88 The art of being rightfully annoying

No. 88 – 11 Aug 2024

Welcome to the 88th edition of the True Progress Newsletter, a weekly newsletter on mastering fear and anxiety for optimal performance.

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INSIGHTS

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When you fear judgment, you shrink, people-please, and cling to comfort—trapped by false beliefs about yourself. You tell yourself it’s safer to agree or stay silent than face criticism. But this only deepens your insecurities and impacts your growth.

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When you don’t question or clarify, you risk making poor decisions based on incomplete information, leading to avoidable mistakes.

Staying silent costs you chances to shine and can hold you back from career growth. Every time you hold back, you feed the fear of judgment, making it even harder to speak up next time.

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“If you don’t ask, the answer is always no.”

— Nora Roberts

CHALLENGE

Socrates practiced a technique called deliberate ignorance. He pretended not to know something when he in fact did. It was a practice of taming the ego and having the courage to be vulnerable. At heart, it was a practice of desensitization to judgment.

Next time you find yourself speaking with someone (at work or outside work), pretend to be ignorant of the topic of conversation by asking more and speaking less. See how far you can get.

⌾ Reply to this email and let us know how it went.

SYSTEMS

Do you have a start-up checklist whenever you start a project? It can save you an incredible amount of time by using what you already have and applying accelerated learning principles into the mix:

• Capture expected obstacles - turn these into action items

• Deconstruct: what LEGO blocks should you be starting with?

• Select: which 20% of blocks for 80% or more of the outcome?

• Sequence: in what order should you tackle the blocks?

• Capture current thinking on the project. Ask:

  • What do I already know about this project?

  • What don’t I know that I need to find out?

  • What is my goal or intention?

  • Who can I talk to who might provide insights?

  • What can I read or listen to for relevant ideas?

BOOK REC

On the Shortness of Life by Seneca

Expectancy is the greatest obstacle to living.

Seneca emphasizes the importance of using time wisely, focusing on meaningful activities, and cultivating inner wisdom to lead a fulfilling life. He advises that by living purposefully and mindfully, one can experience a long and rich life, regardless of its actual length.

Disconnecting the mind is a prerequisite for depth and creativity. Don't wait, live now because we don't know what fortune has in store for us tomorrow.

Till next week,
— Carlos & Stef