Chapter 1: The Illusion of Ease in Life

The most prevalent misconception we face is that life ought to be uncomplicated.

#1: "I'm planning to take the rest of this year off."

Hold on. What?

You’re only 28 years old, and it’s still August.

This was an actual discussion I had with a friend.

Don’t misunderstand me; I fully support taking a break, especially after reaching a significant milestone or when feeling fatigued. However, she wasn’t merely resting; she was settling for mediocrity.

She had recently ticked off all her goals: a lucrative 9-to-5 job, a new home, and frequent travels.

By all external standards, she was thriving. Yet, inside, she felt miserable (as she confided to me).

Instead of undertaking the challenging but essential actions to realign her life, she chose to settle. She resorted to substances for numbness, distractions through music festivals, and fleeting relationships to fill the emptiness she experienced.

Harsh Lesson: Cultivate a life you don’t need to escape from.

#2: You have no valid excuses.

We possess unprecedented leverage as human beings.

Today, we have access to more knowledge and information on our devices than the President of the United States did four decades ago.

Utilize the internet to:

• Learn new skills
• Establish a personal brand
• Create art and share it globally

All without spending a dime.

There’s no need for anyone’s approval or permission from gatekeepers. My articles on Medium don’t require an editor's green light on topics.

Yet, many squander this chance, opting instead to binge on mindless reality shows that dull their existence.

I’ll never comprehend this.

There’s an abundance of knowledge to acquire and skills to master.

As I pen this on a train heading into Melbourne’s CBD, I’ve nearly completed a full article, while the person next to me is engrossed in watching Love Island Australia.

No judgment; enjoy what you will.

But always keep in mind: different choices yield different outcomes.

#3: I can be quite stringent about self-improvement.

I can accept slow progress, but I cannot tolerate a complete lack of it, especially regarding a goal you profess to value.

It only takes five minutes a day to make significant strides toward a meaningful objective.

Five minutes of daily writing can lead to one published article each month.

Five minutes of reading daily equates to one book a month.

At the end of the year, you’ll have read 12 books and written 12 articles.

That’s remarkable! There’s hardly any reason to have a zero progress month.

If you return to me in a year with no movement on a goal that matters to you, I won’t accept that.

It suggests either the goal lacks significance or you’re indifferent about your life.

In either case, I cannot assist you further.

Lesson: Strive for progress, not perfection.

#4: Complaining or playing the victim is unacceptable.

I may tolerate your complaints once or twice, but my patience wears thin afterward.

I have a friend who is perpetually negative, and it drives me up the wall. One day, I snapped and told her she has three options regarding her problems:

• Accept it.
• Change it.
• Leave it.

That’s all.

She seemed taken aback; no one had ever been so blunt with her before.

When you complain or adopt a victim mentality, you’re stripping yourself of power and agency.

It may sound harsh or cold, but that’s simply reality.

Lesson: There’s always someone who has faced worse challenges yet achieved more than you.

#5: Many struggle with being alone.

However, solitude can be a superpower if harnessed correctly.

I recently spent a weekend alone, dining, hiking, and even watching a movie solo.

I love traveling alone, and I’m planning trips to Asia and Europe in six weeks, just for myself.

When people inquire about my weekend and I share this, they think I’m crazy.

“How can you do that alone?”

The answer is straightforward:

If you’re uncomfortable with your own company, you’ll settle for subpar relationships—romantic, friendship, or even familial.

You’ll lower your standards to allow anyone into your life.

One of my closest friends has fallen into this pattern, and I’ve accurately predicted every person who would mistreat her.

Lesson: No one can fix you; only you can rescue yourself.

#6: I’m now fiercely protective of my time.

I no longer casually meet up or grab coffee.

At most, you can schedule a 30-minute Zoom call with me, but I require an agenda and clear reasoning for our meeting.

In-person meetings are strictly transactional; we’re either signing a contract or initiating a project.

Why?

Because 80% of meetings are pointless, especially once you reach a certain level of success.

People will emerge wanting your time.

I prioritize time spent with my family and close friends, while everything else is deprioritized.

Lesson: No one will value your time more than you do.

#7: Being average is perilous.

The average individual is:

• Overweight.
• Possesses less than $1,000 in savings.
• Works in a job they dislike.

Ironically, being average is highly competitive.

You compete for the same positions and consume the same unhealthy foods.

If you engage in average actions, expect average outcomes.

In today’s world, standing out is surprisingly easy; you don’t have to do much to be exceptional.

Lesson: Extreme actions yield extreme results.

#8: I consciously choose my regrets.

I’ve opted to stay single throughout my 20s and likely into my 30s as well.

You might say, "But Michael, you can’t control everything."

I assure you, you can. I reject the Disney notion that love is instantaneous.

Will I have regrets? Certainly.

I may reach 35 and wish I had pursued relationships or settled down sooner.

Yet, it won’t be a painful regret because I consciously chose it.

I’m aware of what I’m sacrificing.

Lesson: Regrets are unavoidable; choose them wisely.

#9: The path to success is straightforward.

Here it is:

• Set a significant, ambitious goal that resonates with you.
• Determine the price you must pay to achieve it.
• Pay that price.

That’s all there is to it.

To start a business, the price for me includes sacrificing social time and dating (for now), enduring uncertainty and financial instability, and grappling with doubt and impostor syndrome.

Lesson: Don’t complain about the goals you didn’t reach due to sacrifices you weren’t willing to make.

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Chapter 2: Practical Steps for Transformation

This video discusses actionable strategies to change your life dramatically in just six months.

This video elaborates on a deep work routine that can help you transform your life within half a year.