I know I mention this often, but a LOT of people need to read #2, realize it applies to them, and then take action to change it. Any time I see someone write:
•”someday”
•”I’m thinking about”
•”I’m looking into”
It’s almost guaranteed that they’ll be in that same spot on the starting line a year from now.
That’s doubly true for online writing. Don’t “look into” starting a Substack, just do it already! Even if your first post just says “hello world!” you’re already ahead of most people.
Well, first, the tone and the rhythm. I think you nailed it. It’s authoritative, but not preachy or stiff. It’s like a chat with a friend who knows what he’s talking about.
I do think that it’s loaded with content. Not that it’s too much, but you have material here for a book or several articles. Your treatment is somehow different from the literature I’m used to, and I think it’s fresh and illuminating.
1. They're afraid to spend money
There is a great lesson right there, and this item alone makes a great article by itself.
2. They say “someday” (MAYDAY!)
Procrastination. A huge problem, so big and so ubiquitous that it is probably the #1 reason that most people never achieve their dreams.
3. They're stuck … and their excuses keep them stuck
You make the same point here that guys like Jocko Willink make in Extreme Ownership. No more excuses. Move on.
4. They need help BUT won't take help
Great, great insight. Most people won’t ask for help, and they need it. We need it. We would all benefit from asking for help often.
5. They lie about what they will do
Golden. Just golden. On point.
6. They use accidental victim labels
I never heard that before. Not in this context. It’s great advice.
7. They act like a busy bee
Again. Golden. I love this. I see it all the time, and I talk to friends about this. I really don’t accept this kind of answer: "I don’t have time for…". Oh, c’mon. You have the time; you are choosing to do something else.
8. They are everywhere but nowhere
Yep. This is great. We all have to hear this. And the example is so vivid, I almost feel like I know the guy.
The simplest solution in history to perpetual brokenness
This part wraps it up beautifully.
You finish strong.
My favorites are 5, 7 and 8. But it’s very hard to choose. All points are like the parts of a watch, there are no superfluous gears.
Thank you very much, Tim. This means a lot to me. I started writing just for myself some time ago and only posted some articles here on Substack (as a ghostwriter for my wife) because of your advice and counseling.
"You can’t make 6 or 7 figures online (or anywhere) by spending a few hundred dollars. I don’t know why people manipulate themselves to fall for this lie."
Thanks for this, Tim. I'm about to pay $3,000 for an online one-on-one course with a top writer on Medium. I was unhappy at first but then realized that someone who has published books and made $1 million by writing is worth more than $3,000. So I'm gonna pay.
Thank you Tim for taking the time to write this post. Each of them is fully loaded. Phew!
I’m guilty of some of these and this was a great reality check - mean, but great.
Loved this bit -
Time and money are joined at the hip.
Master time and you master money – and vice versa.
I think this is a very very hard concept to grasp especially if you grew up in a middle-class home (not an excuse but just stating that your brain gets wired a certain way) but I see the truth. Need to push myself!
I love that you can see both sides Shruti. Some of this advice is may come across as mean but it's written with love. Because once you heal from these things above, you can reach all sorts of wild success. If I was selfish I wouldn't want you to have that. But I do. And that's why this advice isn't mean.
Well, I admit that I’ve committed everything up and down this list along my business journey over decades. The last point about taking an hour to create a rigorously honest inventory and then decide what new strategy to act on, takes more than a brief break in your schedule.
I say this because I made a financial commitment that I couldn’t afford, a Hail Mary pass, to join Tim’s business mastermind.
Then, realizing the financial commitment, I took a few weeks off my daily work to figure out what I had to change.
Like peeling an onion, it made me cry each time I stripped away another layer of self delusion which let the light in. Each moment of reflection was a revolution. I saw clearly and started taking action.
Step by step, one day at a time. My favourite local expression in French is: “Petit a petite, l’oiseau fait son nit.” Little by little the bird builds her nest.
With the aid of this community I’m building my nest. So, absorb the wisdom in Tim’s article to discover what you’re capable of.
ECP we love having you in the mastermind. I'm getting to the stage of life where I'm realising people need exposure to new ways of thinking on a weekly basis. Once off isn't enough.
And most of us are living a life full of delusions and lies we tell ourselves. The truth is uncomfortable but it's the only way to transform.
What's been your favorite mastermind workshop so far ECP?
Hi Tim--asking which of the workshops is my favorite from the mastermind stumped me because its like asking which is your favorite child! Needless to say, I've done countless courses, but working with @timdenning and @todd and the cohort has drawn me off the bleachers and into the arena. The value is everywhere, Tim. Your articles are spicy, the sessions are salty (sometimes :-) and the courses are substantive. Its a recipe for putting ourselves into the public arena after decades of professional service. I'm just grateful to be here. Thanks, Tim. Elizabeth
Self-doubt, fear, and anxiety are what I think cause it. I've failed in some endeavors before, and it was on doing things I love and trying to make a living out of them.
Same thing with wanting to venture into a field I'm passionate about (financial coaching and debt payoff) but haven't explored beyond doing it for myself and encouraging others through Facebook.
I just think you’ve unpacked a lot of good, honest stuff here and I like all of it. People stay stuck, broke, in bad relationships, in shitty jobs, in addictive behaviors, etc because they’re unwilling to be honest with themselves. Change is possible. Growth is possible. But never if you keep lying to yourself with old stories.
That is where I find myself every time. Although I am doing a lot of parallel work to improve myself. My difficulty consists in that I have a problem finishing what I start, and I tend to start to many things at the same time. Stressful job where I cannot develop into what I want. My only hope is in putting in the hours after work and on weekends. But I fell lost all the time. Is like I'm sailing but the destination is unclear.
Thank you for putting out such open, candid and honest articles here and out there on the interweb, Tim. You truly are inspiring.
This was a good read. Its ironic that you mentioned Tony Robbins because, I just started reading his book "
MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom". I connected with this week's article a lot because, I have realized I make a lot of excuses when it comes time for me to do something. I want to change my life but the routine I have placed myself in has me questioning my decisions or things that I want to do to better my life. Nothing in this life comes risk free. I am realizing now that today is my chance for a better tomorrow rather than waiting for someone else to change something for me.
No one is coming to save you Samuel. Tony teaches that more than anyone I know. Most people just need to take more risks and feel fear a lot more than they currently do.
Oooh yes tip #1. Growing up in an environment of scarcity I struggled to imagine myself spending over $50 on myself. I decided to take a risk, do something different, and pay almost $10,000 to leadership/life coaching and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. In the 9 months of coaching I was able to change my job twice, each time getting closer and closer to what I actually want to do. AND I was able to increase my salary by 50%. It paid for itself and then some! It was a mix of finally investing in myself and asking for help that really got me to where I need to be. Appreciate this newsletter Tim! Insightful as always.
I know I mention this often, but a LOT of people need to read #2, realize it applies to them, and then take action to change it. Any time I see someone write:
•”someday”
•”I’m thinking about”
•”I’m looking into”
It’s almost guaranteed that they’ll be in that same spot on the starting line a year from now.
That’s doubly true for online writing. Don’t “look into” starting a Substack, just do it already! Even if your first post just says “hello world!” you’re already ahead of most people.
I don't get why people wait Kevin. They live as if they're not aging and going to die. It's either today or you're fooling yourself.
There are so many valuable insights in this article that it feels like a mini book or course.
I think it's the best article I've read from you, or at least the one that resonates with me the most.
If the purpose of writing is to make the reader feel your words, you knocked it out of the park.
Wow Carlos this comment made my day. I'm trying so hard right now to say what others won't. Any point above stand out the most for you?
Well, first, the tone and the rhythm. I think you nailed it. It’s authoritative, but not preachy or stiff. It’s like a chat with a friend who knows what he’s talking about.
I do think that it’s loaded with content. Not that it’s too much, but you have material here for a book or several articles. Your treatment is somehow different from the literature I’m used to, and I think it’s fresh and illuminating.
1. They're afraid to spend money
There is a great lesson right there, and this item alone makes a great article by itself.
2. They say “someday” (MAYDAY!)
Procrastination. A huge problem, so big and so ubiquitous that it is probably the #1 reason that most people never achieve their dreams.
3. They're stuck … and their excuses keep them stuck
You make the same point here that guys like Jocko Willink make in Extreme Ownership. No more excuses. Move on.
4. They need help BUT won't take help
Great, great insight. Most people won’t ask for help, and they need it. We need it. We would all benefit from asking for help often.
5. They lie about what they will do
Golden. Just golden. On point.
6. They use accidental victim labels
I never heard that before. Not in this context. It’s great advice.
7. They act like a busy bee
Again. Golden. I love this. I see it all the time, and I talk to friends about this. I really don’t accept this kind of answer: "I don’t have time for…". Oh, c’mon. You have the time; you are choosing to do something else.
8. They are everywhere but nowhere
Yep. This is great. We all have to hear this. And the example is so vivid, I almost feel like I know the guy.
The simplest solution in history to perpetual brokenness
This part wraps it up beautifully.
You finish strong.
My favorites are 5, 7 and 8. But it’s very hard to choose. All points are like the parts of a watch, there are no superfluous gears.
Lmao.
What a summary Carlos! You'd make a good writer with skills like that :)
Thank you very much, Tim. This means a lot to me. I started writing just for myself some time ago and only posted some articles here on Substack (as a ghostwriter for my wife) because of your advice and counseling.
I love to see people use what I teach to take action.
Wow Tim, some tough love here. But I'm picking up what you're putting down. thank you. this one is def 'drenched in value'.
I see a lot of this day to day in my academy. It drives me nuts because it destroys people's potential Kim.
"You can’t make 6 or 7 figures online (or anywhere) by spending a few hundred dollars. I don’t know why people manipulate themselves to fall for this lie."
Thanks for this, Tim. I'm about to pay $3,000 for an online one-on-one course with a top writer on Medium. I was unhappy at first but then realized that someone who has published books and made $1 million by writing is worth more than $3,000. So I'm gonna pay.
You should probably work with me instead Denis given I've achieved more on that platform than most people haha. And I don't cost $3000 :)
Just being cheeky.
I'm sure I'll work with you at one point - my goal is to learn from the best of the best.
Which courses do you have for aspiring writers who want to make a living by writing online?
How much do your one-on-one sessions cost?
Thank you Tim for taking the time to write this post. Each of them is fully loaded. Phew!
I’m guilty of some of these and this was a great reality check - mean, but great.
Loved this bit -
Time and money are joined at the hip.
Master time and you master money – and vice versa.
I think this is a very very hard concept to grasp especially if you grew up in a middle-class home (not an excuse but just stating that your brain gets wired a certain way) but I see the truth. Need to push myself!
I love that you can see both sides Shruti. Some of this advice is may come across as mean but it's written with love. Because once you heal from these things above, you can reach all sorts of wild success. If I was selfish I wouldn't want you to have that. But I do. And that's why this advice isn't mean.
Well, I admit that I’ve committed everything up and down this list along my business journey over decades. The last point about taking an hour to create a rigorously honest inventory and then decide what new strategy to act on, takes more than a brief break in your schedule.
I say this because I made a financial commitment that I couldn’t afford, a Hail Mary pass, to join Tim’s business mastermind.
Then, realizing the financial commitment, I took a few weeks off my daily work to figure out what I had to change.
Like peeling an onion, it made me cry each time I stripped away another layer of self delusion which let the light in. Each moment of reflection was a revolution. I saw clearly and started taking action.
Step by step, one day at a time. My favourite local expression in French is: “Petit a petite, l’oiseau fait son nit.” Little by little the bird builds her nest.
With the aid of this community I’m building my nest. So, absorb the wisdom in Tim’s article to discover what you’re capable of.
ECP we love having you in the mastermind. I'm getting to the stage of life where I'm realising people need exposure to new ways of thinking on a weekly basis. Once off isn't enough.
And most of us are living a life full of delusions and lies we tell ourselves. The truth is uncomfortable but it's the only way to transform.
What's been your favorite mastermind workshop so far ECP?
Hi Tim--asking which of the workshops is my favorite from the mastermind stumped me because its like asking which is your favorite child! Needless to say, I've done countless courses, but working with @timdenning and @todd and the cohort has drawn me off the bleachers and into the arena. The value is everywhere, Tim. Your articles are spicy, the sessions are salty (sometimes :-) and the courses are substantive. Its a recipe for putting ourselves into the public arena after decades of professional service. I'm just grateful to be here. Thanks, Tim. Elizabeth
Ouk
What does ouk mean Duncan?
This was a slap to my face. It did feel like you were pertaining to me.
#2, #6 and #7
Thank you for the tough love.
Turns out I’m my own barrier to success. Busywork everyday. I start out full of optimism and wind up unfulfilled. To my own faults.
How can you delete all the busy Radrad?
By taking account of what is more important to me. i am overcommitted now. and its the cause of this anxiety of being unable to begin.
I'll be honest, I keep finding myself in the "someday" mentality. I need to push past it more often and just commit.
David, what causes it do you think? I don't ever find myself in that mode and want to learn more.
Self-doubt, fear, and anxiety are what I think cause it. I've failed in some endeavors before, and it was on doing things I love and trying to make a living out of them.
David, if you failed but learned then why can't you do better next time?
Same thing with wanting to venture into a field I'm passionate about (financial coaching and debt payoff) but haven't explored beyond doing it for myself and encouraging others through Facebook.
Oh, agree. I know that now. This was in 2016, when I failed big time and semi-walked away from a freelance writing career.
I've been doing it for free now for 7 years as a hobby. But I've got that spark recently to try to get paid for it again and do my own thing.
Now, I know to learn from my failures and to listen to those who are successful in the field. But I still have that nagging "What if?" in my head.
The way to answer what if is to experiment.
If you could write again and get paid for it, what would you write about?
I like what I'm doing now -- interviewing people from all walks of life. It's been a good, 4-month experiment thus far.
💥💥
Care to add any more context Dee?
I just think you’ve unpacked a lot of good, honest stuff here and I like all of it. People stay stuck, broke, in bad relationships, in shitty jobs, in addictive behaviors, etc because they’re unwilling to be honest with themselves. Change is possible. Growth is possible. But never if you keep lying to yourself with old stories.
Good one Tim! That why the 💥
That detail helps a lot Dee. Thank you. I'll try to do more of it.
That is where I find myself every time. Although I am doing a lot of parallel work to improve myself. My difficulty consists in that I have a problem finishing what I start, and I tend to start to many things at the same time. Stressful job where I cannot develop into what I want. My only hope is in putting in the hours after work and on weekends. But I fell lost all the time. Is like I'm sailing but the destination is unclear.
Thank you for putting out such open, candid and honest articles here and out there on the interweb, Tim. You truly are inspiring.
Samuel starting too many things can be bad. Let me ask this: out of all those things which one are you obsessed with?
Tim,
This was a good read. Its ironic that you mentioned Tony Robbins because, I just started reading his book "
MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom". I connected with this week's article a lot because, I have realized I make a lot of excuses when it comes time for me to do something. I want to change my life but the routine I have placed myself in has me questioning my decisions or things that I want to do to better my life. Nothing in this life comes risk free. I am realizing now that today is my chance for a better tomorrow rather than waiting for someone else to change something for me.
No one is coming to save you Samuel. Tony teaches that more than anyone I know. Most people just need to take more risks and feel fear a lot more than they currently do.
I agree with you 100%
Glad to meet someone who shares this view Samuel. It's quite rare.
Oooh yes tip #1. Growing up in an environment of scarcity I struggled to imagine myself spending over $50 on myself. I decided to take a risk, do something different, and pay almost $10,000 to leadership/life coaching and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. In the 9 months of coaching I was able to change my job twice, each time getting closer and closer to what I actually want to do. AND I was able to increase my salary by 50%. It paid for itself and then some! It was a mix of finally investing in myself and asking for help that really got me to where I need to be. Appreciate this newsletter Tim! Insightful as always.
I mean this is the best article I read this year.