Own Your Time

Most advice about freedom is vague nonsense. Here's what it actually means: owning your time and decisions. Everything else is decoration.

Stop chasing status traps. That prestigious role or fancy title often costs more than it pays. Before saying yes to anything, ask yourself: does this give me more control over my time, or less? If the answer is less, it better be worth it.

Get specific about what you want. The "one year left to live" exercise sounds morbid but it works. Most people avoid the question because the answer makes them uncomfortable. Do it anyway. Then work backwards from that clarity.

Comfort is expensive. Staying in a role that feels fine seems safe. It's not. Every year you spend building someone else's thing is a year you're not building yours. The learning curve you're avoiding doesn't get easier later. You just have less energy for it.

Find people ahead of you. When things get hard, your family will tell you to play it safe. They mean well. But you need people who've already done the thing you're attempting. Most successful people will help if you ask directly. Stop assuming they won't.

This week: name the one thing you'd focus on with a year left. Cut one commitment that's a pure distraction. Message one person who's further down the road than you.