Saturday Success Series: Volume 17
Making life & money work for you.
Welcome back to the Saturday Success Series email!
In this edition we’ll have:
Five to Focus On: A quote, stock, book, show & a beer.
Master Yourself: When and Where matters
Master Your Money: What most people do
And of course…
The Weekly Special: 8 Ways to Write Better Content
The goal here is maximum value, so let’s get to it.
Oh, by the way, if you’re feeling generous, please share this newsletter with a friend.
Five to Focus on:
In a noisy world, it’s hard to know what’s good out there. Let me help.
Quote to ponder: “Truth — more precisely, an accurate understanding of reality — is the essential foundation for producing good outcomes.” - Ray Dalio
Stock to consider: EDUT (The Global X Education ETF).
“Seeks to invest in companies providing products and services that facilitate education, including online learning and publishing educational content, as well as those involved in early childhood education, higher education, and professional education.”
Disclaimer- this is not financial advice, I am not a financial advisor, and you should always do your own research.
Book to read: Moneyland by Oliver Bullough.
Bullough does a nice job of explaining a really tricky, in depth subject. Obnoxiously rich people hiding their wealth is something we all know happens- we just don’t know the intricacies of it. After reading this you’ll feel like you do. You’ll also be pissed.
Show to enjoy: Turning Red on Disney +.
Pixar is good at delivering movies that hit the spot for kids and adults alike. With all the craziness in the world right now, we wanted to lean into a strong family night. Disney to the rescue!
Beer to sip: Puzzles & Pagans from Burlington Brewing.
It’s thick. And strong as hell. And you can taste the almonds and raspberries. So if you’re into those- you’ll be into this. You can also taste the bite of the booze, not surprising since it’s an 11.5% ABV.
Master Yourself
When and where you do something matters, a lot.
The location, the time of day- these play pivotal roles in our success, or lack thereof.
Our brains and bodies love routines. We’re a complex system that work best within routines- think about our circadian rhythm as a prime biological example.
Location has energy and time has memory. — Jay Shetty
What is meant by this…
If you workout in a gym, you workout harder. The location has energy.
If you workout at the same time daily, your body is ready to go. The time has memory.
If you study in a library, your brain works more efficiently. The location has energy.
If you study in a library at 4pm every day, your brain is ready to go. The time has memory.
Location and time matter, especially as you’re building healthy habits and routines.
Master Your Money
What most people do:
Earn money ~ Spend money
What you should do:
Earn money ~ Keep money ~ Grow money
How??
Earn: Increase earning potential. Build skills. Create additional income streams.
Keep: Budget. We keep a cash flow sheet. Goal is positive cash flow where that differential goes to investments.
Grow: Invest. You have to buy assets. Stocks, crypto, real estate, NFTs, whatever. Just buy as many assets as possible.
Weekly Special:
8 Ways to Write Better Content
Read More
You get better at writing when you read good writing. Read your favorite bloggers, authors, etc. Prolific readers have an easier time writing and putting ideas together.
Makes sense to value the input and make sure it’s top notch stuff, since that will ultimately lead to your output.
I read two new books every single week and I’ve been doing that for a decade.
Be Consistent
You have to write frequently, whether it’s once a week or 3x per week. You have to keep doing it, week after week, year after year.
Don’t allow yourself to fall off. It’s easy to skip a day or a week, but then that turns into days and weeks.
Consistency is always the key to success in anything.
Do Things
If you’re boring and do nothing, you’ll have little to write about.
We want to hear your stories, your successes, your failures, your relationships, your work, your life, lived.
We want to hear it all and if you do nothing, well, what’s there to write about?
Write, A Lot
Nothing beats writing daily. It doesn’t have to be award winning, in fact, it probably won’t be. Write anyway.
Even if it’s a journal entry. Even if it’s one liners in your notebook. Or notes about what you’re reading. It doesn’t always have to be an essay or an article. Just write.
I often jot down one line ideas and then build around it for articles.
Get Messed Up
Provided you don’t have a drug or alcohol problem…try catching a buzz or getting a little high (I’m talking weed, not coke) then jotting down some ideas.
I always became a little more creative with some booze in my system. But don’t overdo it, a buzz is different than being drunk. Buzzed people have good ideas, drunk people just think they have good ideas.
Enter the Weird Dream Realm
You know when you’re dozing and you’re half asleep/half awake? That’s a great time to get some ideas. It’s similar to being buzzed in that sense of creativity and calm.
A relaxed mind is a creative one. So take some naps.
Give Yourself a Task Before Bed
Give your brain a chore prior to going to bed. Need a new topic to write about? Need to flesh our your current story? Think it over before bed, jot down any last minute ideas then go to sleep.
You’ll wake up with ideas. It’s wild, but it works.
Utilize Your Downtime
Walks/Runs. Showers/baths. Daydreaming/just laying there. This is the time to think of ideas and note them.
Even watching TV or movies can glean insight into new ideas. Go people watching in a park. Play a game with your kids. Play Scrabble with your partner.
If you’re paying attention, new ideas can spring from anywhere and everywhere.
Thanks for reading and if you found this valuable, please share with someone who could use it. See you next Saturday!