Things you'll never regret:
- Networking
- Prioritising health
- Continuous learning
- Seeking mentorship
- Taking calculated risks
Do more of these in 2024!
Charlie Munger read a lot of books.
The one he gave away the most copies of is,
“Influence- The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert Cialdini
Don’t start a business without knowing these 6 Psychological Weapons from this iconic book:
It’s never been easier to start a business.
Yet, most entrepreneurs give up in the first 5 years.
Mostly due to small habits…
These 10 habits will hold you back from success:
Spend your time mastering a new skill.
Replace time spent on distractions with devotion to your craft.
The journey from beginner to experienced instills discipline and resilience.
Spoiler alert:
Whatever you’re trying to do, it will be harder than you think.
This is why you need a community of people around you.
When you hit a wall (and you will hit a wall) they’ll be there to help.
I can't make all your business challenges go away...
But if you just
- Prioritise tasks
- Set up systems
- Delegate wisely
- Embrace change
- Focus on your strengths
I GUARANTEE those challenges will be a lot easier.
"I'll start my business tomorrow."
“I’ll quit procrastinating tomorrow.”
"I'll work on my side hustle tomorrow."
But guess what? Tomorrow never comes.
By definition, it can’t.
Start today. Not tomorrow.
Hang around with people who are more knowledgeable than you.
Hang around with people who are more experienced than you.
Hang around with people who think differently than you.
And watch how quickly your perspective will improve.
5 Hard Truths Entrepreneurs Need to Hear:
Perfectionism is your enemy.
Not every idea will be a winner.
Rejection is a step towards success.
Your time is your most valuable asset.
Cash flow matters more than revenue.
Smart doesn’t mean wise.
Money doesn’t mean wealth.
Busy doesn’t mean progress.
Forget about appearance.
Focus on outcomes.
Results matter, the rest is noise.
No matter what happened today, as long as you’re…
Still learning
Still growing
Still adapting
Still hopeful
Still working
Still striving
Still resilient
…then everything is going to be okay.
Time management is more than a skill; it's an asset that can significantly impact your business's success.
As someone who has consulted for various startups and established companies, I've found that thinking in systems can be a game-changer in managing your time.
Entrepreneurship is not meant to be a solo venture.
Social media and TV gives the impression people can win alone.
They can’t and they don’t.
Highly successful people are surrounded by a team of successful people.
The quickest way to improve productivity:
- Set clear goals
- Eliminate distractions
- Regularly review progress
- Use time management tools
You can do this, you have no excuses, I believe in you!
Leaving your job for entrepreneurship you think one income is enough.
Entrepreneurship is not a 9 to 5 job.
You can’t have one income and expect it to be sustainable.
Start with one, and diversify as you go.
Stability lies in diversity.
If you're an entrepreneur, you're likely well-acquainted with the constant juggling act of running a business.
From managing teams to meeting deadlines, the demands can be overwhelming.
It’s never been easier to be an entrepreneur.
Learn a skill.
Join a community.
Use that skill to help random people.
Build a personal brand by entertaining and educating people.
Then, leverage your network and reputation to launch your own ventures or amplify existing ones.
How to escape your 9-5
Step 1. Pick a high-income skill
- Copywriting
- Web Design
- Facebook Ads
- Email Marketing
Step 2. Practice 1 hour daily
Step 3. Build portfolio
- Work for free
- Gather testimonials
Step 4. Repeat for 6 months.
Step 5. Thank me
This matrix helps you categorize tasks into four quadrants: urgent and important, important but not urgent, urgent but not important, and neither urgent nor important.
“I need to quit procrastination.”
“I want to live proactively because I have more ambition for my goals.”
Feel the difference?
A simple reframe is all it takes to rewire your subconscious mind and change your programming.
I have been around a lot of early stage entrepreneurs.
9 times out of 10 their lack of action is not caution; it's fear.
It’s okay to be afraid, it’s not okay to allow the fear to stop you.
Skills are your currency in the marketplace.
You become more valuable the more skills you master.
If you learn…
Financial Analysis
Digital Marketing
Strategic Planning
Project Management
What’s going to bring you more fulfillment?
Sitting back, avoiding risks
OR
Taking bold steps towards your goals?
You know the truth, you just need to courage to act on it!
Once you live your life in an incredibly "intentional" way, you realise that pretty much nothing is as complicated as people make it out to be.
Most things are only complicated because they're unknown.
Time isn't the issue; how you’re managing it is.
Every time you think “I don’t have enough time.”
Change your thinking to be, “I need to manage my time better.”
Step 1: Prioritize Your Tasks
The first step in effective time management is prioritization.
While this may seem straightforward, it's often where many entrepreneurs falter.
The Eisenhower Box is a useful tool for this purpose.
Frustration happens when you’re not aligned with your goals.
The longer it goes on, the longer progress will stall.
Take a step back, assess your actions and goals and reset.
Procrastination is a death sentence.
I remember Jocko Willink talking about his “Default Aggressive” philosophy.
He taught SEAL leaders that their default position had to be to make something happen:
To take decisive—aggressive—action.
Entrepreneurs are no different.
Low self-esteem is a common struggle.
Follow your desires and be free.
Don't be shackled by others' opinions.
What they think doesn’t define you and never will.
Spend your time mastering a new skill.
Replace time spent on distractions with devotion to your craft.
The journey from beginner to experienced instills discipline and resilience.
Vision can get clearer.
Hacks can be discovered.
Systems can be improved.
Frameworks can be refined.
Productivity can be nurtured.
As long as you are willing, it's never too late.
You can always learn.
You can always grow.
A year from now, you'll wish you had begun today.
A year from now, you'll wish you had begun today.
A year from now, you'll wish you had begun today.
A year from now, you'll wish you had begun today.
Start your journey today, you won’t regret it.
An engineering mindset isn't just a concept.
It's a commitment to intentional, evidence-based thinking.
It’s a way of thinking that’s shaped by data and research, not feelings.
Feelings are good and should be embraced, but they're not something you build a business on.
As an engineer, I was used to working in solitude.
Until I found online communities.
Switching from solo to social transformed how I:
- Innovate
- Collaborate
- Solve problems
There is strength in the unity and power of community.
With problem solving, you suffer more by overthinking than under thinking.
All problems are the same.
Overthinking only adds layers of complexity that aren't there.
Simplify your approach, break down the problem into manageable parts, and start tackling it one step at a time.
I take an engineering approach to life.
I like plans, systems, metrics and data.
But I also have a strong value for people.
At the end of the day, people matter more than anything else.
Procrastination ruins your
- Focus
- Creativity
- Motivation
- Productivity
- Personal growth
- Time management
Learning to overcome it is among your wisest decisions.
Embrace Risk
Many people fear risk.
They struggle when faced with uncertainty and retreat to their comfort zones.
That's why they don't innovate.
You can't be successful unless risk becomes an ally.
Staying ahead of your competition is easier if you pick a side hustle about something that interests you.
Your natural curiosity about your business and industry fuels learning and growth, turning your interest into a powerful tool for success.
The chase for perfection is a trap.
It prevents you from taking the first step.
Progress comes from:
- Trying
- Changing
- Adjusting
Not:
- Hoping
- Wishing
- Dreaming
Aim for improvement, not perfection.
To start, you don’t need:
- Detailed plan
- Perfect timing
- Fancy equipment
- External validation
- Specialized software
- Large amounts of time
When I started, all I had was:
- Laptop
- Burning desire to succeed
Never let overthinking lead to inaction.
Business success isn’t about luck and it isn’t about effort.
That’s too simplistic.
Success is also about…
Strategy
Systems
Scalability
Business model
Problem solving
Risk management
Be suspect of anyone offering overly simple ideas, they’re probably wrong.
A business without systems is like an adventurer without a map.
You’ll eventually find your way, but you’ll waste time going in circles.
Without a map, you're a wandering adventurer.
Without a system, you’re a wandering entrepreneur.
Step 2: Eliminate Distractions
Distractions are productivity killers and are especially hard to manage with a phone AND a laptop nearby.
Identifying and eliminating distractions is crucial.
If you’re facing a complex problem, do this:
Break it down into smaller, manageable parts.
Understand each part clearly.
Start at the root and tackle each piece step by step.
Simplify. Clarify. Solutions will emerge.
The mindset of new entrepreneurs.
“Going out on my own”.
Technically, yeah, you are.
But you’re forgetting one of the most important aspects of entrepreneurship.
Networking.
You should never be going at it alone.
You’re limiting yourself if you do.
Build systems.
Systems help you grow.
Systems remove friction.
Systems can run themselves.
Systems are the foundation of success.
“Systems” is the answer most entrepreneurs need.
Surround yourself with people who think differently than you.
They'll test you instead of telling you what you want to hear.
They’ll test your…
Ideas
Mindset
Systems
Philosophies
Growth is only possible when your beliefs are tested and refined.
Biggest sources of discomfort:
- Change
- Struggle
- Uncertainty
Biggest sources of growth:
- Change
- Struggle
- Uncertainty
This is entrepreneurship in one tweet.
The more you strive for perfection, the further from it you’ll get.
The more you strive for progress, the closer to it you become.
Focus on continuous improvement, not unattainable ideals.
Life demands a mindset that can navigate complexity, innovate, and adapt.
It's a skill that fuels growth, drives change, and leads to true success.
This is what schools should have taught – not just the 'what' but the 'how' of thinking.
Step 3: Implement Time Blocks
Time blocking is not just about allocating specific times for tasks; it's about creating a structured day that allows for focused work, breaks, and personal time.
You won’t break free from your 9 to 5 job by accident.
You need a strategic, and purposeful road map tailored to your goals.
If you don’t know where to start, find a entrepreneurship community and ask for help.