Notes on Getting Unstuck: 8 Steps for the Ambitious but Lazy

Step 1: Realize You're Unclear, Not Stuck

• Laziness is often a lack of clarity.
• A confused mind cannot make progress.
• To gain clarity:
  • Dump everything on your mind onto paper.
  • Batch similar tasks together (e.g., phone calls, copywriting, errands).
  • Sequence tasks by priority (1, 2, 3, 4).
  • Delete anything that isn't a "hell yes."

Step 2: Upgrade Your Identity

• Habits become part of your identity when done consistently.
• Reverse the common order: Be the person you want to be, then do the work, then you will have the desired outcome.
• First be the desired identity (e.g., athlete, disciplined person).
• Then do the work that aligns with that identity.
• Then you'll have the things you want (fitness, money, relationships).
• Speak your identity out loud.
• Protect your identity.

Step 3: Change Your Environment

• Your environment greatly influences your ability to change.
• Change the environment instead of relying solely on positive thinking.
• Three environments to master:
  • Physical Environment:
    • Your surroundings (kitchen, pantry, desk).
    • Remove temptations and add supportive elements (timer for work, gym clothes laid out).
    • It's easier to avoid the dragon than to slay it
  • Relationship Environment:
    • Friends, family, and virtual mentors (books, YouTube channels, podcasts).
    • Curate your social media feed and podcast subscriptions.
    • Other people can only meet you as deeply as they've met themselves.
    • Allow people to go on their own journey.
  • Internal Environment:
    • Thoughts, focus, and spiritual connection.
    • Practice gratitude, reframe thoughts positively, and have a spiritual practice to feel grounded.

Step 4: Protect Your Energy

• Energy is directly proportionate to your success.
• Belt buckles and bank accounts: keep the belt buckle down and the bank account up
• Fitness and energy levels are directly tied to net worth.
• Three energy boosters:
  • Prioritize the pump (exercise):
    • Exhaust the body, tame the mind.
    • Work out before important tasks.
  • Measure your macros (nutrition):
    • Know your protein, carbs, and fat intake for your goals.
  • Take recovery seriously (sleep):
    • Prioritize sleep to integrate the benefits of training.
    • Have an alarm for going to bed, not waking up.

Step 5: Build Momentum with Easy Wins

• Starting is the hardest part.
• Planes burn the most fuel on takeoff.
• Winners don't have bad days; they have bad moments. Reset after a bad moment instead of letting it turn into a bad day or weekend.
• Three hacks to build momentum:
  • Build a streak (at least seven days in a row).
  • Tell other people what you're after (share your dreams).
  • Get good at saying no (remove things to create space for growth).

Step 6: Raise the Stakes

• People will do more to avoid pain than to gain something.
• No stakes, no rewards, no results.
• Amplify the concept with rewards and stakes:
  • Rewards:
    • Use mini-rewards along the way.
    • Involve family by making the reward something they want (vacation, time with them).
  • Stakes:
    • Put money on the line (donate to a charity you hate).
    • Put your pride on the line (make a public declaration).

Step 7: Monetize Your Procrastination

• Create a scenario where you get paid for procrastinating.
• When you're doing work you love, it's hard to feel stuck.
• Four ways to create value and get paid to procrastinate:
  • Build a skill set (something other people value—selling, graphic design, AI automation).
  • Build a product (software, doghouses—something you want to create).
  • Build your knowledge (read and consume to teach other people).
  • Build an audience (share what you've learned, even your struggles).
  • The new oil is attention.

Step 8: Take Messy Action

• Make a decision and then make it right.
• When you don't know what to do next:
  • MINS: Most Important Next Step.
  • If you are not embarrassed by the first attempt then you've waited too long.
  • JFDI: Just Freaking Do It.
• Every person is here to become the best version of themselves and share that with the world.
• There's always someone two steps behind you who needs your help.