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The Inverted Hierarchy of Needs
You can’t climb high on shaky ground!

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The Inverted Hierarchy of Needs
You can’t climb high on shaky ground!
Newsletter Summary
TEACH
The Inverted Hierarchy of Needs

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is one of the most well-known psychological concepts. It suggests that humans fulfill their needs step by step, like climbing a pyramid:
Physiological Needs – Food, water, sleep, and shelter, your survival essentials.
Safety Needs – Feeling secure in your job, health, and environment.
Love & Belonging – Strong relationships, friendships, and a sense of community.
Esteem – Confidence, respect, and personal achievement.
Self-Actualization – Reaching your full potential and pursuing personal growth.
Sounds logical, right? But what if real life doesn’t work like that?
Author Jenny Wood challenges this idea with a simple but powerful shift: invert the pyramid.
Imagine you’re juggling five balls: work, relationships, personal growth, hobbies, and health.
Now, picture one of those balls; your health is made of glass. If you drop it, it cracks, and suddenly, juggling everything else becomes a whole lot harder.
That’s the idea behind flipping Maslow’s pyramid.
Instead of treating health as something we’ll “get to later,” Wood argues that it should be the foundation because small disruptions in physical well-being can throw off everything else.
Her inverted pyramid looks like this:

Inverted Hierarchy of Needs
Physical Health (Foundation) – Movement, nutrition, and sleep fuel everything else.
Emotional Stability – Managing stress, mental health, and overall well-being.
Social Connection – Strong relationships and a supportive community.
Career & Purpose – Work and personal goals that provide fulfillment.
Self-Actualization – Growing, learning, and pursuing dreams, but only if the foundation is strong.
Think about it, one bad night’s sleep, skipping meals, or letting stress pile up can throw off your focus at work, your patience in relationships, and your motivation to chase your goals.
So instead of waiting until burnout hits, flip the script.
Move daily, eat real food, and get enough sleep. These aren’t just wellness buzzwords; they’re the fuel that keeps everything else running smoothly.
Try these simple, actionable steps:
Move for 10 minutes – A short walk or stretch can reset your energy.
Prioritize sleep – Set a non-negotiable bedtime and stick to it.
Fuel your body – Swap one processed meal for a whole, nutritious one.
Declutter your stress – Take five minutes to journal or breathe deeply.
Connect with someone – A quick call or text can boost your mood instantly.
The takeaway?
Prioritize your energy like you would your phone battery; charge it up before it hits zero.
Your future self will thank you.
Hit that reply button and let me know if you agree with Jenny Wood on this one.
I read every reply.
INSIGHTS
The Masculinity Debate
I walked in the door last night, flicked on the TV, and put on a podcast while making dinner. It didn’t take long until I was captivated by a discussion on The Diary Of A CEO about the crisis young men face today.
While I acknowledge that young women also encounter significant challenges, this conversation shed light on issues among young men that are creating profound societal impacts.
The podcast featured Scott Galloway, a professor of marketing at NYU Stern and member of the advisory council for the American Institute for Boys and Men, and Logan Ury, a behavioral scientist turned dating coach and Director of Relationship Science at Hinge. Their balanced gender perspectives made for an engaging and multifaceted conversation.
One striking statistic discussed was that men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women. Additionally, young men are increasingly disengaging from social structures like work and relationships, leading to higher rates of drug abuse and mental health issues.
The conversation delved into several key areas:
Fatherless Homes: Exploring how the absence of male role models contributes to the struggles young men face.
Education System: Discussing whether current educational structures are failing boys, leading to decreased academic performance and engagement.
Dating and Relationships: Analyzing how dating apps and evolving societal norms impact young men's approach to relationships and self-worth.
As I listened, I couldn't help but wonder:
1) How can we create environments where young men feel valued, supported, and motivated to engage positively with their communities?
2) What is it going to look like in 10 years?
3) If I were to have a son, how would I need to show up to be a male role model?
For those interested in a deeper exploration of these issues, I highly recommend watching the full discussion.
MOTIVATION
The Legacy You Will Leave Behind
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.
Legacy isn't about what we take with us, but what we leave behind.
The greatest impact comes from acts of kindness, wisdom, and generosity that outlive us.
Plant the seeds today so that others will thrive in their shade tomorrow.
What legacy are you quietly building for those who will come after you?
EXPLORE
Do Hard Things

I came across a graphic that stuck with me.
It’s from The 5 Types of Wealth by Sahil Bloom, a book I can’t wait to dive into. It’s been a New York Times bestseller for weeks, and I can see why.
I’ve learned that the more you lean into challenges, the more unshakable you become.
Life will test you, unexpected setbacks, tough decisions, moments where quitting feels easier.
But when you’ve already pushed through hard things by choice, you’re not blindsided when the unexpected hits.
Health - A grueling workout makes everyday movement feel easy.
Career - Finishing a project on time makes the next one less daunting.
Relationships - Having the hard conversation stops resentment from festering.
Finances - Saying no to short-term pleasures builds long-term freedom.
Hard things shape you.
They make you sharper, stronger, and more in control of your own life.
The alternative? Letting life’s challenges break you instead of build you.
A quote by Pierre Wildman that I live by, "If it was easy, everyone would be doing it."
Hard now, easy later.
Ambitious Question
How would your life change if you treated your body as the most important asset you own?
In case you missed last week’s newsletter, I spoke about:
TEACH: The Butterfly Paradox—The more we chase something, the more it eludes us. But when we let go, trust the process, and stay present, things naturally fall into place.
INSIGHTS: If Today Was Your Last Day—A powerful reminder of how short life is. Take two minutes today to gain some perspective.
MOTIVATION: Leadership Through Strengths—Great leaders focus on strengths, not weaknesses. Real growth comes from amplifying what makes you powerful.
EXPLORE: 10 Bits of Wisdom—Timeless lessons from Charlie Munger, shared by Shaan Puri. Simple, practical, and worth reflecting on.
Ambitious Question: Which distractions in your life have become disguised as priorities?
Check it out here.
Feel free to share this if you gained any value from it. Feedback is also welcome.