New Goals for Self-Improvement: Transform Your Life in 180 Days
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Chapter 1: Embracing Change
As I look ahead to the remainder of 2023, my optimism is at an all-time high. Over the past six months, I have accomplished quite a bit:
- Spent three months traveling as a digital nomad in Southeast Asia.
- Established my first home in Melbourne.
- Launched an email newsletter using ConvertKit.
- Introduced a free lead magnet on Gumroad.
- Received two awards for my social impact consultancy.
- Celebrated my 28th birthday.
All these achievements in just half a year make me feel like a completely different person each month. I’m sharing this not to boast but to illustrate how transformative a six-month period can be.
Now, let me share my roadmap for the next half of the year. I am embracing the current phase of my life wholeheartedly.
I often find myself as the outlier among my friends and family. This isn’t something I take pride in or feel resentment about; rather, it’s a realization that I’ve taken an atypical path in the past year, both professionally and personally.
While many around me have opted for:
- Conventional 9-to-5 jobs that often bring dissatisfaction.
- Plans for engagement or marriage.
- Purchasing lavish homes with hefty mortgages.
I have chosen to:
- Remain single.
- Opt for an affordable mortgage and live comfortably within my means.
- Build a diverse career that includes consulting, coaching, and content creation.
At times, I do feel a sense of exclusion, especially during challenging moments in my business. I often envy their apparent financial stability and security. However, I’ve learned to stop comparing myself to others and to fully embrace my unique journey. I’ve surrendered to the ups and downs, and I cherish this newfound ability.
Joining a Community of Creators
Two months ago, I became part of a creator mastermind group, and the impact has been transformative. The motivation and creativity I’ve gained from being surrounded by like-minded individuals have been invaluable.
Successful creators typically have a supportive community. It’s naive to think you can navigate this journey alone. Seek out fellow outliers who can uplift and encourage you. Remember, it’s often easier to change your surroundings than to change yourself. Just because your path is unconventional doesn’t mean you have to walk it solo.
Investing in Expert Guidance
I've come to understand that “free” advice can often be costly in terms of time and energy. After receiving well-intentioned yet ultimately harmful guidance, I’ve decided to no longer accept free advice. It wasted several months and left me feeling burnt out.
I am now willing to invest in expertise and proven success. I seek a coach who has successfully built six or seven-figure online businesses or has helped others achieve similar feats. Coaching often gets a bad reputation, but I believe it’s crucial. Every top athlete has a coach—growth and learning are lifelong journeys.
If you know someone who fits this description, please reach out to me!
Overcoming the Fear of Selling
In the past, the idea of selling made me uncomfortable. I felt uneasy discussing my pricing with potential clients, fearing I was taking advantage of them. This sentiment is common in the social impact sector, where I often provided services for free or at a steep discount.
The downside? This approach stunted my business growth, forcing me to take on more clients and leading to burnout.
Selling is intrinsic to every aspect of life: - In relationships, you present your best self to potential partners. - In your career, you market your skills to employers or clients.
To produce your best work, you need to earn a living. Working for free can lead to burnout, and if you’re out of business, who can you serve? No one, and that ultimately harms the world.
Letting Go of Negative Influences
If you find yourself feeling the need to:
- Filter your thoughts.
- Watch your words.
- Conceal your successes.
It’s time to distance yourself from those individuals. I made the difficult choice to step back from a group of friends from my youth because our paths diverged. There’s no animosity; it’s simply a matter of personal growth. You can still cherish the relationship, but sometimes you must allow each other space to evolve.
Focusing on Depth Over Breadth
I apply two mental frameworks to my endeavors: the 80/20 principle and First-Principles Thinking. Recently, I’ve implemented these concepts in my fitness and nutrition routines.
Previously, I was training daily without tracking my macronutrient intake and was puzzled by my lack of progress. By applying the 80/20 principle, I:
- Reduced my gym sessions to four times weekly, following a structured program.
- Adjusted two meals per day to enhance my macronutrient intake.
With First-Principles Thinking, I:
- Ensure a calorie surplus, focusing on protein.
- Maintain progressive overload by increasing weights or repetitions.
These two principles are all you need for muscle gain; everything else is just noise. I track my progress using the Strong app for workouts and MyFitnessPal for nutrition.
If you apply these frameworks to any area of your life, you’ll witness exponential growth.
Remember, people often overestimate what they can achieve in a week but underestimate what they can accomplish in six months.
As a form of accountability, I plan to write a follow-up article to share my progress. Time will pass regardless of our actions, and in six months, we will all be somewhere. The question is: where will you be?
Thank you for reading! Here are two ways I can assist you: - Grab your FREE copy of my e-book — 50 Short But Practical Life Lessons I’ve Learned From Reading 100+ Self-improvement Books. - Sign up for my Living a Limitless Life Newsletter, which offers weekly tips on generating online income alongside your 9-to-5 job.