Do The Impossible

1. Commitment and Action Define Your Impact

Many people say that they want to “change the world,” but few mean it.

Intentions are insufficient. Having noble intentions or lofty aspirations means little without the willingness to do the actual work and pay the price. Impact is measured by actions taken, not words spoken or feelings felt. As Henry Ford noted, reputation is built on what you do, not what you plan to do.

Doing the impossible. Challenging your perceived limitations and doing things you thought were impossible expands your sense of self and reveals your true potential. This journey of overcoming fear and self-limitation is the path to becoming extraordinary. It's a declaration of self-love and a commitment to giving your best, not for external validation, but for inner pride.

Choose to be extraordinary. Being extraordinary is a daily choice to be the main character in your life's movie, acting in ways that make it worth watching. This involves facing fears, stepping outside comfort zones, and embracing your unique gifts and talents to make an impact simply by being authentically yourself.

2. Your Assumptions Fundamentally Shape Your Reality

To change your life, you must change the one and only thing that determines the actions that you take (or fail to take): Your assumptions.

Assumptions rule your life. Your assumptions about yourself and the world form your belief system, which dictates your thoughts, words, actions, and ultimately, your results. An assumption is a statement you believe to be true, and it often constrains your possibilities.

Invert your thinking. Most people assume they can't do something before even trying. To transform your life, assume everything is possible until relentless action proves otherwise. This shift in assumption unlocks potential you dramatically underestimate.

Examples of reframing assumptions:

• Instead of "I'm not smart enough," think "I can learn the skills I need."
• Instead of "I could never do X," think "I can't do X now, but with training and motivation, I can become that person."
• Instead of "I'm not the type of person who achieves things," think "If I have a compelling reason and put in the effort, there is almost nothing I cannot do."

3. Embrace the Three Meta-Beliefs for Extraordinary Results

Once internalized deeply, the following three Meta-Beliefs will restructure your belief system and change everything: Everything is possible, Everything is learnable, and Every problem is solvable.

Meta-Beliefs are foundational. These core beliefs sit at the top of your belief hierarchy, acting as a valve that either opens or restricts your field of possibility. Adopting them deeply is essential for achieving extraordinary results and impacting the world at scale.

Everything is possible: Don't wait for external permission or validation. Believe you can achieve anything you set your mind to. History is filled with examples of people doing things once considered impossible. Assume possibility and act boldly.

• If someone else has done it, so can you.
• If you can do something once, you can do it a million times.
• Just because it hasn't been done before doesn't mean it can't be done.

Everything is learnable: Your ability to learn is nearly limitless. Any skill, from technical abilities to character traits like discipline or empathy, can be acquired with enough time, effort, and the right mindset. Embrace the identity of an unstoppable learner, prioritizing learning over ego.

Every problem is solvable: Extraordinary people are extraordinary problem-solvers. If something is a true problem, a solution exists. Believe in your ability to figure things out and seek help from others who have solved similar issues. Focus on "What am I going to do about it?" rather than "Why is this happening to me?"

4. Master Your Subjective Reality to Transform the World

You may believe that to impact the world, you must change the outer world. But before you can transform the outer world, you must transform your inner world.

Inner world first. To make a significant impact, you must first create and fully inhabit your own subjective reality – your internal bubble of how you perceive and interact with the world. Focus on mastering your own thoughts, feelings, and actions, as you can only guarantee changing yourself.

The simulation thought experiment. Imagine you are the only playable character in a simulation designed for your growth. How would you approach challenges, pursue goals, and behave differently? This perspective shifts the locus of control onto yourself, revealing your true potential.

The mirror analogy. If the external world is a mirror reflecting your internal state, what changes would you make within yourself? Focus on adopting empowering beliefs, shedding limitations, and building character (self-discipline, integrity, grit). Changing yourself exponentially increases your potential impact on countless others.

5. Leverage the Power of Big, Intense Thoughts

Nurture great thoughts, for you will never go higher than your thoughts.

Thoughts are potential energy. Your thoughts are the most powerful tool you have, acting as a reservoir of possibilities. Bigger thoughts enable bigger, more impactful actions, often requiring no more energy than small ones, but fueled by clear intention and commitment.

Size and intensity matter. The future you create is determined by the size and intensity of your thoughts. Increase the size by letting go of limitations, consuming content from extraordinary people, and practicing thinking bigger daily. Intensify thoughts through repetition, marinating in your vision, and infusing them with strong desire.

Committed thinking vs. daydreaming. Casual thinking or daydreaming lacks the commitment and intensity to manifest reality. Committed thinking is deliberate, powerful, and expresses an authentic desire for your vision to come true, strengthening your belief and compelling action.

6. Cultivate Accurate Thinking and Effective Strategy

You should take the approach that you’re wrong. Your goal is to be less wrong.

Accurate thinking is leverage. To impact the world effectively, you must strive to perceive reality as it is, not as you wish it to be. Improving your thinking involves recognizing cognitive biases and refining your model of reality – the set of assumptions and beliefs guiding your perception.

Strategy over tactics. Extraordinary results come from well-thought-out strategies, not just random tactics. A strategy is a coherent plan of action to reach a specific goal, while tactics are individual methods within that plan. Relying solely on tactics without an overarching strategy leads to wasted energy and mediocre results.

Overcome thinking biases. Humans are emotional and prone to biases that distort reality and lead to poor decisions. Be aware of common biases like:

• Sunk cost fallacy (sticking with something due to past investment)
• Correlation vs. causation (assuming relationship implies cause)
• Emotional reasoning (letting feelings dictate actions)
• Mistaking present self for future self (underestimating growth)
• Believing bigger is harder (idolizing others, underestimating own capacity)
• Failing to understand exponential growth (underestimating long-term compounding)

7. Personal Growth is the Ultimate Leverage

The big challenge is to become all that you have the possibility of becoming.

Unlock your potential. Personal development is the most powerful leverage because it directly increases your capacity to act and achieve. Strengthening self-awareness, clarifying vision, building confidence, discipline, grit, courage, and emotional intelligence are all ways to unlock your nearly limitless potential.

Build core abilities. Focus on cultivating unbreakable self-confidence, iron-clad discipline, and unshakeable grit. These are learnable skills that dramatically increase your ability to navigate challenges and persist towards extraordinary goals.

Strategies for growth:

• Self-confidence: Repeat empowering beliefs, act in line with them, do what you fear, build discipline, practice self-compassion.
• Discipline: Keep promises to yourself and others. Start with small daily tasks and complete them consistently. Make fewer promises but keep them all.
• Grit: Expect failures and prepare for them. Understand that feeling like giving up means the game is on. Build the identity of someone who never quits. See failure as a test and focus on the process.

8. Technology Massively Scales Your Reach

Attempting to succeed without embracing the tools immediately available for your success is no less absurd than trying to row a boat by drawing only your hands through the water...

Technology is human labor on steroids. Technology is a powerful form of leverage that allows you to multiply your time and gather far more energy than possible through manual effort alone. It enables instantaneous communication, automation, and access to vast resources.

Scale through automation and algorithms. Use technology to automate repetitive tasks and create efficient processes, freeing up your time for high-leverage activities. Leverage algorithms on platforms like social media to expand your reach and capture attention at scale.

Strategies for leveraging technology:

• Use apps and software for automation (scheduling, email, AI assistance).
• Create templates and checklists to standardize procedures.
• Study successful people using technology effectively.
• Experiment with platforms and strategies to find what works.
• Have a long-term vision and stay consistent.
• Focus on mastering one platform/algorithm at a time.
• Ensure your message is crystal clear for mass communication.

9. Laser Focus Compounds Your Efforts

If you do one thing and you do it right, and you do it all the way, you can get as big as you want.

Focus channels energy. Focus is the ability to gather your energy and direct it towards a specific goal for long enough to make it a reality. Lack of focus leads to energy leakage and prevents you from tapping into the power of compounding.

Align daily actions with long-term vision. To maximize impact, ensure your daily activities move you closer to your long-term vision (10+ years). An action aligned with a multi-decade vision is infinitely more powerful than a random task.

Three types of focus:

• Short-term focus (concentration): The ability to focus deeply on the task at hand, eliminating internal and external distractions.
• Transitional focus (planning/routine): Implementing systems (like daily planning) to smoothly transition between tasks and ensure you work on what matters most.
• Long-term focus (vision): Having a clear, compelling vision for your future that guides your decisions and actions, activating the power of compounding over time.

10. Leverage Other People's Time and Energy

Leadership is unlocking people’s potential to become better.

You cannot scale alone. To impact the world at scale, you must leverage the time and energy of others by building teams, working with freelancers, or outsourcing tasks. This involves creating organizations that accumulate and channel collective energy towards a shared vision.

Reach the tipping point. Focusing on too many things or lacking clarity prevents you from accumulating enough energy to reach the tipping point where growth becomes exponential. Narrow your focus initially, then identify high-leverage tasks to delegate.

Process for scaling with others:

• Test: Experiment with products/strategies with minimal risk.
• Amplify: Once something works, scale it aggressively ("milk your cow").
• Amplify more: Don't diversify too soon; keep scaling what's working and amplify your core strengths.
• Create processes: Standardize operations to make delegation easier.
• Build teams/find top talent: Surround yourself with skilled, motivated people who complement your abilities.
• Remove yourself: Free up your time for higher-level strategy or new ventures.

11. Money is Stored Energy to Accelerate Your Vision

Wealth and virtue are not mutually exclusive.

Money is a tool for impact. Money is stored time and energy, a powerful tool for amplifying your reach and increasing your impact. It allows you to channel the energy of many people towards your mission, whether in business or philanthropy.

Invest in yourself and your business. Use money to acquire the skills you need (investing in yourself) and to grow your venture (investing in your business). Investing in yourself is the ultimate leverage, as your growth is the limiting factor in your impact.

Strategies for leveraging money:

• Invest in high-impact skills (communication, leadership, thinking, learning).
• Invest in marketing to increase visibility and reach.
• Take courses, training, or work with coaches/mentors.
• Invest in your teams and partners.
• Join Mastermind groups for collective growth and perspective.
• Increase the velocity of money by reinvesting quickly to accelerate compounding.

12. Knowledge is Potential Power to Be Activated

Those people who develop the ability to continuously acquire new and better forms of knowledge that they can apply to their work and to their lives will be the movers and shakers in our society for the indefinite future.

Knowledge saves time and energy. Leveraging knowledge means tapping into the collective time and energy invested by others throughout history. It allows you to accelerate your results by learning from past successes and failures instead of reinventing the wheel.

Move beyond knowing to living. Knowledge is only potential power. It becomes useful when activated through action and integrated into your being. The three stages are:

• Knowing: Intellectual understanding (e.g., knowing you should exercise).
• Doing: Taking action based on knowledge (e.g., exercising occasionally).
• Living: Consistently embodying the knowledge until it becomes intuitive wisdom and part of your identity (e.g., being someone who exercises daily).

Cultivate a mastery mindset. This mindset is the deep belief that everything is learnable through consistent effort and focus on the process. It involves:

• Believing your mind is an unstoppable learning machine.
• Trusting your inherent grit to overcome setbacks.
• Prioritizing the process over results.
• Mastering implementation by turning knowledge into action and refining based on feedback.
• Embracing humility to learn continuously.
• Committing to relentless repetition of fundamentals.
• Having faith in your process and thinking long-term.

Last updated: May 4, 2025