House Gym was a massive gift that got me and a few others through those months; Burkey's ethos shines bright every day that I hone the edge on one of his kitchen tools and prep a meal. Thanks for a deft assessment of this block along memory lane.
Burkey's influence and the connection across so many friends through his blades (I use one every day) is a wonderful example of genuine human connection. And the fact that various iterations of the House Gym exist and evolve is strong testament to the energy that originally drove its birth and the people who discovered themselves or their path within it. Onward!
Thank you for the reminder. Pertinent to say the least, particularly in an age where many feel they have experienced via a screen or their imagination. I have been guilty of it as well, it's the experience that provides the real lesson (And mirror).
Absolutely right, Mark. What you describe applies far beyond physical training and the relationships you and your team built back then. It’s the same principle that shapes any high-performing environment. At my old company, I insisted everyone work together at one long table: just people, laptops, a whiteboard, and a coffee machine. That was it. No barriers, no distractions. The setup transformed how we collaborated. The mix of temperaments and experience didn’t clash, it amplified our results. When we were pushing the limits of what was possible in “breaking security,” that shared environment made risk and creativity feel not just possible, but flowing.
When we started bringing customers into that space, almost everyone noticed the atmosphere. They’d comment on how the setup itself seemed to encourage better problem‑solving and creative thinking. A few even asked that we host their project after‑action reviews in our office because the environment just seemed to unlock better ideas.
Love the article...in terms of your opening and staying on top of things...it reminds me of the famous Nassim Taleb quote:
"Anyone who listens to news (except when very, very significant events take place i.e. 9/11) is one step below sucker. We overreact emotionally to noise. Only look at very large changes in data or conditions, never small ones"
House Gym was a massive gift that got me and a few others through those months; Burkey's ethos shines bright every day that I hone the edge on one of his kitchen tools and prep a meal. Thanks for a deft assessment of this block along memory lane.
Burkey's influence and the connection across so many friends through his blades (I use one every day) is a wonderful example of genuine human connection. And the fact that various iterations of the House Gym exist and evolve is strong testament to the energy that originally drove its birth and the people who discovered themselves or their path within it. Onward!
Thank you for the reminder. Pertinent to say the least, particularly in an age where many feel they have experienced via a screen or their imagination. I have been guilty of it as well, it's the experience that provides the real lesson (And mirror).
And building a place where people can have that actual experience is bold and scary and ... necessary. You are carrying that torch. 🙌🏻
Trying, with varying degrees of success. But thank you!
Thank you for writing this, Mark
That space, and the group that developed in it, are an axle around which much revolves. It made me smile to see your name here, my friend.
I have too much to say. I hope our paths cross again soon
Absolutely right, Mark. What you describe applies far beyond physical training and the relationships you and your team built back then. It’s the same principle that shapes any high-performing environment. At my old company, I insisted everyone work together at one long table: just people, laptops, a whiteboard, and a coffee machine. That was it. No barriers, no distractions. The setup transformed how we collaborated. The mix of temperaments and experience didn’t clash, it amplified our results. When we were pushing the limits of what was possible in “breaking security,” that shared environment made risk and creativity feel not just possible, but flowing.
When we started bringing customers into that space, almost everyone noticed the atmosphere. They’d comment on how the setup itself seemed to encourage better problem‑solving and creative thinking. A few even asked that we host their project after‑action reviews in our office because the environment just seemed to unlock better ideas.
Great write up!
Love the article...in terms of your opening and staying on top of things...it reminds me of the famous Nassim Taleb quote:
"Anyone who listens to news (except when very, very significant events take place i.e. 9/11) is one step below sucker. We overreact emotionally to noise. Only look at very large changes in data or conditions, never small ones"
🫡