This Book Is Released Under The Creative Commons, Attribution-No Derivitive Works License 2.5

This book is released under the Creative Commons, Attribution-No
Derivitive Works License 2.5.

Copri!ht 2""#, $cott %oun!

Table o& Contents
~ Introduction
Chapter 1: Life is a Work in Progress
Chapter 2: Habits
Chapter 3: Learning
Chapter 4: Productivit
Chapter !: "ocia# "uccess
Chapter $: %itness
Chapter &: 'ntrepreneurship and %inding (our Passion
Chapter ): *otivation+ Confidence and Happiness
Chapter ,: -he *eaning of Life
~ Conc#usion
- 2 -

'ntroduction
'ntroduction
Wh ' Wrote This (uide
I.ve /ritten c#ose to )00 artic#es at "cottH(oung1co21 'ven for the
engaged reader+ that.s a #ot of content to che/ through 3rough# 10 fu##4
si5ed books /orth61 I 2ade this guide to cohere 2an of those different
ideas together in one+ readab#e source1
-he book is free+ so I.2 not 2aking a #ot of 2one1 -he book is geared
at e7isting readers+ so I.2 not going to get a #ot of traffic1 "eeing as I don.t
e7pect to get a #ot of direct benefit fro2 /riting this book+ a## I ask is this:
11 If ou #iked the book+ I en8o getting thank4ou e2ai#s1
21 9nd+ if ou rea## #iked the book+ p#ease e2ai# it to our friends1
-he book is re#eased under the Creative Co22ons #icense+ /hich
- ) -

'ntroduction
2eans ou can share it+ se## it or do /hatever ou /ant /ith it+ so #ong as
ou don.t change it and ou #et peop#e kno/ it /as /ritten b 2e1 -he
biggest thanks I can get is to kno/ so2eone #iked the book enough to te##
their friends about it1
What *(ettin! +ore ,rom Li&e- +eans
(es+ I kno/+ it sounds a bit corn1 It probab# sounds e7act# #ike a##
those chees p#atitudes I put great effort to distinguish 2 b#og fro21 :ut+
the tag#ine for this b#og has re2ained consistent since I started it over 3
ears ago1 I.2 a s#ave to branding1
;etting 2ore fro2 #ife+ to 2e+ isn.t a specific action or a 124step p#an1
It.s a phi#osoph that is a#/as geared to/ards i2prove2ent1 It.s about
never being satisfied /ith the status <uo+ and having an insatiab#e hunger
to i2prove the <ua#it of our #ife and the <ua#it of the things ou achieve
in it1
- . -

Please share this
book!
If you enjoy the
book, email it to
someone you
know.
Heck, even if you
don't enjoy the
book, you can still
email it to
someone you
know.

'ntroduction
=o p#atitudes+ no fee#4good 2antra1 ;etting 2ore for #ife+ for 2e+ 8ust
see2s to be the on# /ords to describe that gut fee#ing I get /hen I think
about /hat I /ant to do on this earth1 9nd considering the rough# ten
thousand readers fo##o/ing the b#og+ I don.t think I.2 the on# person /ho
shares this gut fee#ing1
-his b#og started as a 1&4ear o#d kid+ bright4eed /ith e<ua# doses of
enthusias2 and navet /anting to share this gut fee#ing1 -oda+ it.s a 214
ear o#d kid+ /ith probab# about the sa2e a2ounts of enthusias2 and
navet1
No, I dont have all the answers.
No, I dont follow my life philosophy perfectly. I.2 hu2an and I
2ake 2istakes1
Yes, Im 21. Im not a guru. >ust a person #ike ou+ often strugg#ing to
figure everthing out1
- 5 -

Getting more for
life, for me, seems
to be the only
words that
describe the gut
feeling I get
when I think
about what I want
to do on this
earth.

'ntroduction
I.d #ike to think that /ith /hat I #ack in /isdo2+ I 2ake up for in
enthusias2 and pro#ificac as a /riter1 I.2 not here to hand ou the
/isdo2 of ages1 I.2 here to share that gut fee#ing+ and the #essons I #earn
fro2 pursuing it ever da1
- / -

This book covers
the core ideas Ive
written about in
the nearly !""
articles for
#cottH$oung.com.
%ut it is by no
means com&lete.
'ccasionally, Ill
add links to to&ics
similar to the
content of the
book from articles
in my archives(
)heck out the
archives here.

Chapter 0ne 1 Li&e is a Work in 2ro!ress
- 3 -

Li&e is a Work in 2ro!ress
* #ife phi#osoph is a#/as a /ork in progress1 "o2e peop#e c#ai2
that the secret to #ife is finding a re#igion or phi#osoph and then
discip#ining ourse#f to stick to it1 I disagree+ I think the 2ere fact that ou
re<uire so 2uch discip#ine to adhere to our phi#osoph is that it is
inco2p#ete1
9 co2p#ete strateg for #ife /ou#d not on# inc#ude the va#ues and
princip#es ou tr to stick to+ but a#so the tactics for sticking /ith the21
-hat.s /h 2 strateg for #ife is constant# evo#ving1
I 2a be#ieve+ in bu#k+ the things I /rote about /hen I started the b#og
over three ears ago1 -he difference is no/ 2 strateg is 2ore nuanced1
* abi#it to see the detai#s and not 8ust the big picture has great#
i2proved1

Chapter 0ne 1 Li&e is a Work in 2ro!ress
- 4 -

* goa# is to share the 8ourne /ith readers+ not the destination1 I.2
not co2ing fro2 the 2ountaintop to e7p#ain the 2steries of #ife1 I.2 8ust
another person stu2b#ing in the dark+ #etting ou kno/ /hen I bu2p into
so2ething1
If our ideas aren.t evo#ving+ ou aren.t evo#ving1 -his guide /i## be
out of date as soon as ou finish reading it1 -hat doesn.t 2ean it is
incorrect+ or that it can.t he#p anone1 "i2p# that I.## a#read be hunting
for /as to i2prove the ideas I /rote about here+ right after it has been
/ritten1
The &eo&le who
never contradict
themselves later,
&robably werent
correct to begin
with.
If your ideas
arent evolving,
you arent
evolving.

Chapter T5o 1 6abits
- # -

6abits
Wh 6abits +atter
"e#f4i2prove2ent takes a #ot of /ork1 '7ercising+ /riting+ being
productive+ 2anaging our finances+ i2proving our socia# #ife+ a## of these
pursuits take a great dea# of energ1 It can be a #itt#e over/he#2ing1
It /as too 2uch for 2e to start1 'ven toda+ pursuing 2 perfect
#ifest#e is i2possib#e1 I a#/as fa## a bit short of ho/ I.d #ike to idea## run
2 #ife1
Ho/ever+ the breakthrough idea that he#ped 2e get a #ot c#oser to
that idea# /as habits1 If ou cou#d habituate a particu#ar behavior 3sa
running our finances or e7ercising6+ then ou /ou#dn.t need Hercu#ean
discip#ine to do it ever da1

- 7" -

-his doesn.t 2ean running a habit re<uires 5ero effort1 >ust that the
burden is a #ot #ess1 It.s far easier to rise to the su22it of our idea#
#ifest#e+ if the baggage ou.re carring /eighs on# a tenth as 2uch1 Habits
#ighten the #oad1
6o5 to Chan!e a 6abit
(ou can change a habit in three si2p#e 3but certain# not effort#ess6
steps:
11 Define the behavior change ou /ant to 2ake in precise detai#1
21 Co22it to perfor2ing the ne/ habit for ! days+ /ithout e7ception1
31 9fter+ if ou sti## fee# unsure+ commit for another "! days to fo##o/
the habit+ skipping no #ess than a da or t/o1
Habit changing is a topic I have a #ot of interest in+ as I.ve done a #ot of
research and a ton of e7peri2entation1 Here are so2e of the resources
avai#ab#e on the /ebsite to get started /ith changing habits:

- 77 -

Ho/ to Change a Habit 4 * book on the sub8ect1 Inc#udes a pdf
report+ detai#ing a## of 2 2ethods and steps+ and a#so an audio training
guide that ou can #isten to1
Habitua# *aster 4 9n initia#+ !4part series #ooking into habits1 It.s #ess
sophisticated than so2e of 2 #ater /riting+ but it is sti## a popu#ar section
of the /ebsite1
?ne *onth Isn@t -hat Long111 4 * argu2ent that ou shou#d on#
pursue one change at a ti2e1
=e/ to '7ercise+ *ake Workouts Aai# 4 9n artic#e on the i2portance
of consistenc /hen changing habits1
Current $tatus on + 6abits
9#though it 2a see2 #ike habits are a Bset it and forget itC affair+ I.2
afraid that on# /orks for info2ercia# rotisseries1 Like everthing in 2
#ife+ 2 habits are constant# changing1 I.## add ne/ ones as the situations
arise and I.## drop o#d ones that are getting too cu2berso2e1

- 72 -

Here is a #ist of a fe/ habits I have trained through 304da tria#s that
I.2 current# using:
4Week#DAai# ;oa#s sste2
4%inancia# budgeting
4'7ercise
4Eegetarianis2
4=o -E
427 per /eek /riting schedu#e
4Checking internet once per da
Chances are+ b the ti2e ou.ve read this+ this #ist /i## have changed
again1 Here are a fe/ habits that I.2 not running at the 2o2ent+ but are
part of 2 too#kit I use depending on 2 current goa#s:
4#arly rising$morning ritual1 %antastic for productivit+ but harder
to run /ith an active socia# #ife1
If you want to
know how I set u&
those habits, here
are corres&onding
articles(
*+,- Goals
*%udgeting
*./ercise
*0egetarianism
*Television
*Internet
'f course, the
book How to
)hange a Habit,
details all of these
habits and others
in far more de&th.

- 7) -

4%lcohol reduction$elimination1 I often put a stricter #i2it on 2
a#coho# intake /hen I have specific fitness goa#s I.2 tring to reach1 :ut I
a2 a universit student and being ab#e to share a beer /ith friends is a#so
i2portant to 2e1
4Diet trac&ing1 With tough fitness goa#s+ I track 2 dietar intake1
4'rainstorming pad1 ;reat /hen I.2 doing 2ore /riting and need to
capture ever idea1
?ften I.## receive e2ai#s fro2 peop#e congratu#ating 2e for /aking up
at !:30a2 ever da+ even though I /oke up at ,a2 that 2orning1
It.s not because I don.t be#ieve /aking up at !:30a2 can have
po/erfu# productivit benefits+ or that I.2 too #a51 "i2p# that 2 habits
are a#/as ad8usting+ so an artic#e I /rite is necessari# out of date1

- 7. -

Where 6abits Don8t Work
Habits are 8ust one too# in the getting 2ore fro2 #ife too#bo71 -he
/ork /e##+ particu#ar# for high# individua#+ vertica#4gro/th oriented
goa#s1 :ut the.re rea## #ous at he#ping ou find ne/ e7periences+ be
spontaneous or gro/ #atera##1
I rea## #ike using the2+ but that doesn.t 2ean I.2 a robot and run
everthing to a schedu#e1 *ost of 2 #ife is unstructured+ and I a2
constant# ad8usting the ba#ance depending on /hether I.2 e7tre2e#
bus and need to do a #ot of /ork+ or /orking #ess and tring to re#a71
Habits shouldnt
make you a robot.
1ost of my life is
unscheduled.
Habits are just
one tool to hel& in
s&ecific areas of
your life.

Chapter Three - Learnin!
- 75 -

Learnin!
$chool 9 Learnin!
-oo 2an of 2 readers e<uate universit 3or high schoo#+ co##ege+
etc16 /ith #earning1 "o2eho/ 8ust sho/ing up /ithin the ha##o/ed iv ha##s
of a prestigious institution is going to foster en#ighten2ent1
It doesn.t+ and I.2 high# suspicious of anone /ho c#ai2s the.re an
e7pert because of a particu#ar degree the have1
"choo# is so2ething ou undertake+ not on# to #earn+ but for a /ho#e
host of non4#earning re#ated reasons:
49ccreditation
4-o i2prove our resu2e
4-o net/ork /ith peers

- 7/ -

49s a signa# of status
4-o part
4etc1
I.d argue that for 2ost peop#e+ their top three reasons for going to
schoo# don.t inc#ude genuine #earning1 Instead+ the are there because the
need it for their profession+ the /ant to boost their resu2e+ net/ork or
even have a good ti2e1
*ost peop#e don.t pursue schoo# for #earning direct#+ probab#
because schoo#s aren.t great at it1 -pica# acade2ic institutions are aging
behe2oths+ focused 2ore on continuing the status4<uo than offering the
best too#s for educating their students1
-he standard #ecture for2at /here one professor 3usua## picked for
his research+ not his teaching+ abi#it6 rants to students about a topic for
t/o hours uninterrupted is probab# one of the /orst /as to #earn1
'ne &rofessor
ranting to
students about a
to&ic for two
hours interru&ted
is &robably one of
the worst ways to
learn.

- 73 -

-hat being said+ this isn.t an indict2ent of universities or pursuing
education1 -hose things are great+ often for the ver reasons I described
before 3accreditation+ net/orking+ fun+ etc161 9nd+ if those are the reasons
ou.re pursuing higher education+ great for ou1
$chool 'sn8t :nou!h
"e#f4education and the #earning process need to go beond /here the
te7tbooks #eave off+ and the need to continue far after ou co2p#ete our
degree1 Fnfortunate#+ because the e<uation bet/een schoo# and #earning
runs so deep+ 2an peop#e forget this1
* stated goa# is &nowing everything1 9udacious and i2possib#eG
Aefinite#1 :ut+ it.s the direction that 2atters+ not the destination1
Having an insatiab#e #ust for integrating ne/ kno/#edge is one of the
best /as to i2prove ourse#f1 =o+ not 8ust b reading se#f4he#p books and
b#ogs1 :ut b reading books on science+ po#itics+ histor+ c#assics+ business
and #earning ne/ ski##s1
Heres my article
on my goal of
learning
everything.

- 74 -

*ost peop#e read #ess than a fe/ books per ear1 "o2e peop#e go one
step higher and read severa# books+ but usua## of a narro/ genre1 I think
#earning is a serious endeavor+ and so ou shou#dn.t stop at there+ but ai2
at consu2ing a #arge a2ount of books on different topics+ as /e## as
practicing different ski##s1
,ocused +aster ;ersus 2ol!lotter
If ou read 10 books per ear+ ou.re a#read /e## ahead of 2ost of
the hu2an popu#ation1 :ut+ if average /ere the bench2ark /e shou#d
co2pete against+ then ou shou#d a#so be happ if ou.re on# over/eight
and not obese1
"o /hether ou choose the road of focused 2aster 3reading
e7c#usive# about one sub8ect6 or beco2e a po#g#ot 3read about
everthing6 isn.t as i2portant as reading1 Learning itse#f has 2enta#
dividends that e7ceed the decision about /hich books to read1
* persona# approach is the B-C 2ode#1 (ou /ant deep focus in one
area+ /ith 2inor focus in other areas1 "o+ /hi#e I 2ight practice a ne/ ski##+
If average were
the benchmark we
should com&ete
against, then you
should be ha&&y if
youre only
overweight and
not obese.

- 7# -

sa+ tango dancing or Hub progra22ing+ if it isn.t in 2 deep focus+ I
/on.t /orr about 2astering it1 Having so2e basic co2petence /i## be
enough to spur ne/ creative connections1
6o5 to Learn Without $tudin!
:eond the hunger to #earn 2ore+ the /a ou #earn a#so 2atters1 I.2
not here to suggest that there is on# one /a to do it1 I kno/ 2an
different st#es that /ork for 2an different peop#e1 Ho/ever+ the
approach I use has /orked ver /e## for 2e1
I ca## 2 #earning st#e ho#istic #earning+ because it e2phasi5es
#earning through /hat ou a#read kno/1 -he opposite being rote
2e2ori5ation+ /here ou tr to #earn facts out of conte7t+ se<uence or
re#ation to other ideas1 'verone #earns ho#istica## to so2e degree+ I 8ust
tr to 2ake a point of e2phasi5ing it in 2 se#f4education1
Learning ho#istica## 2eans ou tr to #earn ne/ ideas b connecting
the2 to things ou a#read kno/+ or a#read care about1 "o2e of the
%en )asnochas
was the first
&erson I saw
writing about the
T*1odel for
learning. He also
runs an ama2ing
blog.
)heck it out here!

- 2" -

techni<ues I use to achieve this:
(etaphors1 Aescribe one idea /ithin the conte7t of another idea1
'7a2p#e: derivatives are #ike the speedo2eterDodo2eter re#ationship in a
race car1
)isuali*ation1 Create a 2enta# picture of an abstract ob8ect1 '7a2p#e:
In progra22ing+ a Bvariab#eC is a strict# abstract idea1 9 cookie 8ar that
ho#ds data+ isn.t1 Connect the t/o1
Diagrams1 Ara/ pictures sho/ing the re#ationships bet/een ideas1
Ho#istic #earning is /a beond the scope of this guide1 :ut+ seeing as
it is the 2ost popu#ar topic I /rite about+ it deserved a 2ention1 If ou.re
interested+ here are so2e resources to read 2ore:
Learn *ore+ "tud Less1 9 co2prehensive 200I page report /ith
bonus 2ateria#s detai#ing e7act# ho/ I #earn ho#istica##+ the strateg
behind it and the techni<ues I use1
Ho#istic Learning1 9 short pdf+ introducing the topic1
Ho/ to 9ce (our %ina#s Without "tuding1 -he first artic#e1

- 27 -

6o5 to <ead +ore =ooks
9 big part of se#f4education is book reading1 :ook reading isn.t
co2p#ete 3ski## 2aster is the other ha#f of se#f4education6+ but I.d guess if
ou.re reading 304!0 books per ear+ ou.re #earning 2ore than 2ost
peop#e in fu##4ti2e c#asses1
In the past+ I /rote about ho/ I read over &0 books per ear+ during a
24ear period1 -oda I probab# read 304!0 books+ per ear+ but the
princip#es I used to reach that reading vo#u2e sti## ho#d toda1
$peed <eadin! &or Dummies
"peed reading is an i2portant too# for increasing our reading
vo#u2e1 I think the ter2 speed reading is a bit of a 2isno2er+ because it
2akes peop#e think on# about reading faster1
-he practice of speed reading+ ho/ever+ taught 2e a #ot 2ore about
contro##ing 2 speed1 (es+ it he#ped 2e increase the upper speed #i2it+ but
Heres my original
article on the
methods I used to
read 3"4 books
&er year.
#ome other
thoughts on
reading more(
*#hould you read
more fiction5
*6ead books you
disagree with
*1y results
reading a book
&er day for one
week.

- 22 -

it a#so taught 2e ho/ to understand better at #o/er speeds1
If ou /ant speed reading tips+ check out Aoub#e (our Heading Hate+
the 2ost4vie/ed artic#e on the /ebsite1 Here.s 2 <uick su22ar:
11 +se a pointer+ such as our finger+ to under#ine the /ords /hi#e
reading1 -his reduces ee 2ove2ents and distractions /hich force our
ees to re#ocate our position on the page1
21 ,ractice reading1 Practice reading isn.t actua## reading+ it 2eans
taking an unfa2i#iar book and ski22ing it faster than ou can read1 (our
goa# is to train ourse#f to understand 2ore at higher speeds+ not so ou.##
a#/as use those speeds but so ou have the abi#it1
31 Identify your goals before reading1 ;et an idea of /hat ou.re
tring to get out of a book before picking it up1
Learning is a #ife#ong endeavor1 Jno/#edge has une7pected paoffs1
(ou never kno/ /hen our kno/#edge of one topic /i## pa off in another
area of our #ife1 "o don.t 8ust #earn the ideas /ith i22ediate functiona#it1
$ou never know
when your
knowledge of one
to&ic will &ay off
in another area of
your life.
1y early &ractice
with game design
gave me the skills
to do the artwork
for my later
books.

Chapter ,our - 2roductivit
- 2) -

2roductivit
Productivit is our abi#it to get 2ore done /ith fe/er inputs1 If
ou.re a productive /orker+ ou shou#d be ab#e to get 2ore acco2p#ished
/ith #ess stress+ energ+ ti2e and 2one+ than unproductive /orkers1 -his
can happen in a fe/ /as:
11 (ou can wor& more efficiently+ getting /ork done faster1
21 (ou can be more efficient+ procrastinating #ess in bet/een /ork1
31 (ou can wor& more effectively+ choosing the right /ork /hich has
the biggest i2pact1
41 (ou can be more effective+ organi5ing our #ife so the right /ork
happens natura##1
"o2e /riters tr to e2phasi5e the i2portance of one tpe of
productivit over another1 I think the.re a## i2portant1

- 2. -

11 I tr to i2prove 2 /riting and creative ski##s to /rite 2ore in #ess
ti2e1
21 I tr to set up 2 dai# #ife to avoid e7cessive procrastination+
burnout and fatigue1
31 I tr to pick the correct /riting pro8ects and endeavors that have a
2a7i2a# i2pact1
41 I tr to organi5e 2 #ife so the 2a7i2u2 /ork is acco2p#ished /ith
#ess strain1
"o 2 productivit advice isn.t geared to/ards 8ust beco2ing 2ore
organi5ed+ 2ore 2otivated or 2aking better decisions+ I tr to tack#e ideas
on a## #eve#s of productivit1
Wh Does 2roductivit +atter>
=o+ productivit doesnt ma&e me a robot1 9s of this 2o2ent+ I.2
#iving in %rance1 In addition to en8o the acts of cooking food fro2 scratch+
drinking /ine+ trave#ing and 2eeting up /ith friends a fe/ nights per
/eek+ I tr to re#a7 as 2uch as I can1
-o you find your
&roductivity skills
interfere with your
social life or ability
to rela/5
Heres an article I
wrote about how
to &revent that.

- 25 -

Productivit+ for 2e+ is the opposite of beco2ing a robot1 It.s about
beco2e so insane# good at our /ork and ho/ ou do it+ that ou don.t
need to s/eat the hundreds of 2an4hours into pro8ects and agoni5ing#
push ourse#f to do 2ore /ork1
Productivit doesn.t e#i2inate 2 re#a7ation+ fun and being ab#e to
have a g#ass of /ine1 Productivit enab#es it1
+ 2roductivit Toolbo?
Here+ brief#+ are a fe/ of the too#s I use to sta productive:
11 -ee&ly$daily goals1 -his is the cornerstone of 2 sste21 ?ne #ist
for the da.s goa#s1 9nother for the /eek1 =o additions once the #ist is
2ade+ /ork unti# it.s finished1 "i2p#e+ beautifu#+ effective1
21 .alendar1 %or tracking schedu#ed events 3;oog#e Ca#endar /orks
great16
.ffectiveness
comes from
sim&licity.
Having too many
gadgets, tools or
systems &robably
means that none
of them function
&articularly well.

- 2/ -

31 /imelogging1 'ver $412 2onths I #ike to run a ti2e#og+ recording
everthing I spend ti2e on1 -he resu#ts often he#p 2e e#i2inate the
biggest drains on 2 ti2e that don.t pa the2se#ves back1
41 -ee&ly review1 ?nce a /eek+ I /rite not on# 2 goa#s for the ne7t
/eek+ but a#so 2 thoughts on ho/ to overco2e prob#e2s I.2 facing
in /ork and #ive1 "o#ution brainstor2ing can 2ake even terrifing
prob#e2s fee# actionab#e1
=ote that this is a short #ist1 (ou don.t need a #ot of too#s to be
effective+ ou 8ust need to find the right too#s and 2ake the2 /ork for ou1
I do use other techni<ues not #isted here+ but this for2s the bu#k of 2
productivit 2aintenance1
9#so+ note /hich too#s I don.t use1 (ou /on.t see an auto2atic
co2puter trackers+ gi52os for organi5ing our iPhone to iPod notes+
gadgets that up#oad 2 heart rate and brain /aves to an organi5ed
spreadsheet1
I use Ta-a7ist for
my +eekly,-aily
Goals.
Its my favorite for
its notable lack
of features. $ou
can make new to*
do lists, and thats
about it.
%est of all, you
can use it for free.

- 23 -

* so#utions are a## e7tre2e# #o/4tech1 'ach cou#d be easi#
i2p#e2ented before the age of co2puters1 9s 2uch as I #ove techno#og+ I
be#ieve+ for persona# organi5ation+ technophi#ia is a big prob#e2 and
si2p#icit shou#d a#/as co2e first1
Am ' 2roductive>
"o2e peop#e 2istake 2 fascination /ith productivit 3and therefore
hundreds of artic#es on the topic6 /ith perfect adherence to productivit
techni<ues1 I.2 happ /ith the success I.ve achieved in persona#
organi5ation1 :ut does that 2ean I never procrastinate or /aste ti2eG
?f course not1 I ma&e mista&es all the time1 If I didn.t+ I /ou#dn.t
have invested so 2uch ti2e tring to beco2e better1
-/o recent e7a2p#es:
#ome &eo&le
mistake my
fascination with
&roductivity with
&erfect adherance.
Im human. If I
didnt make
mistakes, I doubt
my readers would
trust 8or be able
to use9 any of my
advice.

- 24 -

11 I procrastinated for two wee&s getting the fina# docu2ents read
for 2 visa processing in %rance1 I p#aced it into 2 to4do #ist each
/eek+ but because I never sat do/n and dri##ed out e7act# /hat I
needed to do to take action+ I span 2 /hee#s unti# fina## 2oving on
it1
21 Last 2onth+ I /as spending a large amount of time on
email$0aceboo&$etc. I had re#a7ed 2 nor2a## tight restrictions on
internet checking+ and no/ I /as /asting a #ot of ti2e1 "o+ t/o /eeks
ago I fi7ed the prob#e2 b starting a 304da tria# to check 2 internet
feeds once per da1
-he prob#e2 isn.t 2aking 2istakes1 It.s in not recogni5ing those
2istakes and co2ing up /ith an action p#an to fi7 the21
(ou.## a#/as procrastinate+ /aste ti2e and s<uander effort1 -he ke
is to be ab#e to detect those #eaks /hen the happen and 2ake an effort to
correct the2 3or 8ust en8o their #eakinessK61
:ust because
youre interested
in &roductivity
doesnt mean you
cant take breaks,
rela/ or just give
u& on a day and
rest.
;inding your
natural working
rhythms is more
im&ortant than
any system.

Chapter ,ive 1 $ocial $uccess
- 2# -

$ocial $uccess
9round the ti2e I started the b#og+ four ears ago+ I /as the #ast
person ou.d /ant to ta#k to about socia# success1 It.s probab# a good
thing I didn.t /rite artic#es on the sub8ect1
Whi#e I had been active# setting goa#s+ changing habits+ reading and
beco2ing productive for a fe/ ears before starting the b#og+ socia#
success has been a 2ore recent acco2p#ish2ent1 When I started /riting+
2 socia# #ife /as a 2ess1 I had a#2ost no c#ose friends and a dead socia#
#ife1
I certain# /asn.t unhapp /ith 2 #ife+ but /ith such a dra2atic
/eakness+ I needed to take efforts to repair it1
"o+ I spent a good 243 ears beco2ing great /ith 2 socia# ski##s1 I
8oined -oast2asters to /ork on 2 pub#ic speaking1 I /ent to parties and

- )" -

2et thousands of peop#e1 I practiced ever branch of co22unication I
cou#d think of 3negotiating+ sa#es+ dancing+ f#irting+ etc16
I don.t do things ha#f4assed1
=o/+ I.ve 2ade considerab#e i2prove2ent1 I.ve had a coup#e of great
re#ationships+ I have e7tre2e# c#ose friends I /ou#d consider akin to
fa2i#+ and I.ve had peop#e co22ent on 2 overa## #ack of shness and
apparent confidence1
I sa this not to brag+ but to tr to point out that+ no 2atter ho/ a#one
and dis2a# our socia# #ife 2a fee# at ti2es+ there is a#/as hope1 Hope+
and a non4stop+ hust#e4our4ass4off attitude are probab# the t/o things I.d
#ike to e2phasi5e in this book1
6o5 to =ecome +ore $ocial
"o /hat did I #earn in 243 ears of 2oving 2 #ife fro2 a 143 on a ten
point sca#e+ up to an ) or ,G
Hope, and a non-
stop hustle-your-
ass-off attitude
are the two things
Id like to
em&hasi2e most in
this book.

- )7 -

%irst+ socia# ski##s are ski##s1 I kno/+ it.s kind of a BduhC point+ but it.s
a## to eas to sit at ho2e reading dating artic#es or spending ti2e in foru2s
thinking ou.re i2proving our socia# ski##s1 (ou aren.t1 -he on# /a the
i2prove is /ith practice1 '7hi#arating and often frustrating practice1
"econd+ 2ost of socia# ski##s break do/n to t/o ideas:
11 #mpathi*ing1 3Fnderstanding /hat other peop#e are thinking+ and
/h the.re thinking it16
21 .ommunicating yourself1
He#ative# eas to understand+ e7tre2e# difficu#t in practice1 It takes
enor2ous practice to understand /hat peop#e are thinking1 =ot on#
because the other person often /on.t te## ou /hat the.re thinking+ but
because so2eti2es the don.t even kno/ the under#ing reasons1
Co22unicating ourse#f is a#so ver difficu#t1 9s a /riter+ I can
definite# sa it.s difficu#t to strike a ba#ance bet/een being 2otivating+
rea#istic+ confident+ hu2b#e and authentic1 9s a person it.s even 2ore
$our social life
cannot im&rove
without &ractice,
&ractice, and
&ractice.
./hilerating and
frustrating
&ractice.

- )2 -

difficu#t+ because ou need to 2ake sure ever e#e2ent of our behavior
3bod #anguage+ /ords+ attitude6 are pro8ecting /ho ou are1
I think if 2ost peop#e invested their effort onto tring to do these t/o
things: genuine# e2pathi5ing and co22unicating the2se#ves effective#+
the /ou#d have a 2uch easier ti2e reaching their goa#s for socia# success1
2roductivit and $ocial $uccess, Can %ou =e =oth>
Productivit and socia# success idea## /ork together1 Jno/ing
peop#e can he#p ou 2ake connections that can 2ake ou 2ore effective in
our /ork1 :eing 2ore effective in our /ork can give ou 2ore ti2e to
spend /ith friends+ or 8ust 2ake ou 2ore va#uab#e to other peop#e in our
net/ork1
=inet4five percent of the ti2e+ the actions that 2ake ou productive
can a#so he#p our socia# #ife1 -he prob#e2 is the other five percent1
Particu#ar#+ /hen ou.ve invested in beco2ing high# productive but the
rest of the /or#d hasn.t1
Heres my favorite
article from the
archives on this
subject(
How to %e #ocial

- )) -

'ar# rising /as definite# an e7a2p#e of this for 2e1 I #oved the habit
/hen I /anted to /ork+ /ork+ /ork1 :ut add so2e socia# goa#s into the
2i7+ and sudden# /aking up at !:30 put 2e out of phase /ith the rest of
universit #ife1 =o/ I tend to use ear# rising inter2ittent#+ or on# /hen
2 /ork4re#ated goa#s take a precedence1
I.2 not c#ai2ing ou can.t /ake up ear# and sti## have a good ti2e at
universit1 I.ve done so 2se#f1 I.2 si2p# c#ai2ing that so2e habits are
trickier to integrate into societ as a /ho#e1 I kno/ "teve Pav#ina c#ai2ed
that this /as the sa2e reasoning he used /hen he discontinued his
other/ise successfu# po#phasic s#eep e7peri2ent1
-r as 2uch as possib#e to focus on the ,!L over#ap bet/een
productivit and socia# success1 :ut+ /here ou notice friction+ either
decide /hich area is 2ore i2portant to ou at the 2o2ent+ or ai2 for a
co2pro2ise bet/een the t/o1

Chapter $i? 1 ,itness
- ). -

,itness
Phsica# fitness is+ for 2e+ one of the cornerstones for getting 2ore
out of #ife1 If our bod is out of shape+ unhea#th and fat+ it.s going to be a
#ot harder to achieve success in the other areas1 -ithout fitness:
4-or& is harder because ou have #ess energ1
41ocial s&ills are harder because ou.re often #ess attractive 3both
phsica## and in attitude6 /hen ou.re #ess hea#th1
42earning is harder1 (our brain is an organ too+ so the princip#es of
hea#th for the bod app# for the brain1
4'ven financial success isnt as satisfying if our bod is trashed1
:eond the e7terna# benefits+ fitness has an intrinsic goodness to it1
9#though+ if ou don.t e7ercise regu#ar#+ it can be difficu#t to fee# that /a1
:ut I guarantee if ou spent a ear training to run+ being ab#e to easi# run
10k2 /ou#d be its o/n re/ard1

- )5 -

Wh '8m a ;e!etarian
9 big part of 2 hea#th #ifest#e is a vegetarian diet1 Ao ou have to
be a vegetarian to be hea#thG No1 9re a## vegetarians hea#thG .ertainly
not1 Is a vegetarian diet necessari# better than a## diets that inc#ude 2eatG
Nope1
-hen why give up delicious meat+ ou 2a askG
%irst+ I be#ieve vegetarianis2 3a#ong /ith other dietar constraints6 is
one of the healthiest diets in the /or#d1 -here is a2p#e scientific
evidence that sho/s peop#e /ho consu2e a #o/42eat diet tend to be
hea#thier than peop#e eating an average diet1
"econd+ /hen I e7peri2ented /ith veganis2 initia##+ I /as
i2pressed /ith the resu#ts1 I felt physically better1 -his+ b no 2eans+
shou#d be taken as so#id evidence of the diet.s efficac 3the p#acebo effect is
strong61 :ut+ it is 2ore co2pe##ing than if I to#d ou I /as sick for t/o
/eeks after dropping 2eat fro2 2 diet1
The book that
convinced me to
finally go
vegetarian was
The )hina #tudy.
;ollowing one of
the most
e/tensive studies
of human nutrition
ever conducted.
The study
concluded that
high &lant based
diets had
significant
advantages for
heart disease,
cancer and overall
health.

- )/ -

-hird+ vegetarianis2 can force ou to eat better1 =ot a#/as+ but
/hen ou e#i2inate 2eat+ ou.re a#so 3b necessit6 e#i2inating a #ot of
fast food and si2i#ar 8unk1 -his is even 2ore true if ou s/itch co2p#ete#
to a vegan diet1 Whi#e there is p#ent of vegetarian 8unk food+ s/itching to a
2inorit diet 2akes it easier to eat #ess stuff science has ta2pered /ith1
-here are+ of course+ ethica# and environ2enta# i2p#ications to eating
2eat1 If ou /ant to #earn 2ore+ read 2 artic#e+ Wh Eegetarian1
+ :?ercise <outine
Current#+ 2 for2a# e7ercise routine consists of:
3447 per /eek of /eight training1
3447 per /eek of practicing bod/eight ski##s
3handstand pushups are 2 current goa#6

- )3 -

Ho/ever+ due to 2 #ifest#e+ I.2 a#so biking an average of 304$0
2inutes and /a#king rough# 34!k2 per da at the 2o2ent+ so I.2 not as
concerned about 2issing aerobic fitness1
In the past+ I.ve a#so inc#uded dai# running+ or /eightDbod/eight
training for up to !4$7 per /eek /ithout in8ur1 I reco22end doing so2e
for2 of e7ercise on a dai# basis /hen getting started+ 8ust to 2ake the
habit stick1
"o2e phsica# stats on 2e+ for those /ho are interested+ I a2 !@11M
and I /eight appro7i2ate# 1!!#bs1 * 2a7i2u2 benchpress is 1&!#bs1
*a7i2u2 s<uat 20!#bs1 * 2a7i2u2 continuous push4ups are around
&04)0+ chin4ups around 1341$ and pu##4ups around 104121 * running
fitness isn.t as high+ but I can run 10k2 in rough# !0 2inutes /ithout
significant difficu#t1
* fitness #eve# i2proved rapid# 2 first t/o ears of e7ercising+
no/ after $ ears of consistent e7ercise+ it takes 2uch #onger to 2ake
significant i2prove2ents1

- )4 -

6o5 ' (ot $tarted, and 6o5 %ou Can Too
If I to#d ou I i22ediate# started e7ercising one da+ I.d be #ing1 -he
truth is it took 2e four serious atte2pts at adding regu#ar e7ercise and
fai#ing before it stuck1
Part of the difficu#t in getting started is that e7ercise hasn.t beco2e a
habit1 :ut the 2ain difficu#t has nothing to do /ith habits1 It has to do
/ith our se#f4estee2 and e7perience /ith e7ercising1 When ou start
getting in better shape+ and see positive resu#ts in our fitness and bod+
ou /ant to e7ercise1
If ou /ant to get started+ set a 304da tria# 3#ike the chapter on
habits6 and co22it to e7ercising for 3044! 2inutes ever sing#e da for a
2onth1 ;oing ever da can be difficu#t+ but it 2akes the process of
for2ing a habit /a easier1
-he second step is to constant# e7peri2ent /ith different for2s of
e7ercise to find the tpe ou #ike best1 I.ve tried s/i22ing+ running+

- )# -

dancing+ soccer+ karate and /eights1 'ventua## I found /eight #ifting and
bod/eight e7ercises suited 2 persona#it best1 -here are so 2an
different /as to sta in shape+ it.s stupid to force ourse#f into a g2 if
ou don.t en8o it1
-he fina# step is to get a partner1 Idea##+ find so2eone /ho a#read
e7ercises consistent# and co22it to going /ith the21 I beca2e e7tre2e#
consistent e7ercising /hen I began /orking out /ith 2 friend >ustin+ /ho
has+ for so2e t/o42onth periods+ not 2issed a sing#e da e7ercising1
3Whether that in itse#f is entire# hea#th is another 2atter6
%itness shou#d co2e first1 Fn#ike business+ socia# ski##s or even
acade2ics 3/hich often re<uire ski##s in other #ife areas first6 productivit
and fitness can be tack#ed head on1 (ou don.t need 2one+ friends+ ski##s or
a fanc education to get started1
Fitness should
come first.
$ou dont need to
be rich, smart or
well*connected to
begin. $ou just
need to show u&.

Chapter $even 1 :ntrepreneurship and ,indin! %our 2assion
- ." -

:ntrepreneurship and
,indin! %our 2assion
?ne of 2 2a8or goa#s in starting this b#og /as to turn it into a
business and 2ake an inco2e1 I.2 guessing there are sti## a fe/ i22ature
readers /ho think earning 2one doing /hat ou #ove is so2eho/ a bad
thing+ or an ignob#e 2otive1 It.s not1
Which is better for societG
-hat I earn a hea#th inco2e+ doing so2ething I #ove+ that thousands
of peop#e get benefit fro2+ that I can contro# and 2ake sure stas true to
2 princip#esG
?r that I have on# a fe/ hours to pursue 2 passion in the evenings
/hi#e I spend 2 da ti2e getting paid b a corporation that 2a be
pursuing 2otives of <uestionab#e ethicsG
There are still a
few &eo&le who
feel getting &aid
to do something
you love is selling
out, or unethical.
'ften the same
&eo&le end u&
working <*= jobs
for >uestionable
cor&orations.
Ignore them.

- .7 -

Whether ou 3or I6 can 2ake such a business viab#e is a co2p#ete#
different <uestion1 :ut for no/+ #et.s 8ust sa that doing stuff ou #ove and
getting paid for it is genera## a good thing1 9nd provided ou set ourse#f
to a high standard 2aking sure ou earn that inco2e honest#+ I /ou#d
argue it.s a fantastic thing1
Li&e8s Too $hort to Do $hit %ou 6ate
'ntrepreneurship isn.t for everone1 Particu#ar# the on#ine business
st#e of entrepreneurship I.2 engaged in1 :ut that being said+ too 2an
peop#e are stuck in 8obs and careers not of their choosing because the
/ere to#d everone hates /ork and finding a career that inspires ou is the
do2ain of a se#ect fe/1
%or 2ost of the /estern /or#d+ /e surpassed our 2ateria# needs a
fe/ decades ago+ /e 8ust haven.t rea#i5ed it et1 *ost of us aren.t for /ant
of food 3obesit is rising61 *ost of us aren.t for /ant of she#ter+ c#othes+
c#ean /ater or an of the other core necessities for hu2an surviva#1
'wning a business
may not be for
everyone.
%ut, dee& down,
everyone is an
entrepreneur.
The start*u& is
your life.

- .2 -

:ut peop#e are /ant for 2eaning1 "o if 2ost of us are fat fro2 food+
have houses that are too big and stack up debt buing crap /e don.t need+
/h are /e chasing careers that provide us /ith 2ore 2one instead of
/hat /e rea## /ant: lives with more meaningG
I.2 rea#istic1 Peop#e need to /ork+ and not everone can run off and
start a charit1 :ut that doesn.t 2ean ou can.t set finding a 2eaningfu#
career as a goa#1 'ven if it takes ou ! ears to get our business off the
ground1 ?r ou spend 10 ears studing a sub8ect unti# ou have the ski##s
to get the 8ob ou /ant+ ou can sti## get started toda1
-e have enough money1 (ou 2ight not think ou have enough1 :ut
if ou persona## haven.t kno/n /retchedness+ hunger+ ho2e#essness+
thirst or disabi#it fro2 #ack of 2edica# care+ then our pursuit of 2ateria#
possessions isn.t out of necessit but because ou fee# the are i2portant
for a co2fortab#e or successfu# #ifest#e1
* <uestion is: isn.t te2porari# sacrificing a little comfort /orth
adding meaningful wor& 3perhaps the 2issing hu2an necessit6G
+eve found
material wealth
8studies show a
nations ha&&iness
decou&les from
money at around
?@",""",year9.
Aow meaning
&overty is the
struggle for most
westerners.

- .) -

@no5 %our 2overt Threshold
%or career decisions+ I think it.s especia## i2portant to kno/ our
povert thresho#d1 -his is the do##ar a2ount ou need to #ive on1 ?bvious#+
I cou#d te## ou a nu2ber that a hu2an being needs to #ive on+ but
depending on our countr+ cit+ fa2i# and e7pectations+ our thresho#d
/i## var1
-he thresho#d is an i2portant nu2ber to keep in 2ind because ou
can use it for concrete decisions1 9s #ong as a career choice /on.t put ou
under our povert thresho#d+ then it is viab#e1 Particu#ar# if that career
choice has potentia# for gro/th+ #ifest#e f#e7ibi#it or added persona#
significance1
* thresho#d is bet/een N1!004N2000 per 2onth1 Less than this
a2ount+ and I.d find it difficu#t to #ive1 In a pinch+ I 2a be ab#e to push this
nu2ber do/n further+ but at the 2o2ent+ I.d /ager that.s the #o/est I.d be
/i##ing to #i2bo in ter2s of persona# finances1

- .. -

: kno/ing this thresho#d I can 2ake p#anning decisions1 I can kno/
e7act# at /hat point I.## need to get a part4ti2e 8ob to support 2se#f+ or
/hether a certain p#an isn.t viab#e based on 2 #iving e7pectations1
If ou have a high thresho#d+ that /i## #i2it ou1 :ut have a high
thresho#d+ on its o/n+ isn.t the prob#e21 -he prob#e2 is not kno/ing /hat
our 2ini2u2 standards are1
Wh 2assion is 0verrated
-he /a peop#e ta#k about passion+ ou.d think peop#e /ere having
orgas2s ever ti2e the /ent to /ork1 I be#ieve passion is 2ore subt#e1 If
ou don.t kno/ our passion or grand #ife purpose don.t /orr about it1
Passion to 2e si2p# 2eans things #ike: having a #ot of ideas about
2 /ork+ the desire i2prove at it+ en8oing the act of tinkering /ith 2
/ork1 It.s not 2indb#o/ing+ so if ou don.t get those vibes+ that doesn.t
2ean ou don.t have a passion or can.t find one1 >ust /ork on ski##s ou.re
interested in1
Here is the initial
article discussing
the idea of a
&overty threshold.
#hould you try to
decide what to do
with your life5
Bs I e/&lain here,
my answer is no.

- .5 -

+ =usiness
I.ve run this b#og as a business for the #ast fe/ ears1 I.2 definite#
not at the point /here I can sit back+ re#a7 and /atch the 2one ro## in1 :ut
I have been ab#e to 2ake better inco2e than 2ost of 2 universit peers
a#so /orking part ti2e1
In 200)+ this business had a net profit of rough# N1)+0001 * goa# for
the ne7t t/o ears is to 2ove that to N40+0001
-he interesting thing for an /ou#d4be entrepreneurs about 2
inco2e is not /hat I earned1 Instead+ I.d #ike to focus on how the 2one
/as earned1 'specia## since ever gain in inco2e I 2ade ca2e fro2
pursuing outside 2 current e7periences1
I didn.t go fro2 N200 per 2onth to N2000 per 2onth b se##ing ads
107 as effective#1 I got there b giving up ads a#together1

- ./ -

I kno/ that in order to reach 2 N40+000 goa#+ I /on.t get there b
using the sa2e 2ethods I.2 using to earn N20+0001 -hat 2a sound
obvious+ but I spent a good dea# of ti2e trapped in the 2indset that I
/ou#d i2prove 2 business 8ust b increasing ra/ nu2bers1
The (lories Aand 2it&allsB o& 2art-Time :ntrepreneurship
I run this business part4ti2e1 -hat 2eans part4ti2e /ork and+ at
ti2es+ part4ti2e pa1 Hunning this business fu##4ti2e has #ong been a
drea2+ but I.2 a#so rea#istic1 In order to do that+ it a#so has to support fu##4
ti2e pa re#iab#1
Part4ti2e entrepreneurship is heavi# underrated1 *ost# because the
2one is often initia## ung#a2ourous1 :ut peop#e forget that running a
part4ti2e business can have 2an non42onetar benefits1 %ro2 running
this b#og I.ve been ab#e to:
Im often asked
whether this
business su&&orts
all my financial
needs.
The honest
answer is yes and
no.
In the last C
years, Ive
averaged enough
income to cover
my e/&enses.
Getting the
business to do this
reliably, is my
main challenge
going further.

- .3 -

4.hat with best3selling authors+ radio hosts and peop#e that a
nor2a# 21 ear4o#d universit student nor2a## /ou#dn.t be ab#e to
contact /ith1
4Improve my writing abilities 3enough to get decent paing
free#ance /riting gigs6
42earn about business+ /hich is sti## i2portant even if ou aren.t
running our o/n1
4Interact with thousands of people across the /or#d1
44et paid for what would otherwise be an en5oyable hobby1
If ou eva#uate starting our o/n business around a private passion
si2p# on 2onetar ter2s+ ou.## probab# fa## short1 -he chance of fai#ure
and hours of s/eat 8ust don.t deserve the pa1
:ut+ as I said in the beginning+ peop#e aren.t in /ant of 2ateria# needs1
Peop#e are in /ant of 2eaning1 9nd the 2eaning dividends for starting a
part4ti2e business far e7ceed an pacheck1

- .4 -

Wh +ost =lo!s Don8t +ake +one
Aand 6o5 to :nsure %ours DoesB
:#ogging is not a business1 If ou /ant to 2ake 2ore than a fe/
do##ars on 9d"ense+ ou need a business+ not a b#og1 :#ogging is an
e7ce##ent too# in running a business 3it.s the 2ain too# I use6 but a b#og+ b
itse#f+ is not a business1
I persona## kno/ on# a handfu# of peop#e that 2ake good 2one
fro2 b#ogging /ith a fe/ ads on their /ebsite1 -hose peop#e a#so happen
to be -op !00 b#oggers+ /hich 2eans that the have 2i##ions of page vie/s
per 2onth and hundreds of thousands of readers1
%or the rest of us+ b#ogging is not+ and /i## never be+ a business1 >ust a
too# our business uses to gain custo2ers+ readers or brand ourse#f1 It.s a
po/erfu# too#+ but a ha22er on its o/n can.t bui#d a house1
* business isn.t in 2 b#og1 Current#+ I 2ake the vast 2a8orit of
2 inco2e fro2 se##ing infor2ation products1 -his is the free2iu2

- .# -

business 2ode#+ /here the 2a8orit don.t pa but the fe/ /ho do ensure
the business keeps going1
-his 2ode# /orks far better for 2e than advertising+ /hich re<uires
huge vo#u2es of traffic+ but doesn.t differentiate /hether readers rea##
care about /hat ou /rite or are 8ust on our /ebsite to /aste ti2e1
In the future+ I.## probab# 2ove a/a fro2 static infor2ation
products as /e##1 Web se2inars+ 2e2bership progra2s+ hands4on training
have 2ore va#ue to custo2ers and often re<uire #ess effort to create1
:#ogging can a#so he#p our off#ine business as /e##1 I have a good
friend /ho 2akes a## his inco2e /ithout se##ing anthing fro2 his b#og or
having an ads1 He uses his b#og and net/ork to 2ake hi2se#f an authorit
in a niche1 -his a##o/s hi2 to co22and top speaking fees for internationa#
conferences1
If ou /ant to 2ake 2one b#ogging+ ou need to have a business
2ode#1 Aon.t /orr if ou aren.t sure /hich one /i## /ork et 3/h not tr

- 5" -

the2 a##G61 >ust rea#i5e that prob#ogging isn.t 8ust about getting eeba##s to
our /ebsite1 It.s about de#ivering enough va#ue to peop#e that the are
/i##ing to pa for it1
Wh %our T5enties are the Time to $tart a =usiness
If ou.re in our t/enties+ are interested in entrepreneurship+ and
arent running a part4ti2e business+ p#ease proceed to s#ap ourse#f1
9#though there /i## be e7ceptions+ our t/enties are the perfect ti2e
to start a business1 (ou have outh and energ1 (ou #ike# don.t have
spousa#+ fa2i# or 2ortgage co22it2ents1
'ven if our part4ti2e business never #eaves the garage+ no/ is the
ti2e1
/oo much student debt6 =o prob#e2+ I started this business /ith
#ess than N1001 -here are 2an business 2ode#s /ith si2i#ar# #o/ start4
up costs1
If youre in your
C"s, interested in
entre&reneurshi&
and aren't
running a &art*
time business,
&lease sla&
yourself now.

- 57 -

Dont have a perfect ideaG -hen start /ith a 2ediocre idea1 Perfect
ideas usua## suck1 I started this business /ith the idea of creating goa#4
setting ga2es soft/are1 What /as I thinkingG
Dont have enough timeG ;ar Eanerchuck said it best: BWork our
,4!1 ;et ho2e+ spend 2 hours /ith the kids and then /ork on our
business fro2 &421 111 'verone has ti2e+ 8ust stop /atching fucking Lost1C
'ven if ou aren.t in our t/enties+ if ou /ant to start a business+
2ake it happen1 -he on# thing ou actua## have to risk is our ti2e1 9nd
if ou en8o /orking on a business+ then our ti2e /on.t be /asted even if
it eventua## fai#s1
DEveryone has
time. :ust sto&
watching fucking
7ost.E
*Gary 0aynerchuck

Chapter :i!ht 1 +otivation, Con&idence and 6appiness
- 52 -

+otivation, Con&idence and
6appiness
(otivating yourself is easy1
It.s actua## ridicu#ous# eas1 If ou /ant to 2otivate ourse#f+ spend
304$0 2inutes brainstor2ing /hat ou /ant fro2 #ife and the action steps
ou need to take i22ediate# to get there1 If ou aren.t 2otivated after a
ha#f4hour+ ou.ve done it /rong1
Patience+ persistence and s/eating out the /ork in sou#4crushing
2o2ents of doubt and fatigue are the difficu#t part1 I don.t ad2ire the
person /ho got started1 I ad2ire the person /ho sho/ed up+ ever da+ for
ears+ /ithout fai#1
.onfidence comes from e7perience1

- 5) -

=o+ it doesn.t co2e fro2 beating our chest #ike a gori##a1 It doesn.t
co2e fro2 te##ing ourse#f ou.## do /e##1 Phon confidence is one of the
/orst se#f4he#p c#ichs f#oating around1
I fee# confident /hen I.2 giving a presentation1 =ot because I to#d
2se#f I.d do /e##1 ?r because I triggered an e2otiona# state1 :ut because
I.ve given hundreds of presentations+ been the president of a -oast2asters
c#ub+ pitched to venture capita#ists1
(ou can overco2e our fears and f#a/s b gaining e7perience1 %igure
out /hat the ne7t step outside our co2fort 5one is and take it1 -hen take
the ne7t one+ and the one fo##o/ing that1 :e terrified enough to take action+
but not so 2uch that ou never #eave the couch1
8appiness means savoring the good, withstanding the bad1
If phon confidence is a 2istake+ phon happiness shou#d be a sin1
Aon.t fa## under the assu2ption that if ou aren.t happ a## the ti2e
so2ething is /rong /ith ou1 Peop#e /eren.t designed to be g#eefu# a## the
)onfidence comes
from experience.
Aot from beating
your chest like a
gorilla.

- 5. -

ti2e+ and that.s probab# a good thing1
I.2 certain# not happ a## the ti2e1 When I think about 2 #ife+ /hat I
/ant to do and /here I.ve co2e+ I have a #ot of gratitude and 8o1 :ut+ that
doesn.t 2ean I don.t ever fee# bad about things that don.t /ork1
* #ife phi#osoph doesn.t center on avoiding that interna# angst1 *
goa# is not to be happ a## the ti2e1 Hather I focus on on# t/o things:
11 "avoring happiness /hen it co2es1
21 'ndure 2o2ents of discontent1
"avor happiness /hen it co2es1 Aon.t be the person to point out the
one f#a/ in an other/ise bri##iant success1 :e gratefu# /hen ou.re happ+
don.t forecast doo21 It.s too eas to s<uander perfect har2on b p#aing
an off note1
Auring 2o2ents of discontent+ 2 goa# is to channe# that negative
e2otion into so2ething constructive1 If a product #aunch fai#s 2iserab#+ I

- 55 -

cou#d focus that disappoint2ent into an action p#an for doing better ne7t
ti2e1 If I get re8ected b so2eone+ I can focus that energ back into 2 se#f
i2prove2ent or appreciating 2 independence1
Channe#ing negative e2otions does t/o things1 %irst+ it puts a positive
spin on an other/ise negative occurrence1 "econd+ it prevents negative
e2otions fro2 spira#ing do/n/ards1 'ven /hen I.2 ver stressed or
disappointed+ the fee#ing never penetrates too deep#+ because I.ve #earned
ho/ to channe# it1
* approach to happiness is about increasing the upside when I
rise+ and limiting the downside when I fall1

Chapter Nine 1 The +eanin! o& Li&e
- 5/ -

The +eanin! o& Li&e
=o+ I don.t have a fina# ans/er for the 2eaning of #ife1 I doubt I ever
/i##1 Part of 2 2eaning for #ife is evo#ving and i2proving 2 2eaning for
#ife1 3* se#f4i2prove2ent has a recursive aspect to it6
:ut+ even if I don.t have the fina# ans/er+ I do have a /ork in progress1
The Wa o& AreteC + +eanin! &or Li&e
9fter e7p#oring a #ot of different #ife phi#osophies+ the 2eaning centra#
to 2 #ife is a fusion of t/o ideas+ fro2 the "toics and -aoists1
-he "toics be#ieved the 2eaning of #ife /as derived fro2 arete+ a
/ord rough# describing virtue and e7ce##ence1 If ou #ived virtuous#+ the
2eaning of our #ife /as fu#fi##ed+ even if ou ended up as a beggar1

- 53 -

-he -aoists be#ieved the 2eaning of #ife /as dra/n fro2 adhering to
the -ao+ or Wa1 -he Wa /as an unkno/ab#e under#ing path of the
/or#d1 (our purpose /as to f#o/ /ithout resistance in this deeper current
in nature1
9#though these ideas initia## appeared ver different+ I fee# the both
describe the gut fee#ing I 2entioned+ /a back in the introduction1 -hat+
the 2eaning I dra/ fro2 #ife is to pursue 2 sense of arete a#ong an
ineffab#e+ but po/erfu# path that under#ies 2 #ife1
Arete and Lo!ic
-he arete co2ponent of this 2eaning of #ife appea#s to 2 #eft4brain+
rationa#+ science4oriented vie/ of the /or#d1 Eirtuous #iving+ and beco2ing
e7ce##ent not on# in the narro/ sense of a particu#ar ski##+ but e7ce##ent
/ith ho/ ou #ive and /hat ou achieve+ appea#s to this #ogic4based side of
2 persona#it1
:ut I don.t be#ieve that is enough1 :ecause /ith such an approach+ it.s
$ou can see my
original articles on
arete as a
meaning for life,
here and here.
$ou can also see
my views on
following the Tao
here.

- 54 -

eas to /aste 2 ti2e phi#osophi5ing about /hether a particu#ar approach
has arete+ and arriving at no ans/ers1 Logic is good at distinguishing
bet/een a#ternatives+ but it rare# provides a direction on its o/n1
Tao and 'ntuition
%or that reason+ I #ove the -aoist co2ponent of the Wa1 In this sense+
not on# is the 2eaning of #ife derived fro2 the pursuit of arete1 :ut a#so+
there is an intuitive sense of /hich path has arete1 I 2a be unab#e to ever
tru# kno/ the -ao+ but I can use intuitions to provide 2e a direction fro2
/hich to go1
Is this phi#osoph irrationa# or unscientificG I don.t be#ieve so1 -he
pursuit of <ua#it as a 2eaning for #ife doesn.t strike 2e as vio#ating an
scientific or rationa# phi#osophica# vie/points I.ve encountered1
"i2i#ar#+ fo##o/ing an unseen -ao 2ight sound #ike 2sticis2+ but I
fee# there.s a perfect# rationa# e7p#anation1 Hu2ans have a deep running
nature+ both shaped b evo#utionar preference and b the unseen #a/s of

- 5# -

the universe1 -hat nature gives us a deep intuition that I think can often act
as a co2pass for higher4#eve# rationa# thought1
What8s the <esult o& ,ollo5in! This 2hilosoph>
)ery good.
Fn#ike 2an re#igions /hich te## be#ievers that a certain set of
incredib# specific facts about the universe 2ust be true for the re#igion to
be true+ 2 phi#osoph posits #itt#e about the /or#d1
9s a resu#t+ I can free# interpret 2ost ne/ findings on their 2erits+
and not on /hether it destros the 2eaning I find in #ife1
In addition+ this approach to #ife /orks /e## fro2 a#2ost an
circu2stances1 :oth the -aoist and "toic phi#osophers offer so2e of 2
favorite ans/ers to e7p#aining /h #ife can sti## be /orth/hi#e and
2eaningfu# even in the 2ost horrib#e circu2stances1
-his phi#osoph is a#so he#ps 2e 2ake i2portant #ife decisions+ b

- /" -

he#ping 2e decide /hat is tru# i2portant to 2e and he#ping 2e to ignore
the things that are irre#evant distractions1 9d2itted#+ one si2p#e concept
isn@t enough+ but it does he#p organi5e 2 other thoughts on #ife1
I.2 not tring to convert anone1 If ou.re happ /ith our re#igion or
phi#osoph+ I don.t care at a## /hether ou choose to fo##o/ 2ine1 I.2
si2p# sharing this for peop#e /ho are interested in /hat a
se#f4proc#ai2ed atheist subscribes to1

Conclusion
- /7 -

Conclusion
-he 2ain reason I continue to /rite is because+ if I stopped+ I think
2 head /ou#d e7p#ode1 I on# get to /rite a tin fraction of the ideas that
are constant# bu2ping around in 2 head about ho/ to get 2ore fro2
#ife1
I.2 happ a fe/ other peop#e benefit fro2 the2+ but I /rite at #east as
2uch to articu#ate 2 o/n thoughts as I do to provide advice1
I a#so don.t /ant to #eave the i2pression that I.2 a guru or e7pert1 I.2
not1 9s anone /ho kno/s 2e persona## /i## attest to+ I have 2an+ 2an
fai#ings1 'ven the /ords I /rite I don.t fo##o/ perfect#1 I strive to+ but I
2ake 2istakes1
-he /a I hope to co22unicate 2se#f+ a#though so2eti2es I fai# at
this too+ is that I.2 8ust another person tring to figure out this thing /e
ca## #ife1 =o ans/ers fro2 the 2ountaintop1 >ust a fe##o/ trave#er1

Conclusion
- /2 -

92 I here to preach 2 phi#osoph to the /or#d+ hoping to change
everoneG =o+ I.2 not tring to do that either1 * hopes isn.t to convert
anone /ho disagrees /ith 2e1 If ou disagree /ith 2e+ ou probab# have
so2e good reasons to+ and I cou#d probab# #earn fro2 the21
* hope is to co##ect #ike42inded peop#e+ /ith the sa2e gut4fee#ing I
had that drove 2e to start this /ebsite+ and /rite over a 2i##ion /ords of
ideas for it1 :ecause+ if /e share the sa2e gut fee#ing+ then there is
probab# a #ot I cou#d #earn fro2 ou1
44
-hanks for readingK
'nce again, if you
liked this book(
@. let me know.
C. email it to
someone you
think might like it!
This book is
dedicated to the
@",""" some
&eo&le who check
the blog regularly.
I dont get a
chance to e/&ress
my gratitude for
that often enough.
Ho&efully this
book hel&s me say
thanks.

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