Your Folder of Awesome: Celebrating the Good You Already Have
Books that changed my thinking, behaviors, and life
Hello,
About ten years ago, I took a plain manila folder and wrote three simple words on it: “Folder of Awesome.” I can’t recall where I first heard the idea, but I remember the spark it ignited in me. The concept was so simple: collect moments that lift you up. Last week, for the first time in years, I opened that folder and sifted through its contents. What I found was nothing short of extraordinary.
Inside were little snippets of joy—notes from friends, thank-you cards from colleagues, printed-out emails from clients, Father’s Day letters from my kids. These small, seemingly fleeting moments had been saved and stored, waiting to remind me of something we all too often forget: life is full of goodness if we choose to notice it.
It struck me how little time we spend acknowledging the positives in our own lives. Think about it: most of us are pros at spotting where we fall short. We scroll through social media, seeing how amazing everyone else seems to be, constantly bombarded by a never-ending stream of “better.” Look younger. Live longer. Get smarter. Stay smarter. Dress better. Have better skin. Bigger muscles. Less fat. A great college. More income. A bigger house. The list is relentless.
What’s missing from this equation is a moment of grace—a moment to reflect on what’s going well, on what we’ve already achieved, on who we’ve become and the good we’ve done. A compliment from a coworker. A note from a customer thanking you for going the extra mile. A text from a friend saying, “Hey, I appreciate you.” These moments are gifts, and too often, we let them slip through our fingers without a second thought.
The “Folder of Awesome” became my antidote to that. Here’s how it works: grab a folder, box, jar, or anything that can store a physical record of your wins. When you receive an email that makes you smile—a heartfelt thank-you or a kind word from a friend—print it out and drop it in the folder. If you’re on the road, forward it to yourself with a reminder to file it when you’re back home. If someone gives you a handwritten note or card, save it. Don’t overthink it; just tuck it away. Over time, you’ll create a repository of positivity, something tangible to revisit when you need a reminder of your worth.
This idea doesn’t stop with the folder. My family took it one step further with what we called the “Tin of Awesome.” Anytime someone in the family did something thoughtful, loving, or supportive, we’d jot it down on a scrap of paper and stuff it into the tin. A particularly fun family outing? Into the tin. A small but meaningful gesture? Into the tin. At the end of the year, we’d open it together, reliving those moments and feeling the weight of how much good had surrounded us all year long.
It’s easy to get swept up in the pace of modern life. Since the advent of smartphones, the world has only gotten faster, noisier, and more demanding. We’re constantly connected, yet often disconnected from the things that truly ground us. The “Folder of Awesome” is a way to slow down, to counterbalance the frenzy of the digital age with something deeply human: gratitude and reflection.
These small acts—writing down a kind word, saving an email, filling a jar with memories—are powerful. They’re a reminder that joy doesn’t have to be grand to be meaningful. Sometimes, it’s found in the simplest things: a thank-you, a shared laugh, a small victory. And when life feels overwhelming, these reminders have the power to pull you back, to re-anchor you in the truth of who you are and what you’ve already accomplished.
So, here’s my challenge to you: create your own Folder of Awesome. Start small, but start now. Because in one year or in ten years, when you open it and look back, you might just be amazed by how much good has been there all along.
Welcome to this week’s Three Book Thursday.
1. Entrepreneurship
The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals
Summary
The 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling is a blueprint for achieving meaningful results in both work and life. It’s about closing the gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it, and it provides a powerful framework for turning intentions into impactful actions.
This book had a profound impact on how we ran Rosh Review. Many of the lessons and systems we integrated years ago are still in place today. And as I revisited the book for this week’s Three Book Thursday, I realized these principles aren’t confined to business—they’re deeply relevant to personal growth as well. It all comes down to lead measures, a concept that cuts through complexity and offers clarity.
Let me explain. Lead measures are the actions you control that influence the results you want—your lag measures. For instance, if your goal is to “get in shape,” stop worrying about finding the perfect routine. Instead, focus on the number of days you get outside for a walk or lace up your running shoes. That simple shift provides clarity and creates a system that works across diverse areas of life.
The authors lay out four disciplines that make this system so effective:
1. Focus on the Wildly Important: Too often, we get lost in the noise of daily demands. This principle encourages narrowing your focus to the goals that matter most, amplifying your ability to make meaningful progress.
2. Act on the Lead Measures: This was a game-changer for me. Whether in business or life, controlling what you do—instead of obsessing over the outcome—is the key to success.
3. Keep a Compelling Scoreboard: People play differently when they’re keeping score. A simple, visual way to track your progress creates accountability and momentum. Whether it’s a whiteboard at work or a checklist for personal goals, this discipline keeps you engaged.
4. Create a Cadence of Accountability: Sustained progress doesn’t happen by accident. Regular check-ins—whether with your team, a friend, or yourself—help ensure focus and course correction. At Rosh Review, this cadence was baked into our weekly meetings. Now, I use it to stay aligned with my personal goals.
The beauty of this framework is its versatility. It works whether you’re leading a team, scaling a business, or trying to improve yourself. It’s not just about achieving big goals but creating systems that simplify and clarify the path forward.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by everything on your plate, this book provides the tools to narrow your focus and build the discipline to follow through. It’s about aligning your actions with your priorities—one lead measure at a time. And that clarity? It’s the difference between hoping for results and making them happen.
Favorite Quote, Insight, & Principle
Quote: Trying to fix everything at once was like trying to boil the ocean.
Insight: To achieve a goal you have never achieved before, you must start doing things you have never done before.
Principle: Lag measures are the tracking measurements. They are usually the ones you spend most of your time praying over. By the time you get a lag measure, you cannot fix it.
Author: Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, Jim Huling
Themes: Entrepreneurship, Growing a business, Running a business, Product development, Management, Personal development
2. Human psychology
Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering
Summary
Revenge of the Tipping Point: Overstories, Superspreaders, and the Rise of Social Engineering by Malcolm Gladwell is a thought-provoking follow-up to his iconic The Tipping Point. Gladwell takes his exploration of societal change and influence to the next level, diving into how ideas, behaviors, and trends spread in a hyper-connected, algorithm-driven world. It’s a fascinating, sometimes unsettling, look at how our interconnectedness shapes the way we think, act, and innovate.
What struck me most about this book is how Gladwell connects individual behavior to collective movement. He introduces the concept of “overstories”—the narratives that subtly guide our decision-making without us even realizing it. These stories, he argues, are the invisible currents beneath societal shifts, often engineered by those who understand the mechanics of influence.
Gladwell also revisits the idea of “superspreaders,” the individuals or entities who amplify ideas and behaviors, often changing the game entirely. But in this new landscape, the superspreaders aren’t just charismatic leaders or trendsetters—they’re platforms, algorithms, and systems that have the power to shape public perception on an unprecedented scale. This realization is both inspiring and cautionary. It reminds us that the tools for influence are more accessible than ever but also warns of the responsibility that comes with wielding them.
One of the most valuable takeaways for me was Gladwell’s focus on social engineering—the deliberate design of environments, systems, and messages to create desired outcomes. It’s not about manipulation; it’s about alignment. Whether you’re leading a team, building a business, or advocating for change, understanding how to engineer environments that foster connection and action is a skill we can all use. As Gladwell shows, even small shifts—well-placed nudges, a clear purpose, or a compelling vision—can have extraordinary ripple effects.
At its core, Revenge of the Tipping Point is about the power of intentionality. Gladwell challenges us to think deeply about how we contribute to and are shaped by the world around us. Are we passive participants, or are we actively engaging with the forces that drive change? Are we creating narratives that inspire action, or are we stuck in stories that limit what’s possible?
If you’re looking for insights into how to navigate—and shape—the complex dynamics of today’s world, this book is a must-read. Gladwell’s storytelling is as engaging as ever, and his insights will leave you reflecting long after you turn the last page. In a world where influence is currency, Revenge of the Tipping Point is a guide to spending it wisely.
Favorite Quote, Insight, & Principle
Quote: What if the brighter future has been here for a long time already, and only our own blindness and weakness has prevented us from seeing it around us and within us and kept us from developing it. -Vaclav Havel
Insight: But if nothing happens and then everything happens, you are in a strange position of being discouraged during the long stretch when nothing is happening and stunned at the point when it all shifts.
Principle: When you are the only one of your kind, the world can't see you as you (token).
Author: Malcom Gladwell
Themes: Human psychology
3. History
The Gates of November
Summary
The Gates of November by Chaim Potok is a profound exploration of identity, family, and the unyielding human spirit. Through the lens of the Slepak family, Potok unveils a story that is at once deeply personal and universally resonant—a story about resilience in the face of oppression and the sacrifices made in pursuit of freedom and truth.
At its heart, this book is about choices—the ones we make, the ones we’re born into, and the ones we fight for. The Slepak family, Jews living in Soviet Russia, navigate the collision of tradition and modernity, loyalty and defiance, as they struggle to hold onto their identity in a regime that seeks to erase it. Their journey is marked by exile, persecution, and a relentless pursuit of a life lived with integrity. It’s a story of resistance not just against a system but against despair.
What makes The Gates of November so compelling is Potok’s ability to weave history and humanity into one seamless narrative. He doesn’t just recount events; he immerses you in the emotions, the conflicts, and the quiet heroism of people who refuse to surrender their sense of self, even when the odds are stacked against them. For those of us striving to make meaning in our own lives, their example is a reminder that true growth often comes from grappling with life’s hardest questions.
The themes in this book echo far beyond Soviet Russia. They remind us of the importance of standing firm in our values, even when the cost is high. They challenge us to consider how we respond to constraints—whether imposed by a government, a workplace, or even ourselves—and to see struggle not as an obstacle but as an opportunity to define who we truly are.
For medical professionals, entrepreneurs, or anyone striving to leave their mark, The Gates of November offers a powerful lesson: resilience is not just about enduring but about living purposefully in the face of adversity. It’s about the quiet courage to stay true to what matters most, even when the world seems determined to pull you off course.
This is a book that doesn’t just tell a story—it invites you to reflect on your own. What are the gates you face? What are the values you hold so deeply that you’d fight to protect them? And how can the lessons of the Slepak family inspire you to rise above the challenges in your own life?
Favorite Quotes, Insights, & Principles
Quote: The human spirit is never fully broken; it bends, adapts, and finds new ways to rise.
Insight: There are battles fought in the open, and there are those waged in the quiet depths of the soul.
Principle: The past is never dead; it lives on in the present and shapes the future.
Author: Chaim Potok
Themes: History, Memoir
At the heart of this week’s Three Book Thursday is a simple truth: we are shaped by what we choose to preserve, what we choose to focus on, and what we choose to carry forward. Whether it’s the moments tucked away in a “Folder of Awesome,” the systems we build to achieve meaningful goals, the stories we tell to drive change, or the values we uphold in the face of adversity, our lives are a collection of intentional acts. What we choose to keep defines who we become.
The “Folder of Awesome” isn’t just about nostalgia or celebration—it’s about perspective. It’s a reminder that even in the midst of challenges, there’s good to be found if we’re willing to see it. Similarly, the books this week reflect the power of intentionality in shaping not just our individual lives but the world around us. They remind us to focus on what matters most, to take deliberate action, and to let our values guide us through uncertainty.
So, what will you choose to preserve? What moments, systems, or principles will you carry with you to shape the life you want to live? Take a moment to reflect. Maybe it’s starting your own “Folder of Awesome.” Maybe it’s narrowing your focus to the goals that truly matter. Maybe it’s standing firm in your values, no matter the obstacles.
Whatever it is, know this: the intentional choices you make today will shape your story tomorrow. Choose well.
Best,
Adam
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