This Week’s BIG Idea
I go to books with one goal in mind: I want to learn from them. So I recently realized that I have numerous books on my Kindle I never finished. I started reading them and after a few pages, I gave up and moved on to something else. This used to bother me, but I started noticing patterns. Unless the book I’m reading has something to teach me, I get distracted and don’t want to read it anymore. This is why my favorite books are non-fiction books. Naturally, this is reflected in my TBR where I have prioritized books about online marketing, podcasting, blogging, SEO, and philosophy.
But before you can read to learn, you first have to learn to read. It took me months to figure this out and I eventually came up with a system. The system involves summarizing books in notebooks, transcribing them to an online document, and posting the summary on my website. Along the way, I collect quotes, write down the names of other books, and I use everything I learn to design the life I want. This is no easy process, but it’s worth it.
The truth is, I don’t feel that bad about the books I haven’t finished. In most cases, I gave those books a fair shot and I realized that there weren’t for me. Some of the books I have finished, summarized, and compiled in the form of lessons have been life-changing. I don’t expect others to do it as well, but I read to learn and to me, that’s one of the greatest joys in life.
What I’m Working on
I started using the bullet journal this year. While I have to make some changes, I see myself using this method from now on. After watching videos and reading Ryder Carrol’s The Bullet Journal Method, I decided to give the bullet journal a chance. At the sound of risking hyperbolic, it’s life-changing. I feel more productive and more focused, and one of the best parts about it is that it forces me to think about what matters. As I mentioned above, I will be making some changes to the setup I’m using. That said, I don’t think I can go back to a life where I don’t have a bullet journal.
What I’m Listening to
As I mentioned in last week’s newsletter, I’ve been using some guided meditations. Although I’ve been meditating on my own for months and I’ve seen some benefits, following a more guided approach to the practice is helpful. I enjoy listening to someone’s voice as I try to concentrate on my breathing and not engage in the numerous thoughts that crop up. The latest resource I’ve been using is Sam Harris’ 9-minute mindfulness meditation.
What I’m Reading
- Newsletter Ninja by Tammi Labrecque: Newsletter Ninja is the first in a series of two books that helps you find your audience through a newsletter. This book teaches you to keep a mailing list of engaged readers who are willing to buy from you. I decided to read this book because I wanted to know how the experts managed their newsletters. This is something I didn’t think a lot about when I started the newsletter you’re reading now. Now that I know how the experts do it, I can’t wait to read the next book in the series to learn even more.
What I’m Watching
The message from this video is simple: to get ahead of 99% of people in a few months you have to be aware of the things you don’t want and where your actions are taking you. Dan Koe’s message resonated with me because it’s remarkably simple. First, you must focus on what he calls the “antivision”. He says that by having something that you despise, you’ll be mobilized to achieve what you want in life.
Second, look at the masses to see where mindless habits lead. So you must disappear from bad habits, the people who are wrong for you, and all the things that are holding you back. Once you have a grasp of the boring fundamentals (this is carrying out the same actions on a daily basis), you get experience and “level up” over time as if life was a video game. These principles get you closer to the kind of life you want. You’ll see results from this life you’ve created eventually, but it doesn’t matter because you’ll be living the life you’ve always wanted.
This Week’s Quote
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