MY FAVORITE THINGS- 2024

2024 was incredible!!

Today, I’m sharing my favorite things from the year.

Is this a gratuitous listicle? Yes, possibly. But I promise it’s worth it.

Next week, I’ll be sharing how I transformed my life in 2024.

THE TOP 3 BOOKS I READ THIS YEAR

📚Million Dollar Weekend- Noah Kagan- Now not how! Noah tells you how to just get started and make your first $$. This book spurs action and gets you out of the dangerous contemplation stage and into actually doing the thing.

📚Influence - Robert Cialdini- written by a great storyteller, the secrets to getting people to do what you want them to do are revealed in this book. Tactics for selling, advertising, or just persuading your partner that you really need those first class seats are shared with practical examples throughout.

📚Never Split the Difference- Chris Voss- a former FBI hostage negotiator, Chris shares the language secrets and verbal approaches to getting someone on your side and doing what you hope that they’ll do. Paired with Influence, you’ll be well prepared for all of life’s negotiations, large and small.

Bonus book, this one fed the soul

📚A Year in Provence- Peter Mayle- I reread this book this Summer as I was having a Europe craving. Peter Mayle is a master craftsman when it comes to writing, always using just the right words. It also makes me want to buy a rustic farmhouse in the south of France. If you have a lead on one…

THE TOP 3 PODCAST EPISODES I HEARD THIS YEAR

🎧 Blueprint with Simon Squibb- a pod with Entrepreneur Daniel Priestley- a fantastic discussion on how to go from $0 to $1 million through a series of tests, without risking your capital. You’ll want to take notes during this one.

🎧 How I Built This- Banana Republic: Mel and Patricia Ziegler. Before consultants were, well consulted on brand-building strategies, Mel and Patricia did it the old entrepreneurial way, starting Banana based on instinct, fashion sense, and sheer force of will. Great lessons for product businesses, fashion or otherwise.

🎧 Marketing Against The Grain- How to Copy Red Bull’s $16 Billion Marketing Strategy in 4 Simple Steps- a 24-minute Masterclass in scrappy brand building. I learned so many things from this one including how to get attention with little to no money.

THE TOP DISCOVERIES THAT IMPROVED MY LIFE

🎒 North Face Voyager pack series- I’ve been a using their Basecamp duffels for years and the Voyager is made with the same rugged materials. This year, I’ve taken the Voyager Travel Pack to 6 countries and used the Daypack for loads of hikes around Upstate New York. Practical and handsome, they usually gets compliments.

☕️ AeroPress Go Plus- I know I’m late to the AeroPress fan club. I have an addiction to filtered iced coffee, something that’s not always easy to find outside of the U.S. This made its way into my travel kit this year and I’m both caffeinated and happy.

🤖 A.I.- Open AI and Chat GPT get all of the press. But Claude and Perplexity are in my daily toolkit. Perplexity can answer business strategy and historical reference prompts with astounding accuracy. Claude can craft a novel for you. Our work will never ever be the same.

*Disclaimer- I have no affiliation or connection with any of these companies or products. I’m just sharing things that I enjoy.

That’s a wrap for this week.

If you like what you’re reading, get more of Think Like A Merchant on X (the artist formerly known as Twitter) here:

I’m rooting for you!

Chad