The Profile: The Ozempic capital of the world & America's favorite motivational guru
This edition of The Profile features Mel Robbins, Mike Tyson, “Dr. Roxy,” and more.
Good morning, friends!
What does it mean to be a “master of disaster” in a moment of crisis?
It’s someone who rises above the panic, sidesteps impulse, and hones in on the actions that actually make a difference in moments that matter.
Think of Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger calmly telling air traffic control, “We may land in the Hudson.” Imagine fitness star Robin Arzón, face-to-face with a gunman, staying cool enough to de-escalate the situation.
These are people who didn’t simply react—they took control of the crisis.
I spent the last few weeks learning the techniques used by some of the world's most effective crisis managers. From airline pilots to astronauts, from presidents to CEOs, these individuals have faced unimaginable pressure and emerged victorious.
Here’s how you can develop the skills necessary to conquer any crisis:
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MAKING IN AMERICA: On Thursday, Nov. 21, I’ll be speaking at an event called, Making in America. We’ll talk about what patriotism means to me, how immigrants can thrive in a competitive business environment, and what the American Dream means to me. If you’re an immigrant innovator in NYC, feel free to join. RSVP here.
PROFILES.
— America's favorite motivational guru
— The TikTok plastic surgeon who fell from grace
— The legendary boxer fighting Jake Paul
— The Chinese company terrifying the auto industry
— The Ozempic capital of the world [**HIGHLY RECOMMEND**]
PEOPLE TO KNOW.
America's favorite motivational guru: Mel Robbins, 56, is a motivational powerhouse with a winding career path. She's worn many hats: public defender, life coach, syndicated talk-radio host, CNN legal analyst, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, self-help author, daytime talk-show host, and now podcast luminary and mini media tycoon. Robbins has experienced both dizzying highs and crushing lows—including her famous admission of being $800,000 in debt. She's become the encouraging voice in people's heads, urging them forward and silencing self-doubt. Her signature line, "In case anyone hasn't told you today, I love you," may sound corny, but coming from Robbins, it feels revolutionary. (TIME)
“The hardest thing about what I do is that oftentimes the advice and the tools sound dumb or repetitive.”
The TikTok plastic surgeon who fell from grace: Dr. Katharine Roxanne Grawe had nearly one million followers on TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat who’d liked, subscribed to, and stomached videos of her performing liposuction on a patient from her OR while making unnerving eye contact with the camera. Fans were shocked to find out that plastic surgeon Dr. Grawe, a.k.a. “Dr. Roxy,” had been stripped of her right to practice medicine in the state of Ohio earlier this year. Here’s what happened when a record of botched surgeries caught up to her. (New York Magazine; alternate link)
“This is a case about the fact that Dr. Grawe’s use of social media impacted her patient care.”
The legendary boxer fighting Jake Paul: It’s almost surreal to imagine that 58-year-old boxing sensation Mike Tyson will be fighting again soon. Officially, he retired from boxing nearly 20 years ago. At that time, his upcoming opponent, Jake Paul, the internet celebrity turned boxer, was making his way through elementary school. Paul is now all grown up and preparing to take on Tyson Nov. 15. The fight, which will be streamed on Netflix, could become one of the most watched sports events of the year and one of the most lucrative. There’s speculation that Netflix has paid $80 million in purses alone for the fight; if that’s even close to being true, it could rival the figures Tyson made in his pay-per-view prime. Here’s what Tyson has been up to in preparation for this epic fight. (New York Magazine; alternate link)
“Discipline is doing what you hate to do, but doing it like you love it.”
COMPANIES TO WATCH.
The Chinese company terrifying the auto industry: BYD, the Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, is the brainchild of Wang Chuanfu, a 58-year-old battery scientist who in the 1990s saw an opportunity to start a rechargeable battery company to challenge Japan’s hold on the industry. It began by focusing on batteries for mobile phones and power tools, but in 2003 it decided to pursue cars. As BYD is flooding markets with its cars, the U.S. is doing everything it can to keep the booming brand out. (Bloomberg; alternate link)
“No company in recent memory has expanded globally at such a rapid clip as BYD.”
The Ozempic capital of the world: Conditions were ripe for Bowling Green, Kentucky, to become America’s weight-loss drug capital. Kentucky has one of the 10 highest obesity rates in the US. The area is comfortably middle class and has a smattering of large employers that have offered insurance plans covering the shots, which would otherwise cost upwards of $1,000 a month. Other locals who don’t get them covered are willing and able to pay out of pocket. “We’re redneck enough to be fat, but smart enough to do something about it,” says Mary Sansom, a retired schoolteacher. Here’s how Ozempic is taking over many small American towns. (Bloomberg; alternate link)
“We’re all living in an Ozempictown—or will be soon.”
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