Matt Ragland and a guest discuss why things built to last matter, using worn-in jeans, a GORUCK backpack, and a 20-year-old Toyota 4Runner as examples. They argue that choosing quality and intention over disposable culture makes you stronger in relationships, work, and who you become.
Chapters
Nothing lasts forever. It's true, but a few things come damn close. This is an ode to things that last. It's almost about more than just things.
It's about the people who last, who persevere through the ups and downs life throws at them.
This is durability, reliability, and good old-fashioned ability to get the job done. All of these things have a story.
Some are gifts, like the Imogene and Willie blue jeans that my tall friend Dave gave me after he got a little aggressive with the hemming.
Thanks, Dave. I'm fairly certain these jeans will never wear out. In fact, it's likely they'll wear in, like this wax canvas jacket. Together they make my favorite set of clothes, a pair I'll wear for decades and have a lifetime of stories in.
You could say they're expensive, but if they last 20 years, then I'm happy to pay the $25 a year Look Fucking Great subscription.
Then there's the Yeti cooler. And GORUCK backpack.
Over $600 of gear that could have been handled with an Igloo and High Sierra from Walmart. But they don't last.
Walmart and other big box stores aren't invested in me and my adventures. You'd say the same about Yeti and GORUCK, but the guarantees on what they make tell a different story. No matter how much I beat these things up, I can always get a fix or swap.
They're that committed. Just like me.
My friend Eric observed that commitment and quality share another trait: perseverance. This applies specifically to the quality of relationships and work. Anyone can go through good times. Most people can grind through a challenge or two.
But can you persevere?
Can you endure a bad quarter, a bad year, a bad decade to follow your vision and what you believe is right?
I'm a person who perseveres through the tough times when it's the right thing to do.
So I want to say hey real quick. What I've got going on next is the ConvertKit office hours. I do these twice a week.
Everyone has to make their own decision to commit and persevere.
You can trust yourself in that. And every day I'm learning how to do that better.
When you choose quality and intention over shoddy and careless, the world wins. You'll win by opting out of a keep-buying culture that's never enough.
Persevere through the valleys, and your relationships and work will improve, strengthened by the experience. As for me, I'll keep shooting videos, writing newsletters, and helping you build confidence to do the same. I'll persevere, just like my 20-year-old Toyota 4Runner. I hope you'll join me.
