No one today complains about a lack of information.
We have access to limitless digital content, thousands of new self-help books come out every year, and there are enough podcasts and videos to last eternity.
As someone who’s read hundreds of personal development books I can tell you that no one needs that much content to build a better life.
It can feel productive to parse through it, but it’s too intellectual. There’s not enough action involved.
Most people don’t need more advice. They just need to prioritize one powerful idea.
When you go all in on just one aim, you can cement your habits and define what progress looks like for you. Your path and milestones then become easier to outline — and more likely to become reality.
Life in HD
I’ve interviewed hundreds of executives and Wall Street professionals, and the through-line between them is an usual ability to focus on one thing and execute.
Rather than trying to do everything, it’s better to focus and specify. When you clarify your vision, you begin to absorb life through a single, high-definition lens.
This accelerates your progress and allows you to dismiss what’s not essential.
For example, when I first started writing online in 2018 without any experience, I was able to rely on my singular aim of making a living as a writer.
One natural consequence was that every book I read and movie I watched and every conversation I had was catering to that intention. Because my aim was always top of mind, everything in my life became a valuable resource.
The most actionable part, though, was how my vision clarified my daily habits.
I woke up and wrote in a journal everyday, and did the same before bed, too.
My daily workouts became not just a physical practice, but a way of clearing my head so I could write better that same day.
The same thing happened with my diet. Healthy meals were no longer about abs, but to stay mentally sharp and energized to write.
My vision shaped my worldview, and I could view it all in HD.
Your ideal day
The simplest way to clarify what you want to do, who you want to be, and what you want to achieve is by narrowing it down to a single day: What does your ideal day look like?
Write it out with as much detail as possible.
- What time do you wake up?
- What do you do first thing in the morning?
- How many hours do you spend with friends and family?
- Where do you live?
- What’s your exercise routine look like?
This gives you a target, and it also provides a roadmap to force your future into the present — you have to start acting like who you want to be before you can become that person.
The art of saying ‘no’
Clarifying your vision doesn’t just point you in the right direction, but it tells you all the paths not to follow.
Mark Manson, the author of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, said if something doesn’t make you go “f*ck yes!” then it should be an emphatic “no.”
He’s right. The more you say “no,” the more freedom you give yourself to do what you want to do. “No” to doing something you’re unenthused about is the best way to affirm your priorities.
Saying “no” is a superpower, and mastering it comes from knowing exactly what you want.
Remember, even though social media may tell a different story, building a good life isn’t about sports cars, mansions, and wealth.
A good life can be largely defined by the things that are missing — excessive obligations, too-long work hours, grudges, toxicity, and unstable relationships.
Here’s the takeaway: Figure out what you want most to unshackle yourself from everything else.
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