94 The power of giving over getting
No. 94 – 27 Oct 2024
Welcome to the 94th edition of the True Progress Newsletter, a weekly newsletter on cultivating inner control and 3Xing your productivity.
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INSIGHTS
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Actively contributing to helping others makes you feel of use. Feeling of use creates purpose. Purpose creates direction. Direction creates clarity. Clarity creates focus. If you want more focus, contribute more.
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Your mind forgets about seeking validation when you focus on giving rather than receiving. Pleasing others, saying yes, and living based on others' values no longer become barriers to moving forward.
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“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
— Winston Churchill
CHALLENGE
When was the last time you gave something of value to someone without expecting anything in return?
For the next week, look for one specific way to help someone in your network—sharing knowledge, offering feedback, connecting people, or simply listening.
⌾ Reply to this email and let us know how it went.
SYSTEMS
Anti-Procrastination Automation
Procrastination lurks around every corner of work life, but a solid workflow system has built-in safeguards to keep it in check.
Three common scenarios with safeguards to infuse into your systems:
Scenario #1: You're putting something off because you're afraid you'll screw it up; you let anxiety and doubt stop you from action.
Safeguard: Take a prevention focus; think about your old story; what will happen if you don't take action? Focus on avoiding loss; when you do that, it becomes clear that the only way to avoid the consequences is to take action.
Scenario #2: You're putting something off because you don’t feel like doing it.
Safeguard: Remind yourself that you don't need to feel like doing it, you just need to do it; even better, regulate the feeling to make yourself do it.
Scenario #3: You're putting something off because it's hard, boring, or unpleasant. More feelings.
Safeguard: Use "if-then" planning: decide in advance exactly what you’re going to do and when and where you're going to do it to minimize friction when it’s time to act. This approach reduces the demand on your finite willpower.
WIN
Noelle is a civil rights attorney who works in the federal government. She was constantly overwhelmed by her heavy caseload, engaged in overthinking and pessimistic thinking, and often worked evenings. She wanted more inner control and more free time but the worrying took a lot of her mental real estate.
You can see her transformation here.
Here's how we did it:
Dedirected her focus by redrafting her Ethos.
Established a sustainble routine for increasing energy and focus.
Made her highly adaptable to uncertainty, pressure, and adversity.
Created a customized workflow system to streamline and optimize projects and tasks.
Are you a leader or entrepreneur who wants to free up mental space, increase your free time, and build inner control? Click this link to apply for our program.
Till next week,
— Carlos & Stef
