Here’s what I’m picking up from The Thinking Man’s Guide to Life

🎙️ Hear this issue on The Sunday Blueprint Podcast - Episode: 10

Hey

I was at my grandparents’ house, talking with my uncle. we ended up talking about reading. Then he asked if I wanted to see his collection.

He went over to a storage cupboard, pulled out a box, and placed it on the table. We looked through a few books, and then he handed me a small one: The Thinking Man’s Guide to Life by Alfred Tong. I flipped it over, read the back, and instantly knew I wanted to read it.

So I thanked him, took it home, and started reading.

The book is brilliant small, sharp, and packed with useful lessons. Not overwhelming, but something you can dip into and take away a nugget of wisdom.

I’ve even built a little ritual around it: after the gym, I sit on the grass behind the building, read 5–9 pages, and then jot down a few quick notes about what I learned. Nothing over the top, just reminders so the lessons don’t fade away.

Here are some of the notes I’ve gathered so far:

• Most people check their emails constantly for that quick dopamine hit. But every time you break focus, studies show your IQ can temporarily drop by 10 points.

• Writing a to-do list helps organize the day. I now give myself only 2 big tasks a day the ones that really matter so I don’t overwhelm myself.

• Emojis in emails might sound casual, but they actually help. A plain request with no tone can come across negative. An emoji shows intent.

• Habits stick when they start small. BJ Fogg (author of Tiny Habits) began with just 2 push-ups after every bathroom trip. Over time, it grew into a full habit.

  • The formula: After I [routine], I will [new habit].

  • For me: After journaling at night, I’ll read 5 pages of a book.

• A Cornell study found that people are most productive (and least likely to make mistakes) when the room is between 20–25°C.

• Treat your calendar like your body: time is finite. Protect it, use it wisely, and make space for thinking, not just doing.

• “Listen more, talk less.” On client calls, I’ve realized listening to their problems first is far more valuable than overselling myself.

• On failure:

  • Resilience is everything. Failure lowers confidence, which makes us avoid risk.

  • Exercise helps it boosts testosterone and performance.

  • Don’t bottle emotions. Write them down (I already do this in my journaling).

  • Remember past wins they rebuild confidence.

  • Positive self-talk works. Even short statements in your head can reprogram the brain against negativity.

• Me-time is powerful.

  • A 2014 UVA study found people would literally rather get an electric shock than sit alone with their thoughts.

  • Solitude boosts creativity, helps you discover who you are outside social influence, and makes you appreciate others more deeply.

• On phones:

  • Keep devices out of the room at least 2 hours before bed blue light tricks the brain into thinking it’s daytime.

  • Use a simple phone when you can.

  • And when you’re with friends or family, keep your phone in your pocket presence matters.

These are just a few lessons, but the real value has been in slowing down, noticing patterns, and finding ways to apply them to my own life.

Talk soon,

Yousaf