Saturday Success: optimization, still broke & 8 books to build on
Making life & money work for you.
Welcome back to the Saturday Success Series email!
This week we have:
Master Yourself: Obsessed with optimization?
Master Your Money: Work hard but still broke?
The Weekly Special: 8 Books to Build Your Foundation
The goal here is maximum value, so let’s get to it.
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Master Yourself
Been there. Every part of the day can be optimized. Every category in life can be optimized.
Measure it all!
Even had a sheet called “life systems optimization”.
Wow. Okay.
(Still have this sheet if I’m being honest. Not willing to trash it quite yet because I think it holds useful frameworks I could share with others at some point.)
But instead of trying to optimize everything, focus on getting a few small things right.
For relationship:
For the well being of our relationship, and since I work from home 80% of the time, I spend 10 minutes cleaning up before my girlfriend gets home.
Then she doesn’t have to walk into a crazy looking house after a long day.
Eventually it just becomes normal, so don’t expect extra points. But it avoids the wearing down of someone’s nerves when they constantly come home to a mess.
For health:
Going to bed before 11pm is my secret sauce to a successful life.
I rarely fall asleep after 11pm. I love my 7+ hours and I’m convinced it’s the foundational piece of health and overall productivity/happiness/etc.
For sanity:
15 minutes alone out back with kombucha. When the weather’s nice.
If it’s raining or freezing out, I’ll spend a few minutes inside in front of the window sipping kombucha.
No phone. No computer. No other people.
Most people’s minds race at night because it’s the only time during the day they weren’t actively bogging it down.
Don’t worry about optimizing every single area of life. That’s hard and likely leads to burnout, which then leads to no (or even negative) results.
Instead pick a few small things you can make ‘rules of life’.
Master Your Money
Feel like you work hard as a horse (not the one grazing in the field) but still can’t get ahead?
You’re, sadly, not alone.
Most Americans make too little income and have too much debt.
Yet, they work more hours than ever before in history.
What’s going on?
Maybe this will explain some of it.
“We need to redefine “hard work” to include “hard thinking.”
The person who outsmarts you is out working you. The person who finds shortcuts is out working you. The person with a better strategy is out working you.
Usually, the hardest work is thinking of a better way to do it.”
— James Clear
This is that whole ‘work smarter, not (necessarily) harder’ advice at play.
Being lazy can be a plus.
You can break your back for 12 hours a day and still be poor.
In fact, throughout history most humans have worked hard as hell…and been poor as shit.
So what little shift am I making based on this JC advice?
Efficiency models.
Where can I get more efficient?
Single tasking is a big one. While I’m writing this, this is the only thing I’m doing.
No TV in the background. No daydreaming. No checking other tabs.
Just solely focused on this.
Then I’ll move to the next thing and repeat.
Automation is another way to increase efficiency. So is doing less, better.
Spend some time thinking about how you can make the things you do easier and more fun.
Weekly Special
8 Books to Build Your Foundation
When I was 25 I knew something had to change.
I was an unemployed, drunken bum living in my childhood bedroom.
I knew I needed to go on a success/wealth journey and I figured something out early on.
I needed a foundation for success.
A better mindset. Better habits. Better frameworks. I had to become a better me.
How the hell was I gonna do that?
Books.
Books?
Yes, books.
What I consider foundational books. Each of these should be read with notes taken. But even if you skipped the notes, by the end of these 8 books…you’d be a new you.
1. Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink
Everything starts with taking complete responsibility for your life.
That’s the core concept of this book.
You can’t grow into the best version of yourself, unless you take ownership of your life and its outcomes.
2. Atomic Habits by James Clear
Your entire life is built on your habits.
You don’t even realize it, but everything you do is a habit.
It’s your job to ensure they’re solid habits and not shitty ones.
An atomic habit is a regular practice that’s not only little and simple to perform, but also a source of incredible power; part of the compound growth system.
3. Resilience by Eric Greitens
The one thing we know for sure? Life will punch you in the mouth. Eventually.
You often don’t know when or how the punches are coming, but we know they’re coming.
Building resilience is the only way to withstand the blows.
4. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
This book teaches you how to be a successful person.
Effective people get shit done and end up successful. You want to be one of those.
5. Deep Work by Cal Newport
Cal teaches you how to focus.
And consistent focus is what builds the things that make you wealthy.
6. Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins
David walks you through how to master your mind and defy any odds.
Become the kind of person who others cannot hurt.
It’s a great story with actionable tips for anyone.
7. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson
Mark discusses tradeoffs.
This isn’t about indifference.
It’s about deciding what to give a f*ck about and what to ignore.
8. Antifragile by Nassim Taleb
The idea here is something doesn’t simply withstand a shock, it actually improves because of it.
It’s a great concept to get familiar with.
Thanks for reading! If you found this valuable, please share with someone who could use it. See you next Saturday!
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