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| Icebreakers with...Mathematician and Former NFL Player John Urschel Kimberly White/Getty Images John Urschel isn't exactly someone you want to compare your stats against. The former Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman retired from the NFL in 2017, authored a book in 2019, and received his PhD in mathematics from MIT this year. He's also very funny. We got on the phone and talked about goals, math, and pursuing wildly different disciplines. Your career jump was a bit more public than most. Any tips for someone looking to pivot? I was a serious mathematician and also a serious football player, for about seven or eight years, concurrently. So it was less stopping something and starting something else than doing two things and dropping one. But for people who are trying to make a switch, the biggest piece of advice I can give is: Make sure you're prepared for that switch. I think it's important to have a plan about what you will do if what you're currently doing is not going to work out. One of the things that makes it really hard for people to make a switch in sports or in anything is that, when you have a job, you start to think that your job is who you are. Your job is something that defines you in some way to family, friends, and other people. I think that actually limits a lot of people because they have a hard time imagining themselves outside of a certain thing. I think it's really important to disassociate yourself with what it is that you do. In my mind that empowers you to do different things. Any suggestions for a parent looking to get their child interested in math? The best thing you can do is, first of all, create a positive environment around learning. The thing that you should be stressing to them is the idea of creativity, the sense of wonder, the sense of discovery. I would recommend buying your kids fun math books to read, encouraging them to ask interesting, tough questions that you might not have the answer to, and just really pushing their creativity. More so than focusing on results or scores or grades. What are your hobbies? I'm not any good at it, but I do really like playing chess for some reason. But if I'm being 100% realistic, I more or less have no hobbies, because I have a three year old. Are you very organized? I think most people—my wife, friends of mine who've seen my office—would say no. But I think I'm organized. I'm quite organized with my time, when I was doing [math and football], I always did the most important thing first. Although, I think organization with time and organization with space, these are perhaps two different variables. Favorite movie about academics? Favorite movie about sports? Good Will Hunting—I don't think there should even be a question there, it's gotta be—and Friday Night Lights. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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| How to Deal With a Bossy Coworker Each week, our workplace whisperer Shane Loughnane answers a reader-submitted question about work in 2021. Anything bothering you at work? Ask Shane here. I recently left my job for a new role that checks all the boxes, except for one: I have an extremely bossy coworker. We have the same title and report to the same manager, but she delegates tasks to me, leaves me out of certain meetings, and makes me feel inferior, even though we are supposed to be equals. How would you suggest I approach this situation?—Anonymous Just when I thought I'd wrapped up my holiday shopping, I'm reminded that I haven't gotten anything for that bossy coworker in my life. Etsy, you always come through in the clutch. Before you follow my lead, it's worth bringing your manager up to speed on what you're experiencing with your coworker. This is partly for awareness, as well as to confirm that there wasn't any miscommunication of reporting lines or expectations on their end. It's also a bit of CYA if your boss isn't aware of why you've been absent from certain meetings, for example. While we're embracing the awkward, I'd also schedule some time with your colleague. Let her know that you're looking to solicit some peer feedback (emphasis on peer). Focus on asking questions that draw out the issues you've identified, for example: "I've noticed you've been delegating tasks to me, and it makes me feel like you don't think I'm pulling my weight. Is that the case?" Consider her response in each instance, but then be clear and firm about your expectations going forward. In the excitement of bringing on a new hire like yourself, teams sometimes overlook their potential to create insecurities among their existing members. While you're likely dealing with the manifestation of those insecurities in this case, it's possible you've simply found someone who enjoys the illusion of being in charge. Either way, your ability to be assertive (as opposed to finding the most passive aggressive holiday gift) is ultimately going to be the key to checking that final box.
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| Musk's War Against Build Back BetterElon Musk has some big ideas on how to revamp Biden's $2 trillion Build Back Better bill: killlllllllll it. Tesla's Technoking said in an interview at the WSJ's CEO Council Summit this week that the social spending package would just add to the already sky-high federal deficit. And, curiously, he took issue with one particular measure in the bill: expanded federal subsidies for electric vehicles. Musk says how about you subsi-don'tTo fight climate change and spur adoption of electric vehicles, the spending bill expands a $7,500 tax credit created in 2010 for consumers who buy plug-in EVs. Under the current framework, the credit expires when a car manufacturer sells 200k vehicles—Tesla hit that in 2018—but the bill lifts the cap and adds an additional $4,500 for cars built by union workforces and $500 for EVs with American-made parts. Musk also dismissed the infrastructure bill's $7.5 billion investment into plastering the country with EV charging stations. "Do we need support for gas stations? We don't," Musk said. "I would delete it. Delete." But as much as Musk wants to paint himself as Mr. Bootstrap, he's benefited plenty from Uncle Sam before.
So why is he anti-subsidy now? Well, more federal EV investment would likely benefit Musk's competition more than Tesla, given its strong leadership position in the market. Of the expanded credits in the bill, Musk tweeted, "This is written by Ford/UAW lobbyists" (UAW = United Auto Workers union.) The rebuttalAfter Musk roasted the EV subsidies, US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said of the capital-intensive transition to EVs, "These are things that don't just happen on their own," at the same WSJ summit this week. Buttigieg and the rest of the Biden admin believe that in order to accelerate adoption of EVs the auto industry must 1) lower the cost barriers—Tesla's prices still primarily hover in the luxury range—and 2) make it easier to charge up. They argue that won't happen quickly enough without the government greasing the wheels, and they need it to happen fast: Biden pledged to cut US greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030.—MM
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| Open HouseWelcome to Open House, the only newsletter section that wants to know if peak luxury is simply taking a bath in a big rock? We'll give you a few facts about a listing and you try to guess the price.  JamesEditionToday's
How much to trim your 40-hour workweek?
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| Just Click It1. Birds aren't real, or are they? Inside a Gen Z conspiracy theory. (New York Times) *We propose a toast. To life, and to taking the time to celebrate it in luxurious places like The Venetian Resort. Take some time for yourself—or for yourself and a few friends—with world-class restaurants on the Strip. Book your next trip right here. *This is sponsored advertising content |
| Meme BattleWelcome back to Morning Brew's Meme Battle, where we crown a single memelord every Sunday. Today's winner: Josh in Fargo, ND  This week's challenge: You can find the new meme template here for next Sunday. Once you're done making your meme, submit it at this link for consideration. |
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