Thank you so much for sharing that. It takes real self-awareness to admit it.
Here’s one insight that’s helped me:
I check my consistency by measuring progress, not just effort.
If I’m doing the work but nothing’s shifting. No new insight, no fresh energy, no small wins, I pause. Because useful consistency leaves clues: clarity, growth, traction.
I’d love to hear what finally helped you realize it was the wrong direction? Your story could unlock something big for others too.
Thank you very much Jimmy. That's so true, it's a shame that we focus so much on being consistent without asking if we are doing the right thing, if we are consistent about the things that matter to us.
I was trying to build an agency based on someone else dreams, I was trying to prove my worth really to myself, my parents and culture. I thought that if I build this agency I will be finally 'successful' I thought that after I have this clients and financial abundance I will be successful.
I was constantly chasing, chasing and chasing new clients, new projects...
I didn't really make it financially as I wanted... yes I hit at some point six figures but then it went back to zero.
After therapy and lot of personal development books, Tony Robbins events etc I realized I'm going in the wrong direction. I'm going in a direction that is not aligned with who I'm. Mostly therapy helped me really to understand this.
I don't need an agency to prove my worth, I don't need clients to prove my worth. I can be a freelance consultant on brand storytelling that helps people / brands create stories that inspire and increase their profitability and I can be an online fitness coach that helps people become fitter and healthier.
There is nothing wrong with having two 'jobs'.
I don't need to be doing things because culture is telling me this or that. I'm doing what feels right to me and if I'm doing it from a place of giving, I want to serve and yes of course I want to get financially rewarded but at the end I don't need to prove to anyone anything.
So that's why I realised that now I'm more aligned than I ever was and now I'm more open to say that you know what, I'm figuring it out I don't need to prove anything to anyone.
So if your wife also wanted to go off and spend 16 hours a day building something, that would be fine? I'm genuinely curious. (I don't think she'd want to because our priorities are different.)
I agree with what you're saying. As a single parent of two young kids, however, sitting down and being obsessed fir 16 hours is just not possible. Any suggestions?
For me, obsessing over a goal drives me nuts cuz I almost always get overwhelmed by the mountain of things I got to do—instead of taking the first step.
How do you push past overwhelm, stay obsessed and act intensely?
This is an excellent post. Initially reading the first couple of paragraphs I was thinking it sounds arrogant but the more I read it sounded powerful and made sense. Thanks for the insight, Tim.
Thank you Tim for this. Great article, I need to implement the obsession of need to do it now. In away I reminded myself that I need to be consistent with writing so you need to develop the habit of consistency and do it every day and perhaps once that stage is done, you move to stage 2: now you are intense with that action. Because you need to start doing the work and it depends where you are in your journey, you can't start from zero to hundred in one go some people need time.
What about if you do have two missions, like i help fitness & adventure business owners and I do help people with their fitness as well online.
I agree with everything you said and I’m trying to put it into action, but right now half the battle is just overcoming the inertia to pull flow states that last even just 5 hours.
Was there a time in your life where you battled sloth or self sooth behaviours? Did it take near death to get over it? Or were there other pivot points?
I have conflicting feelings about your essay here. For the last 15 years, I was obsessed with doing the best work, then being the best CRM Architect, then being the best mentor to my students. I had a few full time positions at a time, and helped people on the had. 15 years of 80+ hour weeks.
I used to wear that as a badge of honour, and over the last 5 years I stopped bragging about it. I do not think I would change one thing about the last 15, because my thirst for knowledge, for moving forward, kept me going. I had super high months and super low ones. Each experience taught me something new each time. And I hated it and I loved it at the same time.
I now wonder what happened 4 or 5 years ago that I started doubting my craziness. Did I lose my clarity, did I not pivot in time. Not sure.
But one thing is for sure: I have people to this day telling me that I move like I am on drugs (I am not, just to be clear). I move recklessly sometimes, or that is how people see it. I move like all boats are burnt to a crisp and there is no other way.
It is exhausting, it feels futile at times, but exhilarating as well.
I will stop here before I run out character limit 🙂
Thank you for this post Tim.
Or maybe not. Maybe I was ready to wind down and you reminded me of the more extreme me that I was trying to grow out of. Food for thought, for me.
Tim, my dream is to become a writer like you—but honestly, I have no idea how to get there.
I read every single word you write. You’re the king of words. Seriously, every sentence you craft feels like it has to be there—take one out, and the whole thing falls apart.
How do you even write like that? Is it instinct? Practice? Some dark magic?
I loved this piece! I've recently started working on multiple platforms coz I want to be financially free in the next 6 months. I told myself: let's be obsessed. You have to do this in the next six months. But when I started, I heard people talking about focusing on just 1 sayin you'll burn out. You won't be able to do anything. This demotivated me a lot. But you wrote exactly what I needed and what I thought. Thank you.
Obsession is powerful, yes. But without reflection, even obsession can lead us into burnout or delusion.
What’s one way you check if your consistency is still useful? I’d love to learn more.
Thanks Tim 👌🏽
That's very true. I was consistent for so many years but I was consistent going in the 'wrong' direction.
Thank you so much for sharing that. It takes real self-awareness to admit it.
Here’s one insight that’s helped me:
I check my consistency by measuring progress, not just effort.
If I’m doing the work but nothing’s shifting. No new insight, no fresh energy, no small wins, I pause. Because useful consistency leaves clues: clarity, growth, traction.
I’d love to hear what finally helped you realize it was the wrong direction? Your story could unlock something big for others too.
Thank you very much Jimmy. That's so true, it's a shame that we focus so much on being consistent without asking if we are doing the right thing, if we are consistent about the things that matter to us.
I was trying to build an agency based on someone else dreams, I was trying to prove my worth really to myself, my parents and culture. I thought that if I build this agency I will be finally 'successful' I thought that after I have this clients and financial abundance I will be successful.
I was constantly chasing, chasing and chasing new clients, new projects...
I didn't really make it financially as I wanted... yes I hit at some point six figures but then it went back to zero.
After therapy and lot of personal development books, Tony Robbins events etc I realized I'm going in the wrong direction. I'm going in a direction that is not aligned with who I'm. Mostly therapy helped me really to understand this.
I don't need an agency to prove my worth, I don't need clients to prove my worth. I can be a freelance consultant on brand storytelling that helps people / brands create stories that inspire and increase their profitability and I can be an online fitness coach that helps people become fitter and healthier.
There is nothing wrong with having two 'jobs'.
I don't need to be doing things because culture is telling me this or that. I'm doing what feels right to me and if I'm doing it from a place of giving, I want to serve and yes of course I want to get financially rewarded but at the end I don't need to prove to anyone anything.
So that's why I realised that now I'm more aligned than I ever was and now I'm more open to say that you know what, I'm figuring it out I don't need to prove anything to anyone.
Such a great post, Tim
Having a meaningful "why," and "why NOW" is crucial.
Going beyond society's accepted limits and norms is a prerequisite for getting everything that lies on the other side of "moderation" and "comfort."
Obsession. Goals. Flow States.
LFG!
Good to hear from you Mike. Hope you're well man.
Thanks, Tim! Obsession & Flow States! Just celebrated my birthday yesterday, and the celebrations will undoubtedly continue throughout the weekend ;)
Hope you & the fam are doing great! Have a great weekend, Tim.
This is spot on Mike. Love the "WHY NOW" is important. I need to implement it right away.
How do you do this when you have a family (as I know you do)?
You realize that everyone you look up to also has a family to. Personal life has nothing to do with habit building. You do the thing or make excuses.
So if your wife also wanted to go off and spend 16 hours a day building something, that would be fine? I'm genuinely curious. (I don't think she'd want to because our priorities are different.)
Thanks for consistently being a voice of encouragement, Tim.
No probs Karan.
I agree with what you're saying. As a single parent of two young kids, however, sitting down and being obsessed fir 16 hours is just not possible. Any suggestions?
Do what you can. Maybe it's an hour in the morning. Anything is better than nothing.
Not sure if my original comment came through, but I did comment video :)
For me, obsessing over a goal drives me nuts cuz I almost always get overwhelmed by the mountain of things I got to do—instead of taking the first step.
How do you push past overwhelm, stay obsessed and act intensely?
I'd really like some advice.
Overwhelm is part of the process. It's not a bad feeling. it's normal. Just like how going to the gym hurts.
This is an excellent post. Initially reading the first couple of paragraphs I was thinking it sounds arrogant but the more I read it sounded powerful and made sense. Thanks for the insight, Tim.
I am the most humble person you will ever meet.
Thank you Tim for this. Great article, I need to implement the obsession of need to do it now. In away I reminded myself that I need to be consistent with writing so you need to develop the habit of consistency and do it every day and perhaps once that stage is done, you move to stage 2: now you are intense with that action. Because you need to start doing the work and it depends where you are in your journey, you can't start from zero to hundred in one go some people need time.
What about if you do have two missions, like i help fitness & adventure business owners and I do help people with their fitness as well online.
Do you suggest I need to focus only on one?
You won't do it unless you know why. If the why is weak then no action will happen.
Yeah of course, you need to know your why because otherwise you will give up.
I agree with everything you said and I’m trying to put it into action, but right now half the battle is just overcoming the inertia to pull flow states that last even just 5 hours.
Was there a time in your life where you battled sloth or self sooth behaviours? Did it take near death to get over it? Or were there other pivot points?
The big moment is when I understood why. "If I don't obsess I will work this shitting bank job for the rest of my life and die an old man."
I love nearly all your work, Tim, but for me this was the best yet, exactly what I needed. Thank you.
Made my day. Thanks.
I have conflicting feelings about your essay here. For the last 15 years, I was obsessed with doing the best work, then being the best CRM Architect, then being the best mentor to my students. I had a few full time positions at a time, and helped people on the had. 15 years of 80+ hour weeks.
I used to wear that as a badge of honour, and over the last 5 years I stopped bragging about it. I do not think I would change one thing about the last 15, because my thirst for knowledge, for moving forward, kept me going. I had super high months and super low ones. Each experience taught me something new each time. And I hated it and I loved it at the same time.
I now wonder what happened 4 or 5 years ago that I started doubting my craziness. Did I lose my clarity, did I not pivot in time. Not sure.
But one thing is for sure: I have people to this day telling me that I move like I am on drugs (I am not, just to be clear). I move recklessly sometimes, or that is how people see it. I move like all boats are burnt to a crisp and there is no other way.
It is exhausting, it feels futile at times, but exhilarating as well.
I will stop here before I run out character limit 🙂
Thank you for this post Tim.
Or maybe not. Maybe I was ready to wind down and you reminded me of the more extreme me that I was trying to grow out of. Food for thought, for me.
You feel bad because you built someone else's dream, not yours.
Why would I relentlessly work for 15 years to build some else’s dream? I thought it was something I wanted to do. I initiated it.
And if what you say is true, what is my dream then?
Oh, and about the video, would like to see it.
Just loved this post. Thanks for sharing this, Tim.
Hope you're well.
Cheers Pat
Have an extreme sense of urgency’
Life goes by faster than you think
Great post Tim
Oh man you are right. Just reflecting now on when I have been obsessed with a path. Yeah people thought I was nuts. But I got where I wanted to go!
Same here Eric.
Tim, my dream is to become a writer like you—but honestly, I have no idea how to get there.
I read every single word you write. You’re the king of words. Seriously, every sentence you craft feels like it has to be there—take one out, and the whole thing falls apart.
How do you even write like that? Is it instinct? Practice? Some dark magic?
Would love to hear your thoughts.
I'm an entrepreneur, not a writer.
I loved this piece! I've recently started working on multiple platforms coz I want to be financially free in the next 6 months. I told myself: let's be obsessed. You have to do this in the next six months. But when I started, I heard people talking about focusing on just 1 sayin you'll burn out. You won't be able to do anything. This demotivated me a lot. But you wrote exactly what I needed and what I thought. Thank you.