Fortitude Fridays #25

read time: 6 mins

A few ideas as you head into the weekend.

Today at a Glance:

• Quote: Be consistent.
• Question: Who's in your inner circle?
• Book: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday
• Tactic: The Five Time Assassins

 

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Quote to Ponder:

Success isn't always about 'Greatness.' It's about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.

-Dwayne Johnson

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Consistent hard work allows greatness to emerge as a byproduct over time. Remember to have patience, dedication, and focus on the journey, not just the destination. Don’t lose sight of your goal.

​Maintain your course and unwavering consistency; your greatness is steadily approaching.

 

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Question to Ask Yourself:

Of your friends, who is in your inner circle and why?

Your inner circle comprises those who influence you most significantly. They can impact your thinking and goals either positively or negatively. The concept "you are who you spend the most time with" emphasizes this.

Positive influences in your inner circle can provide support, inspiration, and constructive feedback, helping you grow and achieve your goals. They can challenge your thinking, broaden your horizons, and offer valuable insights.

Conversely, negative influences can hinder your progress. Toxic relationships or those with conflicting values may hold you back or lead you down an unproductive path.

Take inventory and ask yourself why these individuals are in your inner circle and whether they deserve that spot. Choose your inner circle wisely, as they can shape your mindset, values, and aspirations.

Surround yourself with individuals who uplift and motivate you to be your best self, aligning with your goals and values.

 

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Book to Check Out:

The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday

On January 1st of this year, I embarked on my journey with this book. Being an ardent admirer of Ryan Holiday's literary works and writing style, I was confident that this book would also captivate me, and thus far, it has exceeded my expectations.

"The Daily Stoic" presents a modern interpretation and pragmatic implementation of age-old Stoic philosophy. Comprising 366 daily meditations, each aligned with a specific day of the year, this book draws profound wisdom from Stoic luminaries such as Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius.

Key Takeaway: This book is not only an excellent way to begin your day but also an incredible resource for journal prompts. The daily reflections and exercises are aimed at cultivating resilience, wisdom, and inner strength in the face of life's challenges. It also encourages the reader to embrace Stoic principles such as self-control, virtue, and mindfulness to lead a more purposeful and fulfilling life.

 

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Tactic to Try:

Mastering Your Time: Unmasking the Five Time Assassins and Reclaiming Control

A few weeks ago, I finished reading “Buy Back Your Time” by best-selling author Dan Martell. This book primarily serves as a guide to reclaiming your time and scaling your business, but I discovered that many of its concepts are applicable to our everyday lives. One chapter that particularly resonated with me (and excessively highlighted) was the one on the “Five Time Assassins.”

In “Buy Back Your Time,” Martell identifies these Five Time Assassins as the culprits behind wasted time:

1. The Staller: This assassin thrives on hesitation and procrastination when it comes to making significant decisions. Often, imposter syndrome plays a role, causing you to miss out on opportunities by not acting promptly. Example: You receive an invitation to speak at an event, but imposter syndrome sets in, and you delay your response until it’s too late.
2. The Speed Demon: Speed Demons make hasty decisions, opting for the quickest, easiest, or cheapest solutions, only to find themselves in a similar predicament later. Example: You hastily hire the first candidate who meets most of your requirements, only to realize a few months later that they aren’t a good fit, requiring additional time to find a replacement.
3. The Supervisor: This assassin struggles to delegate and relinquish control, often micromanaging tasks due to a belief that no one can perform as effectively as they can. Example: As a project lead, you micromanage every task, inadvertently slowing down the project and spending more time than if you had done it yourself.
4. The Saver: Savers are uncomfortable spending money, even when it has the potential to generate more revenue. Example: You have the funds to invest in online advertising that would attract new customers and ultimately cover the cost, but you hesitate and keep your money in savings.
5. The Self-Medicator: This assassin seeks solace in food, alcohol, or other vices as rewards for success or escapes from failure or shame, hindering productivity. Example: After landing a major contract, you celebrate excessively, leading to a hangover and lost productivity the following day.

Bringing it Home:

Reflecting on your last ten significant decisions, you can identify patterns and assess which of these five assassins might be holding you back the most.

Once you’ve pinpointed them, here are some strategies to outsmart these assassins:

1. Establish Time Guardrails: Set specific time limits for decision-making to prevent procrastination or rushing into choices.
2. Delegate Low-Priority Tasks: Trust others to handle low-risk or low-priority tasks, even if they may not do it as perfectly as you would.
3. Accountability Partner: Consider having an accountability partner who can help you make spending decisions wisely and keep celebrations in check to avoid derailing your productivity.

Recognizing what’s holding you back is the first step towards self-improvement. If you need assistance with this process, I would be delighted to help! You can book a coaching session with me here.​

I also highly recommend Dan's book, Buy Back Your Time and if you get the audiobook, Dan narrates it himself!

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Thanks for reading and I hope you have a cool weekend! Until next week...

You got this,