Welcome back to the Saturday Success Series email!
In this edition we’ll have:
Five to Focus On: A quote, stock, book, show and beer.
Master Yourself: Being, and seeking, safe spaces.
Master Your Money: Don’t buy more than you need.
And of course…
The Weekly Special: 17 Ways to Get Out of Your Comfort Zone
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: “Do a good job. You don’t have to worry about the money; it will take care of itself. Just do your best work — then try to trump it.” - Walt Disney
Stock to consider: NERD (Esports & Digital Entertainment ETF). Designed to offer investors exposure to esports & digital entertainment by providing investment results that closely correspond, before fees and expenses, to the performance of the Roundhill BITKRAFT Esports Index.
Book to read: Go-Givers Sell More by Bob Burg. One of the best, if not the best, sales books I’ve ever read. This is great for people who think selling has to be pushy or sleazy, but don’t want to be that way. Sales can, in fact, be nice- just like you.
Show to enjoy: King Richard on HBO Max. Not a show, but a movie- a great one. Will Smith absolutely delivers as Serena and Venus Williams’ father. The kids deliver a stellar performance as well.
Beer to sip: White Caps from Cape May. A really citrusty, smooth IPA worth a taste. It pours real pretty too. At 7.7% ABV it falls under imperial status, but just barely. Great beer to kickoff the winter season with.
Master Yourself
There are a lot of jokes made about safe spaces, and I’ve laughed at a few. But, we should be mindful that we all need and want safe spaces.
Your relationship should be the perfect place for that.
You should seek to be a safe space, as well as to find a safe space.
You need to let your partner be themselves. You need to let them vent at you. You need to let them know you understand and will still love them, not matter what they share. Of course, you still need to set boundaries for what you’re comfortable with.
You should also be able to be authentic and part of being authentic is sharing your feelings, good AND bad. Find a partner who lets you feel like you can do that. Also, remember to allow them to have boundaries.
We don’t have to carry our dark parts in shame any longer once we find a person who can be our safe space.
And the reason I say to make it your partner, instead of a friend or a family member, is because your partner should be your person. If you can’t unload your heaviness on them, they’re not the one for you. Life is too short to stick with mediocre pairings.
Master Your Money
Don’t buy more than you need. Because you can take that additional money and invest it. And then you can buy your freedom a hell of a lot sooner.
Why would you pay 50k for a new Mercedes when you can pay 10k for a used Mazda? They both get you where you need to go.
Why would you buy a huge house that costs you more not just in actual dollars but also in interest, taxes and utilities? A home is what you make it.
Even on important things like mattresses…I have friends who have spent 2k on a mattress because “I’m on it for a third of my liiiife”.
I bought an 8 inch deep memory foam mattress from WalMart 8 years ago…I still sleep on it. It’s the greatest mattress I’ve ever laid on. My girlfriend (a former mattress snob) agrees.
It cost me 250 dollars.
If put the 1,750 (savings from a 2k mattress) into the stock market and didn’t touch it (or add to it) from 28 to 65…it would be 32,500 dollars.
Weekly Special:
17 Ways to Get out of Your Comfort Zone
Get comfortable being uncomfortable.
Go to a new place, alone.
I recently drove myself to New Hope, PA and walked around alone for a good 2 hours. I engaged in conversation with multiple strangers, who I never would have spoken to had I been with a friend.
Dine alone.
And don’t bring a book. And don’t look at your phone. And maybe sit at the bar and talk to the bartender and other people who come in. I did this once when I was on jury duty and now have a truly fond memory to reflect on.
Drive somewhere new with no GPS or map.
Oh the thrill and fear of getting lost, asking strangers for directions, discovering a new spot you love.
Do a reading in front of strangers.
Poetry, book snippet, whatever. It’s awkwardly awesome.
Go to a bar and spit cheesy pick-up lines at strangers.
Whether you’re male or female. If you want to get really weird try spitting a few pick-up lines at both genders.
Let a friend make your Friday night plans.
Tell them not to tell you anything and just go, take you places, pay for you. That might be asking too much but try anyway.
Learn about something you know nothing about.
Read a book, do internet research, watch a documentary. Preferably something with a different view than yours and keep your mind open.
Vocalize your love to someone you wouldn’t normally.
Like dad. Or mom. Or your best friend. Dog doesn’t count.
Go to a new restaurant and order the twelfth item on the menu.
Or the 8th, whatever. The number doesn’t matter. Just pick the number before you get there. Then order it, no matter what it is. And eat it.
Make a new friend, invite this stranger out.
Whether it be at work or the gym or a volunteer spot. Talk to the new person and invite them out with you for coffee or drinks.
Pick something you normally do alone and have a partner.
You normally sit on the couch and read, ask someone to do it with you. Watch movies alone? Find a friend. Sit outside and enjoy a post work drink? Invite a neighbor over.
Volunteer for something you know nothing about.
Dog recuse, house building, etc. You’ve never done it? That’s the point, now go do it.
Take a new way to or from work.
Everyone has like 3 or 4 ways to and from work, try them all out. Rotate them.
Join a network of more successful people.
A business group that meets monthly or co-workers that are a pay grade or two above you. Hang with them, learn from them.
Face a fear.
I hate flying, I do it every few years just to test myself. Next step, walking out into the ocean to where my feet don’t touch. Makes me shiver just thinking of it. Go do something you’re scared of.
Go somewhere fancy under-dressed or somewhere casual overdressed.
I just went to a wedding this past weekend. Dressed in a cardigan over a polo shirt. I felt awkward, that’s a good thing.
Start saying yes to opportunities.
When people invite you places, go. When they ask for your help, help. When offered chances to do more at work, say yes. Take it all on and breathe it all in.
Thanks for reading and if you found this valuable, please share with someone who could use it. See you next Saturday!
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