As yes ends, many of us prepare goals and resolutions for new year. The new year isn’t just an end but a farewell to past mistakes, welcoming a fresh start.
If you aim to surpass the norm and join the elite, consider my experience, not wisdom. I defied odds this year. This year, my four-figure job brought unhappiness.
I felt robotic waking up, doing unimpactful work, lacking time for loved ones. Enough was enough.
I quit, stayed unemployed for 2–3 months, and landed a dream five-figure job.
I began a Notion and Productivity business, grew a 20,000+ social presence, networked globally, and started a profitable newsletter. How? By adopting habits, models, and mentalities.
To surpass the 99%, do what they won’t. Ask daily, “Comfort or laziness?” Comfort often hindered my potential.
My job brought money, but quitting led to better opportunities. Starting my own business was the leap. This leads to our first habit:
Table of Contents
- Habit 1: Embrace Discomfort: Unleash Your Potential
- Habit 2: Prioritize What Counts
- Habit 3: Embrace Ownership: Shape Your Future
- Habit 4: Release the Desire for Validation
- Habit 5: Building Resilience for Growth
- habit 6: Unlocking Your Business Potential Through Habits
- Habit 7: Expand Your Network: Embrace Connections
- Habit 8: Embrace the Journey: Discovering Life’s Meaning
Habit 1: Embrace Discomfort: Unleash Your Potential
It may sound cliché, but this lesson is crucial. To truly understand your potential, embrace discomfort in both your professional and personal life. Are you too comfortable with your current work? Challenge yourself—take on more tasks, push your limits.
Dream of starting a business but lack time? Carve it out. Work while traveling, cooking, or even an hour before bed—swap TV time for work time. Shed materialistic desires for genuine fulfillment.
But isn’t that robotic?
Not at all. To surpass others, you must do what they won’t. In their 20s, many party, spend, and live extravagantly—choices known as a life of freedom.
Your choices today shape tomorrow’s future. Like many, I sacrifice now for a more comfortable tomorrow. The hustle isn’t for the faint-hearted—it demands a resolute mindset.
This fosters resilience, adaptability, and fearlessness in facing challenges.
Habit 2: Prioritize What Counts
It’s not just about focus; it’s about pinpointing what truly matters. Invest your time in activities that bring happiness, health, or knowledge. Whether it’s watching a show, eating healthily, or reading, build a lifestyle that leads to holistic improvement.
Whether you lean towards podcasts or yoga, channel your energy into activities aligned with your genuine self.
Life’s too short for uninspiring engagements. Redirect from energy-draining influences like social media or celebrity news. Invest your time where it genuinely counts.
Habit 3: Embrace Ownership: Shape Your Future
Life poses challenges, but success starts with taking ownership. You wield the power to sculpt your destiny. No savior exists to do the hard work or secure opportunities for you. It’s solely up to you to make every moment count.
Recognize flaws, learn from errors, and reject excuses. Embracing responsibility grants you the freedom to enact positive changes and pursue goals with purpose.
Habit 4: Release the Desire for Validation
Success often demands liberation from external validation. When I received praise for a good grade, it became my obsession to chase perfection, craving those affirming words from my parent. Yet, this habit did more harm than good—my pride tied solely to external acknowledgment.
I set validation expectations, hindering my ability to take pride in my accomplishments.
To leap forward, shed the constant need for approval. If praised, find joy; if not, keep moving.
Carve a path led by internal validation, embracing yourself—including imperfections—and fearlessly pursuing your goals.
Habit 5: Building Resilience for Growth
Resilience forms the bedrock of personal development, encompassing the ability to rebound from setbacks, adapt to change, and persist despite challenges.
Embrace the notion of failure. When confronted with setbacks, instead of seeing it as a loss, perceive it as an experiment that didn’t yield the expected outcome.
True strength lies not in avoiding defeat but in rising after a fall. Throughout your journey, there will be days devoid of motivation—those are the moments to push through and emerge stronger.
By cultivating resilience, you not only navigate challenges but flourish amidst them.
habit 6: Unlocking Your Business Potential Through Habits
People often ask, “How did you discover your business?”
Truth is, I didn’t. I’ve always advocated for productivity and used Notion for years. Writing has been my passion since age 10; I even penned a poetry book. But I never linked these interests.
One day, a classmate remarked, “Your templates are great, I’d pay for them.”
Though a jest, that sentence stuck. I shared my Notion board for free—and within a day, it got 7 downloads.
Focus on your skills and passions.
Consider:
- What you excel at
- What people value enough to pay for
- What’s trending or in-demand
Once you find the intersection, you’ve embarked on the path forward.
Habit 7: Expand Your Network: Embrace Connections
Once introverted, I cherished solitude with few friends. But when I shared my experiences online, a flood of connections ensued. We formed a supportive group, uplifting each other in various ways.
It became my most cherished circle.
Geography shouldn’t limit meeting the right people.
From Portugal to Mexico, France to Austin—I conversed with individuals from diverse places. Hours were spent discussing interests, motivations, and exchanging ideas.
Building your network reveals the power of having the right support.
Habit 8: Embrace the Journey: Discovering Life’s Meaning
Life’s essence isn’t confined to achieving specific goals but lies in embracing the journey itself. It’s about finding fulfillment in the process of growth and self-discovery rather than fixating solely on the destination.
Nurture curiosity and marvel about the world. Approach each day with a spirit of adventure and openness to possibilities. Many feel adrift in their mid-twenties as predefined paths end.
From childhood:
- School
- Good grades
- College
- Degrees
- Job
By mid-twenties, that cycle concludes, leaving confusion as independent thinking feels elusive. Life isn’t confined to predefined rules.
Remember: “Climb mountains not for the world to see you, but for you to see the world.” — David McCullough Jr.
Strive to surpass the person you were yesterday. Work diligently, shed fear, and pursue your goals to create a version of yourself you’re proud of.