re talking to someone by being present and trying to learn at least one thing about them.

2) “Fine” is not a feeling. Ask yourself a few questions to figure out how you actually feel (and what you can do about it).

3) Be self-ful and take care of yourself before trying to help others.

PS: Bill is one of the most charismatic people I’ve ever met and an amazing speaker. If you’re looking for a speaker for your next event, consider booking him.