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IOverview
IIParadigms 16HabitsYouShouldDoEveryDay
IIIThe16DailyRituals
IVImplementation
25QuestionsToAskYourself

I.Overview
ForalongtimenowIhavebeenruthlesslyattackingthequestionofwhatitisIdo TheWarriorDiet

withmydays.IbeganaprojectwhereItrackedmydailyendeavorstoseewhatIwas
doingwithmytime(seepartIV).Ihavebeenkeepingthisupeverydayforthelesser
FixYourPosture:PartI
partofayearnowandIdiscoveredthatalargeportionofmytimewas,regrettably,
wastedaway.IalsoevolvedasystemofgrowththatIwanttosharewithyoutoday.

Ego:TheFalseCenter

YourdailyhabitsareHIGHLYcorrelatedwithsuccessorfailure.Bydoing
somethingeverydayyoucanachievegoalsthatwouldbeotherwiseimpossible.
Bydoingsomethingeverydayyoucanmakeyourselfprocessoriented.Bydoing TheCurseofMan
somethingeverydayyoucangiveyourselftheabundancemindset.

50LifeLessonsFromMarcus
Icanttalkthisupenough.ForthelastyearIhavebeenscrutinizingmydaysandhow Aurelius,Em...
Iappropriatemytime.Thispostproposes16thingsthatanybodycandotobegin
changingthemselvesandtheirlife.Ivegonethroughquiteanevolutionandam SelfTransformationThrough
sharingtheresultsofmyexperimentwithyouhere.Itsalongpost,butIencourage Meditation

youtoreadthroughityouwilllikelyfindsomevalueinit.
HackYourBrain:PolyphasicSleep

II.Paradigms

Wearewhatwerepeatedlydo.Excellence,then,isnotanact,butahabit.Aristotle

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BeforeIgetintothespecificsoftheritualsIveintegratedintomylifeIthinkits
importanttounderstandtheparadigmsImoperatingunder.Theepiphaniesand
understandingsIvecometohaveallowedmetoimplementthesehabitsandtake
massiveaction.Ifyourestartingfromscratch,Idguessitwouldtakeaboutsix
monthstoayeartodeveloptheselfdisciplinerequiredtosustaintheregimentof
habitsImdiscussing.Thefirstparadigmandconceptyouneedtounderstandisthe
lifetimeapproach.

HabitsAlifetimeapproach

Whenconsideringdoingsomethingeverydayforforeveryouobviouslyconsider
whateffectitwouldhaveonyou.Bothinthelongtermandtheshortterm.Youwill
lookatwhatitisyouwanttodoeveryday,suchasexerciseandconsidertheshort
andlongtermeffects.Intheshorttermwhatgives?Wellitmakesyoufeelprettygood
forone.Arunnershigh,asenseofprideandaccomplishment,andalsotherolloverit
hastootherpartsofyourday.Itsnotlikeyouexerciseandthenhitmcdicksandyour
couch.Generallythisconvertstomomentumthatyoucarrytoothertasks.The
benefitsofexercisingonanygivendayareobviousandrealizedimmediately.
Consideralsothelongtermeffects.Asyoumaintainaregimentofexerciseyourbody
fatpercentagedrops,yourflexibilityandstrengthincrease(lesschanceofinjury)
yourlifespanextends,yourimmunesystemisbolstered,youmaintainyouryouth
longer,youcarryoverasustainedvigortootherpartsofyourlife,yourrestingheart
rategoesdown,andyouhaveageneralfeelingofwellbeing.Prettysweet.Clearly
exercisingisveryimportantgivenbothitsshortandlongtermbenefits.

ThisisthealgorithmIveusedforproactivelyconstructingmylife.Taketheactivity,
considerthelongandshorttermeffectsandevaluateifthatswhatIwantinmy
life.ManyactivitiesIregularlyengagedinhadwonderfulshorttermeffectsbut
terriblelongtermeffectsonmyhealth,wellbeingandprosperity.

Followmethroughashortasideandletsapplythisalgorithmtoadifferentand
arguablynegativeactivitydrinkingalcohol.Shorttermeffectscanbegreat(state,fun,
makesgameeasier)butwithalittlemoreinspectionyourealizetherollovereffectsit
has.Healthwisethisisobvious.Drinkingisbadforyou,especiallybingedrinking.
Butitseasytooverlookwhatelseisgoingonitsnotjustalcoholitsthepartying.
Theshittysleepswhenyoudrink,thewreckedimmunesystem,theshittyfoodyoueat
drunk,myincreasedlikelihoodofsmokingcigarettesanddoingdrugs,andthelong
termdamageofalcohol(bythetimeim26yearsoldthatwillhavebeenaDECADE
ofbingedrinking)Financiallyitsobviouslydetrimentaldrinksatthebarcancrucify
astudentbudget.Yourproductivityalsotakesahugehitwhenyoudrinkthenextday
isawriteoff.Evenifyouhavealotofwillpowerandmomentumtakingchargeof
yourlife,goatitacoupleofdaysinarowandyousetyourselfwayback.Thereare
bookstoberead,weightstobelifted,laundrytobedonebutnohungover=
DURRstate.

Bytakingastepbackandlookingattheecosystemofconsequencesyour
choiceshaveyoucanbetterdecidewhatthingsyoudoanddontwantinyour
life.

MasteryTheSCurve
ThenextconceptisderivedfromGeorgeLeonardsbookMastery. Theideaisthat
progresswithregardstoanythingskillrelatedisnotalinearequation,ietheeffort
youputindoesnotdirectlycorrelatewithwhatyougetout.Therealityisthatyou
spendmostofyourtimeonplateaus,puttingineffortandnotgettinganywhere,until

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eventuallyyoubreakthroughemergingbetterthanbefore.Iagreebutwouldliketo
extendhismodeltoincludetheexponentialScurve.Thediagrambelowisfairly
autobiographical.

InmylimitedtimeonearthIhavefoundthistobetrue.Liftingweights,learning
calculus,playingpiano,meditation,carpentry,programming,writing,painting,
gardening,usingchopsticks,chessandcheckersTheyallfollowthisformula.
Everythingyoudowillhaveadiscouragingperiodofsloggingthroughwithlittletono
progress(Irefertothisassuckingshit)

Itsimportanttounderstandthisbecauseitcanhelppreventyoufromgetting
discouraged.Knowingthatwhenyoubreakthroughaplateauitwillbewitha
banganditwillbeglorious.

Thisishowitsgoingtogo.Youmakethedecisionthatyouregoingtowalkthepath.
Youregoingtolearnhowtoprogramorplaythepiano.Nowyoubeginputtingina
force,aconsistentsustainedeffort.Youwilldothiseveryday.Nowyoucanbeginthe
processofadvancingalongthemasterycurve.Ifyouputinnoeffortyoumakeno
forwardmovementobviously(*Inmyexperiencewhenyougiveuponaskillyou
dontloseitentirelyyoujustkindofaccumulaterust.)

ExponentialGrowthandSpillover

Twothingshappenasyoumovealongthemasterycurve,andunderstandingthese
canhelpmotivateyou.Forone,youwilleventuallygainexponentialprogress.
Learningisexponential.Youstarttoseecompoundingreturnsasyouputthepieces
together.Youpickupamomentum.Yourresultsarefuelforyourmotivationandit
putsyouintothisselffulfillingcyclewhereyougainresults,whichgiveyou
motivation,whichgetsyoutopushharderuntilyougetmoreresults.Thisdoesnt
reallyhappenifyousuckthoughHowdoyouhitthatexponentialgrowththe
cycleofimprovement?YoulldoitthroughsheerFORCEOFMOTHERFUCKING
WILLPOWER.Thatswhatittakestobreakthrough.

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Thesecondthingthatwillhappenisyoubegintoaccumulatespillovereffects.For
example,asyouplaymorechessyourcriticalthinkingdevelopsormaybeasyougo
outmoreyoursocialskillssharpenandyourperformanceatworkimproves.Asyou
begintocultivatewillpowerandselfdisciplineinyourlifetheprobabilitythatyouwill
succeedwhenyoupickupanewskillismuch,muchhigher.

Metametacognition

Cognitionisyourabilitytoreadsomethingandunderstandit.Metacognitionisyour
abilitytoevaluateyourcomprehensionasyoureadit.Metametacognitionisthinking
abouttheprocessofevaluatingyourcomprehension.

Everylevelisahigherorderofthinking.Basiccognitionispurelyoperationalitmay
getyouthroughlifefrompaychecktopaycheck.Takingastepbackandthinking
abouthowyourelivingyourlifeismetacognition,thiscanhelpyoumanageyourlife
asyouintroduceanelementofproactivityintoit.Metametacognitionistakingone
furtherstepbackandassessingtheveryvaluesthatyoudecidetoliveyourlifebyif
anyofthatmakessense.Metacognitionwillhelpyoumanageyourlife,finances,
relationships,business,andlearning.Metametacognitionisthinkingaboutyour
values,purpose,anddirectioninlife.Theysaythatmetacognitionisassociatedwith
intelligence,thenmetametacognitionisassociatedwithbrilliance.Itisavery
powerfultool.(expandedoninhabit16)

III.The16DailyRituals
1.ExerciseExerciseisessentialIbrieflytouchedonwhathappenstoyouinthe
shorttermbutconsideralsothelongtermeffectsofregularexercise.Asyoumaintain
aregimentofexerciseyourbodyfatpercentagedrops,yourflexibilityandstrength
increase(lesschanceofinjury)yourlifespanextends,yourimmunesystemis
bolstered,youmaintainyouryouthlonger,youcarryoverasustainedvigortoother
partsofyourlife,yourrestingheartrategoesdown,andyouhaveageneralfeeling
ofwellbeing.Prettysweet.Clearlyexercisingisveryimportantgivenbothitsshort
andlongtermbenefits.

Butdoyouhavetodothiseveryday?Thatseemsstrenuous.Tryexpandingyour
definitionYoudontgiveityour100%everyday.Somedaysmaybe10minutesof
simplelightstretching,justtokeepthehabit.Otherdaysmaybe2.5hourmonster
gymsessions.

Iusethishabittohelpmeaccomplishtwootherthingsveryimportanttome,
meditationandgettingintonature.Oftentimesmyphysicalexertionisaonehour
walkthroughtheparkoralongthewaterfront.Practicingawalkingmeditationis
agreatwaytocenteryourselfandhelpcarrytheskillovertoeverydaylife.Being
innaturehasasimilarbalancingeffectonyourwellbeing.

Butyoudontneedmetotellyoutoworkout.Thebenefitsareallclearlydocumented
byscientistsandpeople.Therearenetworksandresourcesforsupportandendless
sourcesofinspirationtomotivateyou.

2.MeditationThishabitisinvaluable.Youneedtomeditate.Thinkaboutwhatpart
ofthehumanexperiencespiritualityaddressestheegoandfeartwoconcepts
thatwouldbenefityouSOmuchtocontrol.Ithinkalotofpeoplegetmesseduphere
becausethebenefitsareveryintangibleatfirst.TheScurveofMasterythatI
describedabovehasaverylooongperiodofsuckingshit.Ifyourenotexperienced
thenyourimageofwhatmeditationshouldbelikeiswrong.Fightingyour
expectationswillbeaconstantbattleasyoulearntomeditate.Herearesome
resourcestohelpyoulearn.

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RedditArticleVeryconciseintroductiontomeditation
MindfulnessinPlainEnglishAmazingbookthatcoversthetopicclearlyandin
depth
MeditationRetreat10dayintensivemediationretreat
BinauralBeatsBeatsthatcanhelpinduceameditativestate(greattraining
wheels,alsomakesureyouareusinggoodqualityheadphones)
SelfTransformationThroughMeditationAnotherarticleonthissiteyoucan
checkout

PracticeStartmeditatingeveryday.Theevidenceisinbyalandslide,both
anecdotallyandempirically.Meditationwillchangeyourlifesostarttoday,any
reasonyoumayhavefornottryingisanexcuse.

Onceyougetthehangofityouwillleaveyourmeditationsessionsfeelingcentered,
calm,andrelaxed.Ithasanegolesseningeffectandawarenessincreasingeffect
thatspillsovertoyoureverydaylife.Ifyoukeepupthepracticeyoullnoticethatyour
focusandattentionspanincreasesdramatically,asdoesyoursightandsound
sensitivity(thinkofthemostvisceralthingsyoudosex,eating,sportsetc.)Brain
regionsassociatedwithattention,interoceptionandsensoryprocessingwillliterally
becomethicker.

Inthelongterm,meditationoffersaprofoundtransformationofhowyouexperience
realityItwillbringyoujoy,peace,andhappiness.Thisisrealandyouneedtobe
doingit.

3.ReadingIfyoureadtherightbooksyouwillbemoved,inspired,andmotivated.

Thinkaboutwhatyouexposeyourselfto.Theresamillionshittyblogsontheinternet
writtenbywhoever.Butthentheresbooksouttherethatwillchangeyourlife.Books
thatthemostgiftedhumanbeingsonearthhavespentyearswriting.Alifetimeof
experiences,insights,andlessonslearnedgiventoyouinanicehandheldeasily
digestibleform.

Istartedthishabitatahalfhouraday.RecentlyIvestartedreadingaboutanhour
adayandamburningthroughbooks.Withaconstantflowofinformationin,you
increaseyourabilityforinformationtoflowout(applyingknowledgetoyourlife)

Readingisaneasyhabittoputoffandyouneedtomakeitapriority.Ifyourenot
regularlyreadingthenyoumaystarttofallasleepasyoupickupabook.Yourmindis
notconditionedproperlyandyouneedtoforceyourselfthroughthatperiod.Your
readingspeedandcomprehensiondopickupovertimejuststicktoit.

Ifyouhavenoideawheretobegin,therecommendedreadingsectionisagood
placetostart.

4.CreativeRecreationPeoplearegoingtoapproachthisoneverydifferentlybutif
thereissomethingyoucansitdownanddopurelyforyourenjoymentthanthats
awesome.Thinkofaflowstateactivitythatyoucanputyourfullexpressioninto.For
meitsplayinganinstrument.Ifyouveeverseensomeoneplaytheguitarorpianoat
anextremelyhighlevelinanonperformancesettingthenyoullknowwhatIm
talkingabout.TheScurveoflearninganinstrumentisvery,very,verylong.Butyou
getoutwhatyouputin.Youramusementswillleaveyoufeelingrejuvenatedandcan
oftenbreakupandlightentheday.Asyouinvestinyourhobbiesyouwillgetmore
andmoreoutofthem

IgeneralizedthishabitascreativerecreationbecauseIwanttoemphasizethefact
thatrecreationisnotaspectatorsport.Vegetatingonthecouchwatching
commercialsisnotrecreation.

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5.NutritionAsyoubuildaproductivelifeyourabilitytostayfocusedandhave
energybecomesveryimportant.Whatyoueathasabigeffectonhowyoufeel.Ifyou
eatrightyoucanavoidenergycrashes,fightoffsickness,andgenerallyjustfeel
good.

IknowthatImdefinitelynotthebestpersontogivenutritionadvicebuttheresources
areoutthere.Itshouldbeobviousthatwhatyouputinyourbodyisveryimportant.
Doyourselfafavorandlearnhowyourbodyworks.

Forme,Idonteatsugarorprocessedfood.Idrink1.5LofwateradayandImake
anextraefforttoeatmoreplantbasedfoods.Isupplementmydietwithfishoiletc.
Ithinkwhatsmostimportantthoughisthatyouproactivelydecidewhatyouputin
yourbody.Makethetimetocookyourmeals,keepyourfridgestocked,anddont
buyconveniencefood.

6.ReasonableSpendingLikenutrition,thishabitismoreofachoiceyoumake
ratherthananactiveinvestmentofyourtime.Itsprettystraightforward,everydayItry
tomanagemymoneyreasonably.

Applytheconceptofreactivity/proactivelytoyourspendingandyouhavean
excellentframeworkformanagingyourmoney.Didyouplanonmakingthis
purchase?Ifnotthendontdoit.Thenatureofplanningapurchaseisthatitisinline
withyourgoalsandbudget.Thenatureofmakinganimpulsive/reactivepurchaseis
quitetheopposite,itisrighthereandwillsatisfymerightnow(mostly
consumer/convenienceitems)

7.BrainBuster+CurrentEventsPartofmymorningroutineistocheckoutthe
economist,mylocalnewssite,orthenewyorktimesandreadtwoorthreearticles.
GivenmybackgroundandwhereIwanttogoinlifeitisgoingtoservemewelltobe
informedandhavetheabilitytonoticetrendsandunderstandthecomplexityof
globalissues.

Ialsoworkveryhardtodevelopmycriticalandlateralthinking.EverydayI
challengemyselftosolveoneextremelydifficultproblem.ActuallyIonlyfigure
themoutabout30%ofthetime.OnmycomputerIhavearepositoryofIQ,Mensa,
brainbustertypebooksthatwouldtakealifetimetoworkthrough.Some
problemsIsolveinfiveminutesotherstakemethirtyuntilIbreakdownandlook
atthesolution.

Ifyourunabusinessorareanykindofdecisionmakingauthority(oreventuallywant
tobeinthatposition)thenIcantvouchenoughforthishabit.Youneedtobesharp
andinformed.Period.

8.SocialEverydayImakeanefforttoadvancemysocialskills.Yourabilityto
communicateeffectivelywithhumanbeingshassomanyimplicationsinyour
personalandprofessionallife.IvegonethroughexperimentswiththishabitandI
thinkthelessyouraroundpeoplethemoreyouneedtomakeitapriority(mylifestyle
rightnowhasmearoundnewpeopleALLthetime,buttherehavebeenothertimes
inmylifewhenIactivelyhadtomakethathappen)

Ivetriedafewdifferentthings.ForawhileIreallyfocusedonlisteningtopeople
withtheintenttounderstand,pushingtheurgetogetmypointacrossasideand
givingotherpeoplethefloorwhentheywereexpressingthemselves.Ivedone
differentexperimentswitheyecontactandphysicalitywhilecommunicatingas
well.Regardless,goingoutandjusttalkingtopeopletrumpsallwhenitcomesto
developingyoursocialskills.

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9.PersonalManagementThisistheeasiestofallhabitstoimplement.Just10
minutesadayandyourbachelorpadislookingcleanandfresh.Notmanylongterm
benefitshereexceptmaybeyoudontloseyourpossessionsasoftenandtheyhave
andincreasedlifespan.Intheshorttermdoingyourlaundry,notlettingyourdishes
pileup,andmakingyourbedcanofferyouapeaceofmindandallowyoutowork
unfetteredonotherprojects.

10.Project1,2ormoretimesaweekFormeIsetasideatwohourblocktwicea
weektoworkonapersonalproject.Thiscouldbefleshingoutabusinessfeasibility
plan,recreatingmyweightliftingroutine,catchinguponsomereading,creatinga
budget,doingresearch,orwritingthismegapost.

AtthebeginningofeachweekIchoosewhattwoprojectsIplantoworkonand
withintheweekIfindtimetofitthemin.Usethishabitasawayofrevitalizingold
projectsthatarecollectingdustortobeginsomethingnewthatyouvebeen
thinkingaboutbuthaventgotaroundto.

Theeffectsthishabithasonyourshortandlongtermproductivityareenormous.

11.Podcast/TEDTalk/UniversityLectureIfyoureathinkinghumanbeingwitha
desireforknowledgethenyoushouldbelisteningtopodcasts,watchingtedtalks
andviewingthethousandsoflecturesprofessorsandresearchershaveonthe
internet.

ThisisahabitIintegratedforbothitsshorttermandlongtermbenefits.Inthe
shorttermIfinditinterestingtolearnaboutnewtopics.Alotoftimesitsona
subjectIminterestedinatthetime,othertimesitssomethingcompletelynew.
EitherwayImexposingmyselftothebestandbrightestmindsoftodayand
expandingmyunderstandingoftheworld.

Ifyouengagedyourselfwiththismaterialeveryday,whatwouldthelongtermeffects
be?Besidesavastandvariedwealthofknowledgeyouwouldbegintodraw
disciplinestogether.Yourunderstandingandawarenesswouldgrowsolargethatthe
valueandwisdomyoucouldofferotherpeoplewouldbeincredible.

*Forapracticaltip,throwaqueueoftalksyoureinterestedinonyouriPodandlisten
whileexercising.

12.LanguageEverydayIspendthirtyminuteslearninganewlanguage.Thisisan
ongoingtaskthatIstruggledtointegrate.Yourealizealmostnoimmediatebenefit
andthatmakesitexceptionallydifficulttodoeveryday.TheScurveofmasteryis
very,verylong(years).

Butalas,thebenefitsinthelongtermmustbeexceptionallyrewarding.Icanonly
speculateasIcurrentlyonlyspeakonelanguage,butfrommytimestudyinginItalyI
cantellyouIwouldhavegotalotmoreoutoftheexperiencehadIspokethe
language.Comingfromabusinessperspectivebeingbi/multilingualwouldlikelybe
ahugeadvantage.

Forme,Iintendtospendalargepartofmylifetravelling.Ifyouexpecttolive
another50/60yearsoflifeonthisearththenimaginethelifetimeofopportunities
andexperiencesotherlanguagesmayopenyouupto.Dontcutyourselfoff.

ForsomepracticaladvicegettingstartedIrecommendtheRosettastone.Itsavisual
programthatisagreatwayforgettingyoustarted.Listentotalkradio(viainternet)
andgetalanguagebookwithexercisestohelpyoupractice.Getawomanyour

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seeingtojoinin.Itacceleratestheprocesssomuchifyouhavesomeonetopractice
speakingwith.

Wearethefirstgenerationwithreadyaccesstotheinternet.Theresourcestohelp
youpickupalanguageareoutthereandtheyarefreeusethem.

13.PlanthenextdayThisissocrucial.

Notethatthereisasmalllearningcurvetothisasyoufigureoutasystemthatworks
foryou.Maybeyouliketomanageyourtimetablethroughyourphone,ormaybeyou
justpenciloutwhatyoudoonalist.Whateverthemethoditmustsatisfytwo
requirements:1)Thedocumentmustbeeasilyaccessibletoyouthroughouttheday,
and2)itmustspecifyapproximatetimeswhenyouwillcompleteeachtask.

Itsprettysimple.Whenyouhavesometimetothinkwithaclearmindyouplan
outwhatyouwantyournextdaytolooklikeyoudoit.Thetimeyouknowyou
havetoyourself(morningsusually)youcansetamoreridgedstructurethanthe
timeswheretherearemanyvariablesastowhatyoumaybedoing.

Theplanisyourservant,notyourmaster.Nevergetupsetifthingsdontgotheway
youthoughtitsjustaguidelinetokeepyouontrack.Losttime,interferences,failing
toexecuteoutoflazinessorapathy,unforeseenevents,allofthiswillhappen.Dont
beworried,theelementofproactivityyouintroduceintoyourlifebyplanningyour
daysoutalreadyplacesyouwayahead.

Anotherthingtokeepinmindisthatyourprimarygoalisnottobeefficient.Itisto
beeffective.Dontbesoworriedabouthavingsomeintenseschedulethatwill
burnyououtquickly.Allowagoodamountoftimefortransitionsandevenmore
forotherformsoftimeyouwilluseorganically.Ifyouhaveinyourheadapicture
ofsomeoneruthlesslytriagingpriorities,feverishlyexecutingtasksandrunning
aroundfromoneitemtothenextthenyoushouldrethinkyourunderstanding.As
yougothroughyourdayyouwillapplyyourselftoeachactivitywhollyandwith
everythingyouvegot.Youwilltakethingsslowandexecutewithpassion,care
andeffortnotwithhasteorcarelessness.

14.SleepYoureeitherpluggedintothematrixoryourenot.Ifyourepluggedin
youreaspectatoryouwatchTV,youkilltimeonFacebook,youdaysslipbyasyou
wanderthroughinlowerconsciousness.IfyourunpluggedyoureaplayerYouare
takingconsistentandmassiveaction,youareconstantlyingestingnewinformation,
youarepushingyourboundariesandlimitations,youaregrowing.

Sonaturallyifyourelivingyourlifefullyengagedyouneedagoodnightssleep.
Theamountofstressyouexperiencebypushingyourself,theinformationyour
internalizing,andthefocusandstaminayouneedtokeepgoingcanallbe
facilitatedbyagoodninehoursonthepillow.

Takethisshitseriouslyyouwillnoticeadifference.
Ifyouveeverstudiedsleepyouknowthatyourbodygoesthroughapproximate90
minutecycles(fromdeepsleeptoREMsleep),youknowtheamountoflightyouare
receivingeffectsyourbodiesmelatoninproduction,youknowthatwhatyoueat
beforebedcanaffectyoursleep,andyoualsoknowthatsoundcandisruptyour
sleep.Youknowthatsleepplaysanintegralroleinlearningandmemory.Youare
alsoawarethatthehumanbodyassociatescertainsurroundingsorconditionswith
sleep(thinkwhenyouwalkintoabathroomyoufeellikeyouhavetopee.Thesame
thingwhenyouareinyourbedyougetsleepy.Thereforeonlyuseyourbedfor
sleepandsex).

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Isleepintotaldarkness,inacoolroom,withafanforwhitenoise(drownout
trafficandcreaksinhousethatwouldotherwisewakemeup).Ihavecomfortable
mattressandIwakeuptoanalarmclockthatgetsbrighterinsteadofmaking
noise. (simulatesthesunrising)Idontsetmyalarmforthesametimeevery
morning,Isetmyalarmeither7.5or9hoursfromwhenIfallasleep(soIdont
wakeupinthedepthofasleepcycleyoumayhavetotinkerwiththetimesbut
youwilllearnyourbody).Trysomeofthisandyouwillbeamazedwiththeeffects
onyourenergylevels,retentionofinformation,andhowyouenteryourdaysin
themorning.

15.ProfessionalDevelopmentYoureeitherworkingintheindustryyouwanttobe
inoryourenot.Eitherwayyoushouldspendsomeofyourdaydevelopingtheskills
necessarytosucceedintheindustryyouwanttobein.

Ifyourestuckinajobyoudontlikethenthisdailyritualisthekeytobreaking
through.Youwilldevelopyourselfintheareaofyourinterestuntilyouhavethe
credentials,credibility,oropportunitytomovepermanently.Maybeyourestuck
workingasabankteller,butyouwanttogetintointernetmarketing.Youshould
begintospendapartofyourdaylearningtheskillsyouaregoingtoneedtobe
aninternetmarketer.

Thinkofitthisway,mostpeoplearereactive.Mostpeoplelandajobthrough
connectionsorconvenienceandaftertheyhavethatjobtheythenlearntheskills
necessarytosucceed.Youarenotthatperson.Youwilldothereverse.Youwillgain
theskillsthroughyourownforceofwillandthenlandthejob.Thisistheformulato
carvealifeofyourdesignandliveyourdreams.

Ifyourealreadyintheindustryofyourdreamsthenyoushouldneverstagnate.
Constantlyfocusonlearningnewmaterial,keepingupwithtrends,observing
competitors,orexpandingyourprofessionalreputation.Focusingonthiswill
allowyoutooffermorevalueinwhateveryoudoandwillfacilitatesuccess.

16.Journal+ResearchKeepajournalandupdateiteveryday.

Whatisajournal?Ajournalisaplacewhereyouwriteoutyourthoughtsand
thenlookbackatthemandponder.Youthenwriteaboutwhatyouthoughtofyour
thoughtsandthinkaboutthat.(Metametacognition)Doyouseehowthiscanbe
avaluabletoolforpersonalinsightandgrowth?

Thisisntahighschooldairy.Itsatoolyouusetotrackyourthoughts,expandon
insights,accelerateyourgrowth,andlookbackonyourprogress.Shitshappening?
Writeaboutit.Theveryactofconsciouslycreatingsyntaxtoyourthoughtscanhelp
youbecomemorerationalandcanfacilitateproblemsolvinginyourlife.

Thereisasecondparttoyourjournalwritingritualthatyouneedtoengagein.
Research.Asyoumakediscoveriesandinsightsyoushouldseekouttruthand
guidance.Wehavetheinternetanditisanamazingtoolforfeedback.

Ourparentsgenerationhadtolivewithmisinformationtheirwholelives.Our
generationenjoystheluxurytowithincredibleeaseaccesstheforefrontof
humanknowledgeinthesnapofafinger.Usethisluxurytofuelyourgrowth.

IV.Implementation

Wefirstmakeourhabits,andthenourhabitsmakeus.JohnDryden

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Iamsuggestingthatyouimplementall16oftheritualslistedaboveintoyourdaily
routine.IknowthisishardIvewalkedthepathandfailedmanytimes.Ilearnedthat
thisisveryhardtodo.Ittakesdiscipline,skill,andproactivity,BUTifyoucandoitthe
rewardsaregreat.Thecapacityforyoutooutperformothersismassive.

InthenextsectionIexplainhowIusedtechnologytohelptrackmyprogress.
NowImnotsuggestingyoudothisasintenselyorforaslongasIdidbutyoucan
alwaysexperiment.Wespendanamazingamountofonscreentime,andI
figuredsinceIwasonmylaptopeverydayIwouldtrackmyprogresswithavery
simplebinarysystem.Istartedsmall,7thingsIwantedtodoeveryday.Iopened
upexcelandmadeaspreadsheetwiththedatesonthexaxisandmyhabitson
theyaxis.Fairlyselfexplanatory,ifIcompletedthetaskIwouldcoloritgreen,ifI
failedIwouldcoloritred.

Ivekeptthisupnowforthelesserpartofayearandithasgrownandevolved.Iwas
alwaysextremelyhonestwithmyselfandIfoundtheobjectivemeasureofprogressto
beveryblunt.Yoursuccessorfailureisrightthere,staringyouintheface.Noego
canmanipulatethefacts,onlyyourinterpretation.

PartofthereasonthishelpedmewasthatIcouldrecommit.Iwouldcontinually
recommittosomethinguntilIgatheredenoughfirsthandexperiencethatthe
activitywassomethingIshouldvalue.Yourabilitytostickwithsomethingforthe
longtermisafunctionofintrinsicmotivation(processorientation),notextrinsic
(outcomeorientation).Ifyouremotivatedbyvalidationorexternalforcesyouwill
likelyfailinthelongrun.

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Thisiswhatmyspreadsheetlookslikenow.All16habitsIdiscussedare
incorporatedintomydailylife.KeepinmindthatIaminschoolfulltime,havea
girlfriend,playonpokerstarseveryday(for~20$/hour),ampreparingformyGMATs,
andliveanextremelysociallifeyoucanfititallin,evenifyouworka40hourweek.
Ifyoudontthinkyoucandoitthenyouhavelimitingbeliefs.Theresalotoffattobe
trimmedoutofyourdailyroutine,youjustneedtolook.

Again,ImnotsuggestingthatyougofullnerdlikeIdidandtrackyourprogress
everysingleday.Butifyoudiddothatyouwoulddefinitelylearnsomevery
interestingthingsaboutyourselfandhowyouoperate.Imgoingtosharesomeof
mydiscoverieswithyouhereandhopefullytheycanhelpyouonyourjourney.

FallingApartFourtypes

Nomatterhowhardyoutry,orhowmucheffortyouputin,youwillattimesfall
apart.Iwouldsaytheresfourwaysthishappens:Gettingsick,apathy,shortterm
matingstrategyandconsumingcommitments.

Ifyoudonthavealotofselfdisciplinethenthemostcommonwayyouwillfallapart
isapathy.Youneedtounderstandthatapathyisdeath.ApathyISdeath.Itwillkill
yourgrowthandsuckyouintolaziness.Ithappensasyouslipintolower
consciousness.Correlatingdisplaysinyourbehavioremerge:depression,apathy,
negativeandlowselfesteemthoughtpatterns,etc.Therearesomanythingsthatcan
throwyouofftrackandsinkyouintoapathy:Lossofprogress,negativefeedback,
feelingblue,videogames,addictions,poordiet,lackofsleep,fear,
financial/family/socialstressors.Thisiswheretakingresponsibilityiskey.This
knowledgehelpedmefightmyselfwhenmybrainwouldcomeupwith
rationalizationsandexcusesforwhyIcoppedoutonmyduties.Therationalizations
wereprettygoodsometimes(Ididnthaveenoughtime,Iwasntphysicallyable,I
wassick,itwouldbecounterproductiveetc(yourbrainisveryclever))butthefacts
werein.Icouldntglossoverthecorrelationbetweenmydailychoicesandhowthey
affectedmyproductivity.Eatshittyfood,getpoorsleep,andyouwillbeless
productive.

Whenyoufallintotheguttersofapathytheonlywayoutistopullyourselfupby
yourbootstraps.Ifyouhaveevertakenthetimetowriteoutyourvaluesthenthey

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