Real status can’t be bought.
Codie A. Sanchez
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Unconventional traits of successful people:
- Most are not balanced. They’re relentless, tough, focused, less fun. Maybe doesn’t have to be this way, but it usually is.
- They move fast, they take risk, they work a lot.
- Behind every successful person is a story that gave them no choice.
- Their mindset is: entitled to nothing, willing to earn everything.
- They’re competitive. More competitive you are, more likely you are to succeed.
- They do NOT have all the answers. Many are anxious and uncertain.
- Most successful people have left their hometown at some point.
- They’ve failed more times than you can imagine. You only have to be right once.
What would you add?
↓ ↓ ↓
BTW - do you want to be around people that fit this description? Come to this: https://lnkd.in/ee52zmmg
- Most are not balanced. They’re relentless, tough, focused, less fun. Maybe doesn’t have to be this way, but it usually is.
- They move fast, they take risk, they work a lot.
- Behind every successful person is a story that gave them no choice.
- Their mindset is: entitled to nothing, willing to earn everything.
- They’re competitive. More competitive you are, more likely you are to succeed.
- They do NOT have all the answers. Many are anxious and uncertain.
- Most successful people have left their hometown at some point.
- They’ve failed more times than you can imagine. You only have to be right once.
What would you add?
↓ ↓ ↓
BTW - do you want to be around people that fit this description? Come to this: https://lnkd.in/ee52zmmg
Harsh truth:
Running a company is simply a game of prioritizing problems.
Here’s how to become the Chief Problem Solver in your business:
Want to know Elon Musk's "secret" to running Tesla, SpaceX, and 3+ other billion-dollar companies?
According to Marc Andreessen, it's simple:
"He shows up every week, identifies the biggest problem, fixes it, and does that 52 weeks in a row."
Most companies hide from problems:
- They reframe them as "challenges"
- They create layers of abstraction
- They delegate them into oblivion
But problems aren't biohazards - they're your biggest opportunities.
Bigger the problem? Bigger the potential.
There’s a reason SpaceX is able to send a 400-foot skyscraper into the sky knowing it might explode.
Because they want to know exactly what breaks, when, and why.
Every failure incapacitates dozens of future problems.
This approach works because running a company is simply prioritizing problems.
Your earnings directly reflect what you solve...
Big problems pay better.
Another great example of this is Brad Jacobs.
He built 7 billion-dollar companies in logistics, waste, and warehousing - industries most people find boring until they see his bank account.
Here’s how he evaluates risk vs reward on different deal sizes:
Jacobs' model breaks down like this:
- Small, low-risk deals: exist but limited reward
• Small, high-risk deals: limited reward with high risk (avoid)
• Big, low-risk deals: unicorns (don't exist)
• Big, high-risk deals with solvable problems: "the bingo quadrant"
One of my favorite lines from his book is:
"If you want to win, you have to rearrange your brain to lean into those big, hairy problems and figure out how to cut off the hair and de-risk."
This is exactly what your job is as a CEO.
It’s simple: hire the smartest people in the world... and solve the problems they can't figure out.
That's it. That's the whole job.
Not avoiding problems, but identifying and selecting the right ones to solve.
Becoming a Chief Problem Solver requires you to create your own weekly problem-solving loop:
1. Identify your single biggest constraint
2. Focus all resources on solving it
3. Measure the result
4. Repeat next week
1 problem. 1 solution. 52 weeks in a row.
The best entrepreneurs don't just "think differently" about problems. They actively build muscles for problem identification and execution.
Then they do it again and again.
Fair warning though, this isn't glamorous work. It means:
- Living inside friction
• Facing uncomfortable truths
• Fixing things no one else wants to touch
But it's where all the leverage is.
If your business is stuck, your unlock is often solving ONE big problem.
↓↓↓
P.S. If this post spoke to you, you should come to Main Street Over Wall Street in Austin.
You can expect a bunch of billionaires speakers and tons of networking opportunities - essentially the perfect petri dish of builders.
Hope to see you there: http://bit.ly/3WQfYzu
Running a company is simply a game of prioritizing problems.
Here’s how to become the Chief Problem Solver in your business:
Want to know Elon Musk's "secret" to running Tesla, SpaceX, and 3+ other billion-dollar companies?
According to Marc Andreessen, it's simple:
"He shows up every week, identifies the biggest problem, fixes it, and does that 52 weeks in a row."
Most companies hide from problems:
- They reframe them as "challenges"
- They create layers of abstraction
- They delegate them into oblivion
But problems aren't biohazards - they're your biggest opportunities.
Bigger the problem? Bigger the potential.
There’s a reason SpaceX is able to send a 400-foot skyscraper into the sky knowing it might explode.
Because they want to know exactly what breaks, when, and why.
Every failure incapacitates dozens of future problems.
This approach works because running a company is simply prioritizing problems.
Your earnings directly reflect what you solve...
Big problems pay better.
Another great example of this is Brad Jacobs.
He built 7 billion-dollar companies in logistics, waste, and warehousing - industries most people find boring until they see his bank account.
Here’s how he evaluates risk vs reward on different deal sizes:
Jacobs' model breaks down like this:
- Small, low-risk deals: exist but limited reward
• Small, high-risk deals: limited reward with high risk (avoid)
• Big, low-risk deals: unicorns (don't exist)
• Big, high-risk deals with solvable problems: "the bingo quadrant"
One of my favorite lines from his book is:
"If you want to win, you have to rearrange your brain to lean into those big, hairy problems and figure out how to cut off the hair and de-risk."
This is exactly what your job is as a CEO.
It’s simple: hire the smartest people in the world... and solve the problems they can't figure out.
That's it. That's the whole job.
Not avoiding problems, but identifying and selecting the right ones to solve.
Becoming a Chief Problem Solver requires you to create your own weekly problem-solving loop:
1. Identify your single biggest constraint
2. Focus all resources on solving it
3. Measure the result
4. Repeat next week
1 problem. 1 solution. 52 weeks in a row.
The best entrepreneurs don't just "think differently" about problems. They actively build muscles for problem identification and execution.
Then they do it again and again.
Fair warning though, this isn't glamorous work. It means:
- Living inside friction
• Facing uncomfortable truths
• Fixing things no one else wants to touch
But it's where all the leverage is.
If your business is stuck, your unlock is often solving ONE big problem.
↓↓↓
P.S. If this post spoke to you, you should come to Main Street Over Wall Street in Austin.
You can expect a bunch of billionaires speakers and tons of networking opportunities - essentially the perfect petri dish of builders.
Hope to see you there: http://bit.ly/3WQfYzu
What they told me about partnerships was bullsh*t.
The Disney movies got it wrong.
It’s not knights on horses and damsels in distress.
Instead, it’s two animals, defining territories, testing boundaries, pushing one another.
I wish they would have told the truth. That I’d need to step up, be more, set lines, move some, and allow him to be the wild, strong, hard-edged independent man he is.
I wish they would have told him he’d have to back down, lift me up, and allow me to be the spark, the fluid, mercurial, creative woman I am. And sometimes... be late to sh*t because timelines are more like suggestions right 😉
Half the problem today is we try to tame one another.
We want men who have six-packs, can throw us up against a wall, leaders of men, and build empires... but we want them to “want” to wash the dishes and fold their underwear properly.
Men want women who are sexy, strong, make their own $$, well-dressed, actually like to listen about golf scores but also, who cook them apple pie like their mommies. Extra points if you do it in aprons.
The TRUTH...
You gotta choose. Do you want the mommy, do you want the docile tame non-threatening man, or do you want the edges?
Turns out only edges allow you to sharpen one another.
So I’ll choose edges, adventures, questions, and creation any day.
We’ve never been given anything the easy way… but man is it more satisfying on the other side of two humans who do the work.
The Disney movies got it wrong.
It’s not knights on horses and damsels in distress.
Instead, it’s two animals, defining territories, testing boundaries, pushing one another.
I wish they would have told the truth. That I’d need to step up, be more, set lines, move some, and allow him to be the wild, strong, hard-edged independent man he is.
I wish they would have told him he’d have to back down, lift me up, and allow me to be the spark, the fluid, mercurial, creative woman I am. And sometimes... be late to sh*t because timelines are more like suggestions right 😉
Half the problem today is we try to tame one another.
We want men who have six-packs, can throw us up against a wall, leaders of men, and build empires... but we want them to “want” to wash the dishes and fold their underwear properly.
Men want women who are sexy, strong, make their own $$, well-dressed, actually like to listen about golf scores but also, who cook them apple pie like their mommies. Extra points if you do it in aprons.
The TRUTH...
You gotta choose. Do you want the mommy, do you want the docile tame non-threatening man, or do you want the edges?
Turns out only edges allow you to sharpen one another.
So I’ll choose edges, adventures, questions, and creation any day.
We’ve never been given anything the easy way… but man is it more satisfying on the other side of two humans who do the work.
A reminder to myself and you this Sunday...
It’s really just you against the mirror. You vs you. No one else can win at a game of one. I know it’s hard not to get distracted, race horses wear blinders for a reason. Your lane you’re game. LFG.
It’s really just you against the mirror. You vs you. No one else can win at a game of one. I know it’s hard not to get distracted, race horses wear blinders for a reason. Your lane you’re game. LFG.
The worst thing that can happen isn't failure.
It's never trying and drowning in mediocrity.
When I get anxiety about work, I:
Go small, or go BIG...
1) Go small.
Grab your to do list. Do the thing you want to do the least.
2) Go big.
Take a huge swing on whatever it is you've been thinking about doing.
Which sounds scarier?
That’s the one you need to do.
Full send this week. You can do this.
Follow me Codie A. Sanchez for more business advice and gentle bullying 😉
It's never trying and drowning in mediocrity.
When I get anxiety about work, I:
Go small, or go BIG...
1) Go small.
Grab your to do list. Do the thing you want to do the least.
2) Go big.
Take a huge swing on whatever it is you've been thinking about doing.
Which sounds scarier?
That’s the one you need to do.
Full send this week. You can do this.
Follow me Codie A. Sanchez for more business advice and gentle bullying 😉
Agree or disagree?
From what I've seen, it's not about experience, it's about:
- eagerness
- curiosity
- intensity
- follow-through
- determination
Human traits. You can almost see them in the first day but certainly verify in a week.
Hard question owners need to ask:
Have you created an environment to allow type of person to succeed?
Here's the First 100 Days template we use for new hires → https://lnkd.in/enD_ptvU
From what I've seen, it's not about experience, it's about:
- eagerness
- curiosity
- intensity
- follow-through
- determination
Human traits. You can almost see them in the first day but certainly verify in a week.
Hard question owners need to ask:
Have you created an environment to allow type of person to succeed?
Here's the First 100 Days template we use for new hires → https://lnkd.in/enD_ptvU
5 other truths on focus I've learned recently:
1. Two Hour Rule. 2 hours of dedicated work is worth more than most people's 8 hours.
2. It's not the passionate who are successful; it's the focused.
3. A distracted mind is an unhappy mind. That's why some people are obsessed with working.
4. If you are stressed, it's because you are not in flow... yet.
5. What you choose to focus on is far more important than how hard you work or how smart you are.
↓ ↓ ↓
It's hard to choose where to focus in a world that battles for our attention.
Here's my list of 19 financial books that changed my life, so you can cut through the noise → https://lnkd.in/eCX7djGM
1. Two Hour Rule. 2 hours of dedicated work is worth more than most people's 8 hours.
2. It's not the passionate who are successful; it's the focused.
3. A distracted mind is an unhappy mind. That's why some people are obsessed with working.
4. If you are stressed, it's because you are not in flow... yet.
5. What you choose to focus on is far more important than how hard you work or how smart you are.
↓ ↓ ↓
It's hard to choose where to focus in a world that battles for our attention.
Here's my list of 19 financial books that changed my life, so you can cut through the noise → https://lnkd.in/eCX7djGM
The #1 killer of businesses is bad cashflow.
15 other harsh business truths for you:
1. The greatest muscle you can build is urgency. Bureaucracy is business poison.
2. Decrease the time between having an idea and getting it done. Everything changes.
3. Never sacrifice reputation in the name of business. You can always start another company. You can never create a new reputation.
4. Long-term games and long-term people compound. Resist shiny objects.
5. Hire smart people, pay them well, set them up for success... Then leave them the hell alone.
6. “There’s nothing worse than being sick, fat, tired and trying to run your business.” - Dana White
7. The highest ROI investment founders & owners can make is in themselves. Health shapes mindset. Mindset shapes action.
8. You're better off learning negotiation than financial modeling. Business is less spreadsheets than words.
9. The best business of all time has only you, a computer, and the send button.
10. Every additional employee increases complexity. Hiring is a last resort.
11. The best advice comes from those just a couple steps ahead of you. These people still vividly remember the problems you're facing today.
12. Sell painkillers, not vitamins. There's more money in needs than wants.
13. No discounts. Compete on value, not price. Any biz with $$$ can enter your market and bleed you out. Differentiate beyond commodity.
14. A happy customer is the most powerful marketing. Prioritize reviews. Humans are social animals.
15. If no one thinks you’re crazy, you’re too late. If everyone thinks your idea is good? Even worse. Outsized returns lie in non-conformism.
↓ ↓ ↓
Want to start a biz but don’t know where to start? I whipped this up to get you started on the right track: https://lnkd.in/empWft4P
15 other harsh business truths for you:
1. The greatest muscle you can build is urgency. Bureaucracy is business poison.
2. Decrease the time between having an idea and getting it done. Everything changes.
3. Never sacrifice reputation in the name of business. You can always start another company. You can never create a new reputation.
4. Long-term games and long-term people compound. Resist shiny objects.
5. Hire smart people, pay them well, set them up for success... Then leave them the hell alone.
6. “There’s nothing worse than being sick, fat, tired and trying to run your business.” - Dana White
7. The highest ROI investment founders & owners can make is in themselves. Health shapes mindset. Mindset shapes action.
8. You're better off learning negotiation than financial modeling. Business is less spreadsheets than words.
9. The best business of all time has only you, a computer, and the send button.
10. Every additional employee increases complexity. Hiring is a last resort.
11. The best advice comes from those just a couple steps ahead of you. These people still vividly remember the problems you're facing today.
12. Sell painkillers, not vitamins. There's more money in needs than wants.
13. No discounts. Compete on value, not price. Any biz with $$$ can enter your market and bleed you out. Differentiate beyond commodity.
14. A happy customer is the most powerful marketing. Prioritize reviews. Humans are social animals.
15. If no one thinks you’re crazy, you’re too late. If everyone thinks your idea is good? Even worse. Outsized returns lie in non-conformism.
↓ ↓ ↓
Want to start a biz but don’t know where to start? I whipped this up to get you started on the right track: https://lnkd.in/empWft4P
23 harsh truths, in business and in life:
↓ ↓ ↓
If you prefer your harsh truths weekly, free, and in a longer written format, then I've got just the thing for you...
Join my newsletter, Contrarian Thinking, here → https://lnkd.in/euh-mDd8
↓ ↓ ↓
If you prefer your harsh truths weekly, free, and in a longer written format, then I've got just the thing for you...
Join my newsletter, Contrarian Thinking, here → https://lnkd.in/euh-mDd8
It's about creating a vision so powerful that people want to follow.
Tag someone who inspires you every day.
Tag someone who inspires you every day.
The 6 secrets to increasing your biz's value all start with one term:
Recurring revenue.
The holy grail of business.
It's predictable, stable income that comes in month after month, year after year. Plus, there are a ton of other benefits:
• Higher Customer Lifetime Values (CLVs)
• for lower acquisition costs
• More predictable cashflow
• which makes budgeting & planning easier
Potential buyers LOVE recurring revenue. It makes it 10x easier to hire an operator, secure funding, and scale.
As an owner, your end goal is likely an acquisition... And recurring revenue increases your chances.
There are 6 types of recurring revenue:
(Ideally, your biz has at least 3 of these)
1. Long-term contracts
These are agreements of over a year that lock in guaranteed revenue. The longer the contract term, the more valuable it makes a business.
2. Auto-renewal subscriptions
This is the "set it and forget it" model. Customers sign up once, and their card is charged every month, quarter, or year.
3. Sunk money subscriptions
This is also known as the 'razor and blades' business model: You buy a base product (a razor), then have to continually buy refills (blades). Since the real money's in the refill, the base product is often sold cheap.
4. Pay-as-you-go
Customers only pay for what they use, but are still subscribed long-term as there’s friction in moving to another platform.
5. Loyalty programs
Giving your customers points & perks makes a customer feel they're "losing out" on potential savings if they go elsewhere. No one does this better than airlines.
6. Simple consumables
These are one-off items that are repurchased out of sheer habit & loyalty. Think, regulars at coffee shops, your favorite brand of toothpaste, transportation you have to take every day.
Recurring revenue is a HUGE key to retirement as a business owner.
With so many different types, the options are limited only to your creativity.
↓ ↓ ↓
Best way to track & forecast recurring & non recurring revenue?
A cashflow tracker.
Because the only real business advice you really need is...don't run out of cash.
Feel free to use my template: https://lnkd.in/eHEiMUr9
Recurring revenue.
The holy grail of business.
It's predictable, stable income that comes in month after month, year after year. Plus, there are a ton of other benefits:
• Higher Customer Lifetime Values (CLVs)
• for lower acquisition costs
• More predictable cashflow
• which makes budgeting & planning easier
Potential buyers LOVE recurring revenue. It makes it 10x easier to hire an operator, secure funding, and scale.
As an owner, your end goal is likely an acquisition... And recurring revenue increases your chances.
There are 6 types of recurring revenue:
(Ideally, your biz has at least 3 of these)
1. Long-term contracts
These are agreements of over a year that lock in guaranteed revenue. The longer the contract term, the more valuable it makes a business.
2. Auto-renewal subscriptions
This is the "set it and forget it" model. Customers sign up once, and their card is charged every month, quarter, or year.
3. Sunk money subscriptions
This is also known as the 'razor and blades' business model: You buy a base product (a razor), then have to continually buy refills (blades). Since the real money's in the refill, the base product is often sold cheap.
4. Pay-as-you-go
Customers only pay for what they use, but are still subscribed long-term as there’s friction in moving to another platform.
5. Loyalty programs
Giving your customers points & perks makes a customer feel they're "losing out" on potential savings if they go elsewhere. No one does this better than airlines.
6. Simple consumables
These are one-off items that are repurchased out of sheer habit & loyalty. Think, regulars at coffee shops, your favorite brand of toothpaste, transportation you have to take every day.
Recurring revenue is a HUGE key to retirement as a business owner.
With so many different types, the options are limited only to your creativity.
↓ ↓ ↓
Best way to track & forecast recurring & non recurring revenue?
A cashflow tracker.
Because the only real business advice you really need is...don't run out of cash.
Feel free to use my template: https://lnkd.in/eHEiMUr9
No asset will ever make you as much money as investing in yourself as THE asset.
↓ ↓ ↓
...And if you want to be in the room with 1000 other builders...come to MSOWS.
It's November 2-4. In Austin.
Get your ticket before we run out: https://lnkd.in/eKnKnh2h
↓ ↓ ↓
...And if you want to be in the room with 1000 other builders...come to MSOWS.
It's November 2-4. In Austin.
Get your ticket before we run out: https://lnkd.in/eKnKnh2h
We were sold a lie that:
Having good grades, going to college, and getting a job = the American Dream.
Less than 40% of people in their 30s earn more than their parents did.
That was 90% in the 40s.
We need to make starter homes more accessible, re-educate the youth that going to college is NOT their only option, and we need to encourage ownership in our local communities.
Having good grades, going to college, and getting a job = the American Dream.
Less than 40% of people in their 30s earn more than their parents did.
That was 90% in the 40s.
We need to make starter homes more accessible, re-educate the youth that going to college is NOT their only option, and we need to encourage ownership in our local communities.
If you want to get rich, master negotiation.
13 negotiation tips from 15yrs in business:
1. See things from the balcony
This is something I learned from my first boss at State Street, Yang Butler. We get too caught up in the day-to-day - the battle, not the war. Remove yourself from all the chaos and see everything from on high.
2. Search the shadows
Often, the person across the table isn't the real decision-maker. Powerful forces lurk in the shadows. It's your job to find who they are.
3. Dive to the bottom of the iceberg
Most problems are like icebergs. What we see is see the tip poking above the surface. Dive to the CORE problem beneath, or you'll sink like the Titanic.
4. Study the language of your opponent
Understanding their language is understanding their desires. But 93% of communication is non-verbal. The rest lies in tone and body language.
5. Do your homework
The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Do you understand the history of those that you negotiate against? Because it is likely to repeat itself.
6. Build a golden bridge
"Surround them on three sides, leaving one side open, to show them a way to life. Show them a way to life so that they will not be in the mood to fight to the death." –Sun Tzu
7. Write their victory speech
Get in their head: If they "win" this negotiation, what will they brag about?Show that what you want is actually a win for them.
8. The Emotion Canyon
Don't raise your voice. Don't fire off that angry email. Don't let 1 impulsive moment ruin the gentle work of closing a deal. Keep a canyon between emotion & reaction.
9. Appear to need it less
It’s not he who wants it less that wins. It’s he who appears to need it less. Be willing to walk away, and watch the tables turn.
10. Relax into the silence
We hate awkward silences. We'll say anything to fill the void.. even reveal key information. So when things go quiet, embrace it. Smile. Relax your body. Sip some water.
12. Say yes as much as possible
This doesn't mean give in to everything. Say "yes" even when you don't. Make concessions for non-monetary terms they care more about than you do.
13. Respect costs you nothing
But it means everything to your opponent. Call out their strengths. Acknowledge their position. Empathize with them. You might just get a yes.
↓ ↓ ↓
These tips have served me well across salary talks, the most bloodthirsty chore negotiations with my hubs...
But most of all in DEALS.
The terms you negotiate make the difference between buying an amazing business and a terrible one.
Get more insider tips on dealmaking and SMB buying here → https://lnkd.in/ebAYEW_J
13 negotiation tips from 15yrs in business:
1. See things from the balcony
This is something I learned from my first boss at State Street, Yang Butler. We get too caught up in the day-to-day - the battle, not the war. Remove yourself from all the chaos and see everything from on high.
2. Search the shadows
Often, the person across the table isn't the real decision-maker. Powerful forces lurk in the shadows. It's your job to find who they are.
3. Dive to the bottom of the iceberg
Most problems are like icebergs. What we see is see the tip poking above the surface. Dive to the CORE problem beneath, or you'll sink like the Titanic.
4. Study the language of your opponent
Understanding their language is understanding their desires. But 93% of communication is non-verbal. The rest lies in tone and body language.
5. Do your homework
The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior. Do you understand the history of those that you negotiate against? Because it is likely to repeat itself.
6. Build a golden bridge
"Surround them on three sides, leaving one side open, to show them a way to life. Show them a way to life so that they will not be in the mood to fight to the death." –Sun Tzu
7. Write their victory speech
Get in their head: If they "win" this negotiation, what will they brag about?Show that what you want is actually a win for them.
8. The Emotion Canyon
Don't raise your voice. Don't fire off that angry email. Don't let 1 impulsive moment ruin the gentle work of closing a deal. Keep a canyon between emotion & reaction.
9. Appear to need it less
It’s not he who wants it less that wins. It’s he who appears to need it less. Be willing to walk away, and watch the tables turn.
10. Relax into the silence
We hate awkward silences. We'll say anything to fill the void.. even reveal key information. So when things go quiet, embrace it. Smile. Relax your body. Sip some water.
12. Say yes as much as possible
This doesn't mean give in to everything. Say "yes" even when you don't. Make concessions for non-monetary terms they care more about than you do.
13. Respect costs you nothing
But it means everything to your opponent. Call out their strengths. Acknowledge their position. Empathize with them. You might just get a yes.
↓ ↓ ↓
These tips have served me well across salary talks, the most bloodthirsty chore negotiations with my hubs...
But most of all in DEALS.
The terms you negotiate make the difference between buying an amazing business and a terrible one.
Get more insider tips on dealmaking and SMB buying here → https://lnkd.in/ebAYEW_J
Quitting 1 job, to take on 21 jobs...
7 tips to manage time as an entrepreneur:
↓ ↓ ↓
Get more frameworks for entrepreneur life here → https://lnkd.in/euh-mDd8
7 tips to manage time as an entrepreneur:
↓ ↓ ↓
Get more frameworks for entrepreneur life here → https://lnkd.in/euh-mDd8
7 red flags you'll never find in A-players:
↓ ↓ ↓
Worst part of business? Your people.
Best part of business? Your people.
I try to hire people who make me feel a li less of the former & a lil more of the latter.
Here's my hiring strategy + matrix:
https://lnkd.in/euywp8w7
↓ ↓ ↓
Worst part of business? Your people.
Best part of business? Your people.
I try to hire people who make me feel a li less of the former & a lil more of the latter.
Here's my hiring strategy + matrix:
https://lnkd.in/euywp8w7
Last year I had the privilege of having Arthur Brooks on my podcast.
He’s one of my favorite humans and he has made me rethink what “happiness” really means.
Here's everything you get wrong about being happy (according to Arthur):
According to him, the pursuit of perfect happiness is a dangerous myth.
As much as we hate them, we need negative emotions because they keep us safe and alive.
They're defense mechanisms that signal when something's wrong around us.
That said, happiness and unhappiness are NOT opposites.
Yes, they're governed by different hemispheres of your brain.
But getting rid of your triggers makes you less UNhappy, not MORE happy:
Happiness has three critical dimensions:
- Enjoyment (momentary pleasure)
- Satisfaction (achievement)
- Meaning (purpose beyond yourself)
Most people chase only enjoyment, which explains why they never find lasting happiness.
The secret to happiness itself lies in metacognition.
Think of it as becoming conscious of your emotions, then reasoning about them.
During out chat, we also talked about an 85-year Harvard study that tracked the same people for decades to find what creates happiness. Their conclusion was fascinating:
The single greatest predictor of happiness isn't wealth, achievement, or genetics.
It's relationship quality.
Dating between ages 25-32 creates "startup relationships" where couples grow together.
After that, you're attempting a "merger" of established lives.
Too early? Unstable. Too late? Inflexible.
At this point, I had to ask the age-old question:
“Can money buy happiness?”
Brooks answered yes – but not how most people think:
Since the 90s, we've become more unhappy every year due to:
- Declining religious participation
- Fewer people starting families
- Increased reliance on technology to combat loneliness
Even though modern society has systematically eroded these pillars, you can buck the trend...
Italian philospher Thomas Aquinas believed there are four idols that destroy happiness:
Money. Power. Pleasure. Fame.
None are inherently bad as means to an end. But all are devastating when you pursue them as your ultimate goals.
At the end of the day, the secret to happiness is that there isn’t one.
Happiness isn't a switch you flip or a destination on a map.
But that doesn't mean you can't control it.
↓↓↓↓
I meant it when I said Arthur is one of my favorite humans in the world.
Part of the reason why I’m so excited to have him speak at our annual Main Street Over Wall Street event.
You should grab a ticket (not just because Arthur is coming tho…we’ve got a stacked lineup): https://lnkd.in/eS72XAYF
He’s one of my favorite humans and he has made me rethink what “happiness” really means.
Here's everything you get wrong about being happy (according to Arthur):
According to him, the pursuit of perfect happiness is a dangerous myth.
As much as we hate them, we need negative emotions because they keep us safe and alive.
They're defense mechanisms that signal when something's wrong around us.
That said, happiness and unhappiness are NOT opposites.
Yes, they're governed by different hemispheres of your brain.
But getting rid of your triggers makes you less UNhappy, not MORE happy:
Happiness has three critical dimensions:
- Enjoyment (momentary pleasure)
- Satisfaction (achievement)
- Meaning (purpose beyond yourself)
Most people chase only enjoyment, which explains why they never find lasting happiness.
The secret to happiness itself lies in metacognition.
Think of it as becoming conscious of your emotions, then reasoning about them.
During out chat, we also talked about an 85-year Harvard study that tracked the same people for decades to find what creates happiness. Their conclusion was fascinating:
The single greatest predictor of happiness isn't wealth, achievement, or genetics.
It's relationship quality.
Dating between ages 25-32 creates "startup relationships" where couples grow together.
After that, you're attempting a "merger" of established lives.
Too early? Unstable. Too late? Inflexible.
At this point, I had to ask the age-old question:
“Can money buy happiness?”
Brooks answered yes – but not how most people think:
Since the 90s, we've become more unhappy every year due to:
- Declining religious participation
- Fewer people starting families
- Increased reliance on technology to combat loneliness
Even though modern society has systematically eroded these pillars, you can buck the trend...
Italian philospher Thomas Aquinas believed there are four idols that destroy happiness:
Money. Power. Pleasure. Fame.
None are inherently bad as means to an end. But all are devastating when you pursue them as your ultimate goals.
At the end of the day, the secret to happiness is that there isn’t one.
Happiness isn't a switch you flip or a destination on a map.
But that doesn't mean you can't control it.
↓↓↓↓
I meant it when I said Arthur is one of my favorite humans in the world.
Part of the reason why I’m so excited to have him speak at our annual Main Street Over Wall Street event.
You should grab a ticket (not just because Arthur is coming tho…we’ve got a stacked lineup): https://lnkd.in/eS72XAYF
Here's how I manage my personal finances (The Personal P&L):
↓ ↓ ↓
Download the template here for free → https://lnkd.in/eN-bPKR3
↓ ↓ ↓
Download the template here for free → https://lnkd.in/eN-bPKR3
The difference between a $1M business and a $100M business:
Systems.
Here’s how we think about building systems for our portfolio of 30+ businesses:
Think of systems like a car. You need:
- Vision = windshield (see where you're going)
- Dashboard = gauges (track your speed)
- Goals = GPS (know your destination)
- Communication = alerts (stay coordinated)
- People = maintenance (keep everything running)
Miss any one and you're broken down on the side of the road.
1. Start With The Foundation
Most owners focus on tiny processes instead of the big stuff.
It's like saying "I want to build the Sistine Chapel" then starting out by picking out what candles you want inside.
You have to start with the foundation first or you'll never get the thing done.
2. Use 'Proven' Frameworks
Everyone on the internet acts like they have the best new "battle-tested" system, when realistically it's often a lot of fluff.
That said, there is a lot of merit in implementing systems that have worked for someone else - just make sure you're getting them from the right place.
3. Follow Dual North Stars
The danger of single metrics is it creates tunnel vision.
But when you have two, they keep each other honest. It could be:
- Revenue + Followers
- Sales + Customer satisfaction
- Growth + Team retention
Just remember to keep one qualitative and the other quantitative.
4. Keep Pace With Your Yearly Vision
Without systems, it’s easy to get caught up in busywork.
I’ve met hardworking owners who thought they were moving the needle only to realize the opposite at EOY.
Building the right systems prevents that:
5. Use Scorecards
It’s not enough to give deadlines when assigning tasks.
You also want to create a dashboard where you can track:
- Completion rates
- Who’s responsible for what
- Color-coded status updates
That way, you can see a bird’s eye view of what's moving along and what isn’t.
6. Apply The Rule of Three for Documentation
Do you like repeating yourself? Me neither.
Anything you do more than 3 times in a week (or has at least 3 steps) should get documented.
Use Loom + Google Docs to create playbooks so specific that even a highschooler can follow.
↓↓↓
Only so much I can get into in a single post.
If you’re curious to learn more, I’m hosting a workshop on May 6th where we’ll walk through the strategies we use to find profit leaks in our businesses.
Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eKVDbCzj
Systems.
Here’s how we think about building systems for our portfolio of 30+ businesses:
Think of systems like a car. You need:
- Vision = windshield (see where you're going)
- Dashboard = gauges (track your speed)
- Goals = GPS (know your destination)
- Communication = alerts (stay coordinated)
- People = maintenance (keep everything running)
Miss any one and you're broken down on the side of the road.
1. Start With The Foundation
Most owners focus on tiny processes instead of the big stuff.
It's like saying "I want to build the Sistine Chapel" then starting out by picking out what candles you want inside.
You have to start with the foundation first or you'll never get the thing done.
2. Use 'Proven' Frameworks
Everyone on the internet acts like they have the best new "battle-tested" system, when realistically it's often a lot of fluff.
That said, there is a lot of merit in implementing systems that have worked for someone else - just make sure you're getting them from the right place.
3. Follow Dual North Stars
The danger of single metrics is it creates tunnel vision.
But when you have two, they keep each other honest. It could be:
- Revenue + Followers
- Sales + Customer satisfaction
- Growth + Team retention
Just remember to keep one qualitative and the other quantitative.
4. Keep Pace With Your Yearly Vision
Without systems, it’s easy to get caught up in busywork.
I’ve met hardworking owners who thought they were moving the needle only to realize the opposite at EOY.
Building the right systems prevents that:
5. Use Scorecards
It’s not enough to give deadlines when assigning tasks.
You also want to create a dashboard where you can track:
- Completion rates
- Who’s responsible for what
- Color-coded status updates
That way, you can see a bird’s eye view of what's moving along and what isn’t.
6. Apply The Rule of Three for Documentation
Do you like repeating yourself? Me neither.
Anything you do more than 3 times in a week (or has at least 3 steps) should get documented.
Use Loom + Google Docs to create playbooks so specific that even a highschooler can follow.
↓↓↓
Only so much I can get into in a single post.
If you’re curious to learn more, I’m hosting a workshop on May 6th where we’ll walk through the strategies we use to find profit leaks in our businesses.
Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eKVDbCzj
You will never become truly free from your business if you don’t...
- Hire better team members
- Eliminate your key man risk
- Stop reinventing the wheel
- Build funnels that work harder for you
- Increase cashflow
- Increase margins
- Decrease YOUR time spent
I hear you.
Let’s make these changes together.
May 15-17 in Austin, I’m gathering MY top team members to work through the biggest bottlenecks holding YOUR business back.
Spots are limited (& you’ll want to make travel arrangements ASAP!!) so grab your ticket today → https://lnkd.in/eVXbd8FP
- Hire better team members
- Eliminate your key man risk
- Stop reinventing the wheel
- Build funnels that work harder for you
- Increase cashflow
- Increase margins
- Decrease YOUR time spent
I hear you.
Let’s make these changes together.
May 15-17 in Austin, I’m gathering MY top team members to work through the biggest bottlenecks holding YOUR business back.
Spots are limited (& you’ll want to make travel arrangements ASAP!!) so grab your ticket today → https://lnkd.in/eVXbd8FP