Saturday Success: a new mantra, Charlie Munger & my 9 best decisions
Making life & money work for you.
Welcome back to the Saturday Success Series email!
This week we have:
Master Yourself: The best mantra
Master Your Money: Charlie Munger quote
The Weekly Special: 9 of my best decisions over the past 10 years
The goal here is maximum value, so let’s get to it.
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Master Yourself
Every once in a while you come across something that demands to be recognized. It refuses to be ignored. And it’s just too damn good to walk away from.
This little mantra was one of those.
Follow your plan, not your mood.
Really think about that.
Great processes and systems lead to great outcomes.
Create them. Trust them. Refine them. Stick to them.
I built a solid investment plan. I don’t deviate just because the markets are going wild. The plan is solid, I stick to it and ignore my moods and the emotions of others.
I have a top notch morning routine. Sometimes I wake up and don’t want to do it. Oh well, ignore the feeling. Stick to the plan.
The more often you can do this, the better off your future will be.
Master Your Money
“To get what you want, you have to deserve what you want. The world is not yet a crazy enough place to reward a whole bunch of undeserving people.” - Charlie Munger
If you’re not pleased with your life right now, look at the choices you’re making.
You’re not going to be handed success.
I wrote on Medium for months making less 10 dollars. Then all of a sudden that number started climbing rapidly.
But I know if I stop writing here, it’ll fall even more quickly.
I haven’t earned anything except what I got this month. I’ll need to earn it again next month and the month after.
Instant success doesn’t exist.
Weekly Special
9 of My Best Decisions Over the Past 10 Years
I’ve tried to make good decisions every day for the last 10 years.
Mainly because 15–25 was a rough 10 years full of bad choices. And at 25 I had had enough.
But, like all things, some decisions are much better than others. And these 9 stand out as foundational pieces.
Waking up early
6–9 am every day of the week. Those 21 hours are my magic hours. I protect them at all costs.
I work full time, go to school part time and have a family with 2 kids under 12. So yes, the morning is where my side project magic happens.
These 3 hours a day are what allow me to publish 5 articles a week on Medium, 1 thread per week on Twitter and publish my Saturday Success Series newsletter every Saturday on Substack.
No Booze
I quit drinking for 16 months a few years ago. It was the best year of my life (up to that point) and yet I went to back drinking.
Stupid.
So, 2 years ago I quit for good.
Alcohol depressed me. It cost me entire days of my life wasted hungover. It made me skip over my good habits and indulge in my bad ones. It didn’t serve me at all and was actively hurting me.
No News
It’s been about 3 years since I tuned out. I don’t miss the noise, the anxiety, the fear mongering.
Anything that really needs to find me, does. I don’t need to chase the news.
Remember, the media’s job is to get you from 1 ad spot to the next. They want you addicted, not informed.
Must Do Lists
I moved away from making to-do lists and instead focused on Must Do lists.
My to-do lists were unruly as hell. My Must Do lists are streamlined and handwritten. The top 5 (or less) things that need to get done, go on it. Simple.
Social Media Pruning
Keep your social media circle tight.
I only want to see the content I want to see. People who are chasing similar goals and have similar winning mindsets.
I unfollowed tons of people in 2022. And I spend a little time every week or two seeing what needs pruning. It’s an upkeep type of thing.
Financial Education
My god, to imagine how I was living before I started learning this. It gives me heartburn.
I spent years learning about credit score calculation, stocks vs. ETFs, real estate, budgeting and more.
Now my attention is on learning more about crypto and NFTs.
School isn’t going to teach you this. And there’s a chance no one else in your life knows much about it either.
Follow me on Twitter if you’d like a personal finance friend.
Engaging
With life. With work. With social media. With love.
Deciding to lean into living has never been regrettable.
I actually talked about this concept to new employees at my company. How I hated my job until I realized the problem was me and my lack of engagement.
My partner
She’s a gift. Choosing to be with her was one of my wiser decisions. Probably the wisest.
She is incredible support and she radiates love. She challenges and comforts me. She’s everything you’d want in a partner.
Finding a good partner is always a great decision.
Being unbothered
I don’t let other people get under my skin. There will always be an idiot. A hater. An excuse maker. Who cares?
The trolls will come to argue. Ignore them. The trolls will come to poke you. Ignore them. The trolls will come to distract you. Ignore them.
Their opinions are theirs, let them keep them.
Thanks for reading! If you found this valuable, please share with someone who could use it. See you next Saturday!
Interested in building your online writing into a 4-5 figure business? Get The Medium Formula for less than you’d pay for dinner.
Here’s a picture of Lisa (my gf) and I at lunch with two good friends. They donate their art earnings to children’s hospitals and are true inspirations. Have a great upcoming week!