1. Deep Work: Your Gateway to Meaningful Progress
Deep work is a state where you are fully focused without interruptions, which helps you produce high-quality results in what you do. Dedicate time daily to deep work – even just an hour that allows you to fully concentrate on what you’re doing and enter a flow state.
For example, instead of constantly checking emails and messages, set aside one hour a day where you only work, without looking at notifications or even hearing them. Over time, this effort will lead to great achievements and personal satisfaction, and it can completely change the results of your work.
2. Don’t Compare: Protect What Makes You Unique
The best way to destroy what makes you unique is to compare it to someone or something else. Every person has their own journey, relationships, and achievements that are unique to them, and comparing them to those of others only diminishes their value.
For example, you might be excited about a promotion you received at work, but only until you compare yourself to someone else in your field who earns more. Instead, you can appreciate what you received, the way you achieved it, and your personal accomplishment. Without comparison, you’ll have much more self-confidence and gratitude.
3. Big Problems, Small Tasks: The Art of Tackling Challenges
What initially seems like an overwhelming problem is often a series of smaller issues, each with its own solution. If you break the challenge into small tasks, it will seem less daunting and allow you to progress step by step, always moving forward.
For example, starting a business is a huge project, but it can be broken down into smaller steps like conducting market research, creating a business plan, and setting realistic goals. Step by step, what first seemed impossible becomes achievable. Viewing your challenges as a collection of small tasks will help you stay motivated and avoid burnout.
4. Fall in Love with the Process: It’s Not Just About the Result
When you fall in love with the process, you gain even if you don’t ultimately achieve the result you aimed for. This mindset makes your journey rewarding in itself.
For example, if you’re training for a marathon and enjoy the running practice, the discipline you’ve instilled, and the consistent improvement in your stamina, all these are just as valuable as the victory. This helps you maintain consistency, motivation, and a sense of accomplishment, even if the result is not exactly what you planned.
5. Simplify Complexity: Small Steps Lead to Big Wins
As mentioned before, small steps are the way to tackle any challenge. Combining the previous two points creates a successful person’s approach: nothing can deter them from their goals. Not only should problems and challenges be broken into small steps, but also any other goals you have.
Continuing the earlier marathon example, you can’t immediately start running 42 kilometers. Start with 1–2 kilometers and add more each week. Each small victory builds your self-confidence and helps you see your progress in real-time. The victory at the end will be the cherry on top—not the whole cake.
6. Don’t Wait: The Right Time to Start is Now
It’s never too late to start, but if you’re waiting for the right time, know that it’s already here. Waiting until you feel ready could take forever. Whether it’s starting a healthier lifestyle, learning a new language, or striving for the goals your heart longs to achieve, beginning now will pay off much more than waiting until you feel ready.
For example, if you’ve always wanted to write a book, don’t wait until you have enough time or improve your writing skills—start with the first paragraph today. This will help you gain momentum, learn, and improve along the way while being on the path you’ve set for yourself.
7. Your Most Valuable Asset: Your Mental Health
Anything that costs you your mental health is too expensive. Stress, toxic relationships, and overworking yourself all take a toll on your mental well-being, and no success is worth sacrificing your peace for.
For example, if your job constantly burns you out, consider setting boundaries or seeking a healthier work environment. Prioritize your mental state above all else—it will allow you to think clearly, make better decisions, and live a happier, more balanced life.
8. Don’t Rely on Motivation: Build a Routine
Motivation is not something you can rely on because it’s inconsistent, but unlike motivation, consistency is the essence of a routine. Motivation can be high or low on any given day, while a routine creates a framework that keeps you moving forward even when your enthusiasm wanes.
For example, if you’re trying to go to the gym regularly to get back in shape and stay healthy, it will be easier to stick to it if you join a group that meets on set days rather than going to the gym on your free days. The routine eliminates the need to decide whether to work out that day, as it’s already scheduled in your calendar, ensuring consistent progress.
9. A Journal is a Good Friend: Clear Your Thoughts by Writing Them Down
The best way to stop your brain from swirling with a mix of thoughts is to write them all down and clear them from your mind. This helps organize ideas, manage emotions, and create plans with clear steps, as you’ve already learned is a good practice.
For example, if you’re overwhelmed with thoughts about a big decision you need to make, write down the pros and cons and the possible outcomes of each choice. Not only will this help you see a clearer picture, but it will also calm your mind since you’ve expressed your thoughts in words and no longer need to store them in your head.
10. Take Control of Your Life: It’s Okay to Say “No”
If you say “yes” to everything people ask of you or everything that comes your way, you’ll quickly lose focus and control of your life. There are things you need to say “no” to, and they’re often things that feel like obligations but are really just personal pressures weighing on you.
For example, if there’s an event you’re not particularly keen on attending, and instead you could spend that time on a personal project or quality time with people you truly care about, it’s okay to decline. Save your “yes” and sense of duty for what will truly matter to you, and reclaim your time, energy, and sense of purpose.
