Lucky people work very hard, have high integrity, show up on time, have good manners, show high rate of learning, are self-aware, optimistic, kind and generous.
One of the most humbling lessons from reading is discovering how frequently even the greatest thinkers have changed their minds about almost everything.
if you are struggling to stay consistent, accept the fact that you are currently an amateur
then do everything in your power to develop professional habits as soon as possible:
> an amateur shows up when they feel motivated
> a pro shows up every day
> An amateur crashes out when they get bad feedback
> A pro does not take success or failure personally
> An amateur chases validation
> A pro chases mastery
> An amateur clocks out at 5pm
> A pro stays on the job all day
> An amateur takes a break when things are hard
> A pro plays hurt
an amateur has amateur habits, and a professional has professional habits - the longer it takes you to flip that switch in your head, the longer you’ll stay stuck where you are
When you begin to see life as experience rather than possession or performance:
You stop chasing validation
You start noticing growth
You become more present
You reduce unnecessary pressure
And gradually, awareness replaces anxiety.
The first few minutes of the day and the last few minutes of the day are the foundation that determines the quality of the day. Spend these moments in presence. Not conditioning.
Good: Meditation/prayer/breath work/etc.
Bad: Phone/noise/media/etc.
The slow life philosophy:
- quiet morning coffee
- rainy days
- deep conversations
- text > calls
- doing things alone
- staying home all day doing nothing
- deep existential questions
- watching classic movies
- 700 page books
- nature walks
- music
- a purpose
- silence
"I can handle this"
i asked an 8-fig entrepreneur what mantra has made him the most effective for driving results, and enduring through highs/lows. And there were plenty of those for him
High level, it almost always comes down to that question. I love this frame because in 99.9% of situations a solution can be found. But it's usually not the technical aspects of a problem that take down organizations, it's usually the emotional/psychological frame of the leadership.
If you accept that you can handle the situation, then there's nothing left but to get to work.
Some intellectual people are not actually curious.
They are hiding.
If every conversation stays abstract enough,
nobody can ask them about their real life.
Theories become a very elegant form of distance.
Especially online where sounding detached gets mistaken for wisdom.