SUCCESS

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Most high-performing men I know approach fatherhood with a quiet dread. They worry the sleep deprivation will blunt their edge. They worry their ambition will soften. They worry the version of themselves that built the career, the company, or the reputation will get diluted.
The research suggests something different is happening.
According to work by psychologist Dr. Darby Saxby and others studying the paternal brain, the transition into fatherhood triggers measurable biological changes. These aren’t losses. They’re adaptations.
The brain actually changes shape
One of the more surprising findings is that new fathers tend to lose some gray matter volume in parts of the cortex involved in mentalizing — the ability to understand other people’s thoughts and feelings. On the surface that sounds like decline. In practice it appears to be pruning.
The brain seems to streamline certain networks so it can process social and emotional information more efficiently. Men become better at reading subtle cues. That skill shows up at home with a baby, but it also shows up at work when you’re leading people, negotiating, or trying to understand what’s really going on beneath the surface of a conversation.
Testosterone drops — and that might be useful
Hands-on fathers typically see their testosterone fall by around 25%. In a culture that treats high testosterone as an unqualified good, this can feel like a threat. Biology appears to have a different priority.
Higher testosterone supports competition and status-seeking. A moderate drop seems to support bonding and reduce conflict at home. Men who land in the mid-range tend to adapt better than those whose levels stay extremely high or crash too low. Extremely low levels have been linked to higher risk of depression in new fathers.
The shift isn’t about becoming less driven. It’s about the drive getting redirected.
Parenting as cognitive training
Raising young children is relentless practice in emotional regulation, perspective-taking, and staying calm under pressure. Some researchers have described it as a form of social-cognitive workout. Studies have even linked having two or three children with markers of a younger brain age later in life.
Physical play — the rough, energetic kind many fathers naturally do — also spikes oxytocin. That hormone supports bonding and appears to have protective effects on the brain, including reducing certain kinds of inflammation.
None of this means fatherhood is easy or that every man experiences these changes the same way. It does suggest the brain is more plastic in response to caregiving than most of us were taught.
What actually helps
The men who seem to handle the transition best treat it less like an interruption and more like a major operational shift. A few practical things stand out:
They talk through roles and expectations with their partner before the baby arrives, instead of assuming it will sort itself out under pressure.

They build some kind of support network instead of trying to white-knuckle it alone.

They protect sleep as much as possible, knowing that chronic sleep debt compounds everything else.

They stay involved in the unglamorous parts of care rather than outsourcing all of it. The bonding happens in those ordinary moments more than in the highlight-reel ones.
Fatherhood doesn’t remove ambition. For many men it changes the timeline and the definition of what success is for. The short-term intensity is real. The longer-term rewiring appears to favor men who can hold both drive and presence at the same time.
The question isn’t whether fatherhood will change you. It will. The more useful question is whether you’ll work with the change or spend years trying to pretend it isn’t happening.
Here’s a great video on Diary of A CEO where you will learn what happens to a Father’s brain when he has children

The post How Fatherhood Rewires the Male Brain for Success appeared first on Addicted 2 Success.

High performers eventually hit a plateau, but the next breakthrough comes from widening your perspective, embracing discomfort and saying yes to opportunities before you feel fully ready.

In an economic environment ripe with disruption, how do you identify your unique blue ocean opportunity?

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Why we love this deal

Nightstands might not be at the top of your list of furniture to get when you’re revamping the bedroom, but they’re a lot more important than you would think. You want them to look good, of course, but a great nightstand has to do far more than that. It’s the place to store all the last-minute essentials you need right before you doze off for a good night’s sleep. It’s often the home base for many of your electronics, desperate for a reboot when you go to put them on their chargers. It’s the place where that lifesaving glass of water sits perched for when you wake up in the middle of the night dying of thirst. The point is, it’s more multi-functional than you think, and that’s why when you want something new for your bedroom, you can’t go wrong with the Gunaito Nightstand Set. 

The two nightstands included in this set typically sell for $119, but right now, you can get the pair on sale for just $77 or 35% off. Spruce up your bedroom with these sleek nightstands that both look great and have charging capabilities. Just know that although the nightstands are available for purchase individually, it makes more sense to buy the set of two. 

Gunaito Nightstand Set, $77 (was $119) at Walmart

Courtesy of Walmart

Shop at Walmart

Why do shoppers love it?

Constructed from a robust frame and wooden board, these nightstands have a sturdy, classic look to them that matches well with many decor styles. Measuring 15.9 inches long, 11.8 inches wide, and 30.7 inches high, the nightstands have a three-drawer design and an open top area as well as a small ledge for additional storage. The three drawers each measure 14.58 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 6.9 inches high, providing you with more than enough space to store your everyday essentials, sleep aids, books, and other personal items. The drawers are made with wooden boards and non-woven fabric that’s lightweight but very durable, each able to hold up to 20 pounds. 

What’s unique about this nightstand set is that it has a built-in charging station, making it easy to pop your smartwatches, phones, earbuds, and other electronic devices on their chargers right as you’re getting into bed. Both FCC- and ETL-certified, the charging stations offer quick and reliable charging, allowing you to wake up with fully charged devices to grab and go. There are two standard AC outlets as well as two USB-C ports to plug a charging cord directly in. The top portion of the nightstand has a backing so that items being stored there don’t fall behind and become hard to reach. Plus, there’s an LED light that makes it easy to see what’s there without needing to turn on additional lighting —particularly helpful in the middle of the night. The LED light is controllable via a remote and can be changed to one of 20 colors or 22 modes. You can adjust brightness and also stream Bluetooth music. 

Related: Walmart’s top-rated mini dresser is just $26 during a Flash deal

Above the nightstand flat top, there is a thin, small ledge where the charging station is built-in and there’s still enough space for a small lamp or alarm clock. Overall, you get five separate storage compartments for your personal items, perfect for keeping you tidy and organized. The nightstands come in three colors.

Details to know

Dimensions: Each nightstand measures 15.9 inches long, 11.8 inches wide, and 30.7 inches high. The drawers each measure 14.58 inches long, 11 inches wide, and 6.9 inches high.

Material: Wood board and non-woven fabric.

Pack size: You can purchase the nightstands individually or as a set of two.  

Colors: Three. 

Shoppers are pleased with this bestseller. Assembly and installation are easy with the included instructions, and the charging outlets, LED light, and five areas of storage all make this a no-brainer when it comes to buying. “I love the look, and it’s super easy to clean,” one shopper said. They’re the perfect blend of functional and fun, useful with some extra exciting features. 

Shop more deals 

Zimtown Nightstand Set of 2, $67 (was $75) at Walmart

Sicotas 3-Drawer Oversized Nightstand Set, $320 (was $385) at Walmart

Farmhouse Nightstand with Built-In Charging Station, $80 (was $130) at Walmart

If you’re in the market for bedside tables or even side tables for the living room, you can’t go wrong with this deal. The Gunaito Nightstand Set is currently available for only $77, which is a steal for furniture that offers so much storage. They’re practically mini dressers.

The Trump administration has been progressively shrinking AHRQ, the only federal agency focused on supporting research to improve the safety and quality of healthcare.

Woodside Energy a leading Australian oil and gas company reported a modest 7% profit increase in the June half year, adding to speculation of a takeover bid

Electrification of warfare has outrun that of the military. Advances are underway, but China’s advantage is large in hybrid/EVs. Many hurdles exist, including politics.

Walmart shoppers are increasingly treating the world’s largest retailer like an e-commerce company, and that is beginning to change which numbers matter most to investors.

In its recent second-quarter earnings, the retail giant Walmart’s U.S. comparable sales rose just 2.6%, its slowest pace in six years and below Wall Street expectations. 

The miss sent Walmart shares down more than 9% on August 20, even though the retailer raised its full-year sales and profit outlook.

The stock has recovered only slightly since the selloff. 

Walmart closed at $103.70 on August 21 and was trading around $106 intraday on Monday, August 24. 

Shares are down over 7% this past week and over 11% in the past quarter. Walmart is also down 4.86% year to date, although the stock remains 9.47% higher over the past year.

Its 52-week high, recorded in May, was $135.16, well above its current stock price of $106.49.

But in a note shared with TheStreet, Bank of America argues that investors focusing on Walmart’s slowing comparable sales may be overlooking a bigger shift unfolding beneath the surface.

The bank maintained its Buy rating following the sell-off, noting that Walmart’s digital indicators remain healthy enough to support longer-term market share gains and profit growth. 

BofA lowered its price target to $126 from $144, partly due to a weaker U.S. comparable-sales forecast.

But the new target still represents more than 20% upside from the stock price at the time of publication.

The reason for BofA’s optimism has less to do with what happens at Walmart’s checkout lanes than with what happens after a customer taps “order.”

Walmart’s e-commerce business keeps accelerating

Global e-commerce sales increased 23% in the quarter, extending a multiyear run of digital growth. 

Walmart U.S. e-commerce grew 24%, Sam’s Club U.S. climbed 26%, and Walmart International increased 19%.

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The U.S. numbers are more striking beneath the headline.

Store-fulfilled delivery sales increased more than 40%

Average weekly e-commerce customers rose more than 20%

Marketplace sales grew more than 50%

Walmart’s marketplace alone grew 52% during the quarter.

BofA sees those businesses as parts of a wider digital “flywheel.” 

Global advertising climbed 38%, membership revenue increased 17%, and Walmart+ members spend about four times as much as nonmembers, according to BofA.

Those operations also carry different economics than simply selling another carton of milk or a television inside a Supercenter.

Walmart said its U.S. e-commerce business produced double-digit incremental margins during the first half of the year, aided by advertising, membership, greater delivery density, automation, and customers paying for faster delivery.

This is relevant because Walmart has spent years growing online sales while trying to bring down the cost of fulfilling those orders.

The equation is starting to change.

“Digital is driving our growth, customer spend, and market share gains across all operating segments,” John Rainey, CFO, Walmart, told investors, adding that Walmart can expand those capabilities at a lower marginal cost.

Walmart’s stock is down 4.8% year-to-date.Joe Raedle / Getty Images

Walmart’s stores are becoming delivery hubs

The biggest weapon in Walmart’s online push may be the same thing that has historically set it apart from other internet retailers: thousands of physical stores.

More than 23% of Walmart U.S. sales now come through e-commerce, double the share five years ago.

Yet Walmart says its stores become more important as that percentage rises, not less.

Stores now serve as the last-mile fulfillment point for 80% of Walmart’s e-commerce orders and all of its fast deliveries, according to Rainey.

That turns Walmart’s brick-and-mortar footprint into a network of fulfillment points close to customers.

The company expanded its delivery to less than 30 minutes in 38 U.S. markets during the quarter. 

Fast delivery grew 48%, with orders spanning fresh and frozen food, pharmacy products, fashion, and general merchandise.

Walmart CEO John Furner said speed is becoming more than a logistics achievement.

“Speed isn’t simply a fulfillment metric, it’s an acquisition strategy.”

Customers who use fast delivery shops at Walmart more frequently, engage more with the company, and are more likely to become Walmart+ members, according to Walmart.

TheStreet previously reported on another piece of that strategy as Walmart began experimenting with dedicated delivery depots in smaller properties, including former drugstores.

Those roughly 20,000-square-foot locations stock frequently ordered goods closer to customers and allow delivery drivers to collect orders without having to navigate a full Supercenter. 

Amazon and Walmart race toward same customer

This increasingly puts Walmart head-to-head with Amazon in a part of retail where Walmart has historically held the stronger position: groceries and everyday essentials.

Amazon has been moving in the opposite direction, bringing inventory closer to shoppers as it expands its grocery delivery faster.

The two retailers are therefore attacking essentially the same problem from different starting points.

Amazon built the country’s dominant e-commerce operation and is trying to move closer to consumers.

Walmart already has roughly 4,600 U.S. stores and is turning more of that real estate into e-commerce infrastructure.

Its store network puts 95% of the country within a three-hour delivery range.

The battleground is increasingly not whether consumers shop online, but which retailer can deliver groceries, prescriptions, or everyday household items fast.

Wall Street divided over Walmart’s slowdown

Walmart’s weaker U.S. comparable sales have nevertheless raised questions about how much investors should pay for that future growth.

Deutsche Bank lowered its Walmart price target to $113 from $120 and maintained a Hold rating.

The firm called the earnings report a “tough day for the WMT bull narrative.” 

Further noting that the slowdown challenges the prevailing bull case, given Walmart’s premium valuation.

Telsey Advisory cut its target to $130 from $140 while retaining an Outperform rating, pointing to continued omnichannel growth but greater pressure from pharmacy pricing and higher fuel costs.

Morgan Stanley lowered its target to $125 from $140 but maintained an Overweight rating, arguing that e-commerce momentum and underlying operating-income growth remain intact.

JPMorgan also cut its target to $125 from $137 while keeping an Overweight rating and called the post-earnings decline a “good time to buy.”

Roth Capital, which retained a Buy rating and $138 target, went further. 

It argued that as Walmart’s business expands beyond brick-and-mortar retail, comparable sales are becoming a less important measure of its operating performance.

BofA reaches a similar conclusion.

The firm called the slowdown in U.S. comps disappointing but pointed to marketplace, advertising, and membership growth as evidence that Walmart’s broader digital strategy remains intact.

Walmart’s numbers increasingly support that argument.

Fee-based fast deliveries represented a record 37% of store-fulfilled deliveries during the quarter, while more than half of e-commerce fulfillment volume now passes through automated facilities.

Walmart is therefore not simply selling more products online.

It is getting faster at delivering them, generating more revenue around those transactions, and improving its digital operation, which once weighed on profitability.

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