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It Starts With Five Minutes
A Small Habit, a Gut-Check Quote, and a Book Worth Coming Back To
Clay Garrett
May 8th, 2025 • Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
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Hey—it’s Clay.
On Monday, I told you how getting laid off, losing my backup plan, and living through a global reset turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.
But here’s the thing nobody tells you:
You don’t rebuild your life with big moments.
You rebuild it in the small ones.
Today’s Kindling is about that.
One habit. One choice. One conversation. Five minutes. That’s where it all starts.
I’ve got a quick story, a quote that hits harder than you'd expect, and a book I always come back to when I’m slipping.
Let’s keep it simple—and keep it moving.
Five Minutes That Matter
If you feel disconnected from your wife or kids, the problem isn’t time—it’s attention.
The Wake-Up Moment
A few months ago, my son was talking to me while I was half-scrolling through Gmail. I nodded, said “That’s cool, buddy,” and then he asked:
“So, do you think I should do that?”
I had no clue what he was talking about.
Worse—he knew I wasn’t really listening.
So I told him, “I’m putting my phone away. Start over—I want to hear it.”
Five minutes later, he was smiling wide.
Because it wasn’t about more time. It was about real attention.
👉 Try This:
Pick one person this week—your wife, your kid, a friend—and give them five full minutes.
No phone. No distractions. Just eye contact and presence.
That’s it. Five minutes. Show up fully.
And if something shifts—reply and tell me.
🔥 Quote of the Week
If you don’t make time for your wellness, you will be forced to make time for your illness.
Five minutes of attention builds connection.
Five minutes of movement or better choices builds your health.
Small actions compound. Every time.
🔥 What I’m Re-Reading: The War of Art
If you’ve ever struggled to start—or keep going—this one’s for you.
Steven Pressfield’s The War of Art is about fighting resistance, the invisible force that stops you from doing the things that matter.
📌 One line that hits hard every time:
Resistance will tell you anything to keep you from doing your work... Resistance will not be reasoned with.
Like all the books I “read,” I listened to The War of Art on Audible.
🔥 Gut check book. Especially if you’ve been waiting for the right time.
Have you read it? Hit reply and tell me what stuck with you. Or share a book that brought you back for a second round.
🔥 Everything Comes Down to This
Burning the blueprint (on Monday).
Five-minute presence.
Small wins.
Overcoming resistance.
It’s all about one thing:
👉 Showing up where it actually matters.
Don’t wait for the perfect moment.
Pick one thing. Commit. Then go do it.
Keep the fires burning,
— Clay
P.S. Know someone who needs this? Forward it to a friend.
More good men around the fire = a better world. 🔥
If you’re digging Campfire Gentleman, check out a few other newsletters I actually read and recommend. No fluff—just solid stuff from like-minded guys trying to build something that matters.