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1. Escape Average by Embracing Awesome

A dream you don't have to fight for isn't a dream—it's a nap.

Awesome is a choice. The path to awesome requires deliberate effort and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone. It's not about achieving perfection, but rather about consistently pursuing excellence in areas that matter to you. This journey involves five key stages: Learning, Editing, Mastering, Harvesting, and Guiding.

To escape average:

• Be brutally realistic about your present circumstances
• Set wildly unrealistic goals for your future
• Embrace the tension between these two perspectives
• Take small, consistent steps towards your goals
• Remember that some progress always beats none

2. Confront Fear and Self-Doubt Head-On

If you don't kill your voices, they will kill you.

Identify and challenge negative self-talk. Fear and self-doubt are universal experiences, but they don't have to control your life. Common negative messages include "Who are you to do that?", "You're too late", and "It has to be perfect." These voices often get louder when you're pursuing something meaningful.

To overcome fear and self-doubt:

• Document the specific messages you hear
• Share them with trusted friends or mentors
• Refute them with truth and logic
• Look for patterns in your fears
• Use past successes to build confidence

3. Define Your Personal Purpose and Passion

Purpose is not a final destination.

Live with purpose daily. Instead of trying to find one overarching life purpose, focus on living purposefully in various aspects of your life. This approach allows for flexibility and growth over time, rather than locking you into a single, potentially limiting definition of success.

To define your purpose:

• Ask yourself, "What gives me the most joy?"
• Identify activities you can't stop doing
• Consider what you'd do even if you never made money from it
• Look for ways to apply your passions in different contexts
• Be open to having multiple purposes throughout your life

4. Master the Art of Learning and Experimentation

Scientists don't fail; they experiment.

Embrace a growth mindset. The land of Learning is about adding new skills, knowledge, and experiences to your repertoire. It's a time for exploration and trying new things without the pressure of immediate success. Treat failures as valuable data points rather than personal shortcomings.

To excel in learning:

• Conduct regular time audits to find space for growth
• Set aside dedicated time for learning and experimentation
• Volunteer or take part-time jobs to gain experience
• Be a student of yourself, understanding how you learn best
• Create safe spaces to experiment and potentially fail

5. Edit Your Life to Focus on What Matters

Purpose is attracted to motion.

Prioritize ruthlessly. The Editing stage is about subtracting activities, commitments, and even dreams that don't align with your core values and goals. It's a process of honing in on what truly matters to you and letting go of the rest.

To edit effectively:

• Create a list of your "diamonds" (priorities) and "rocks" (non-essentials)
• Align your calendar with your stated priorities
• Be willing to disappoint the right people
• Create a "later list" for good ideas that don't fit right now
• Regularly reassess and adjust your priorities

6. Put in the Work to Master Your Craft

You will work harder at something you love than at something you like.

Commit to deliberate practice. Mastering any skill or field requires consistent, focused effort over time. It's not about innate talent, but rather about putting in the work to improve incrementally. This stage often involves facing criticism and overcoming self-doubt.

To work towards mastery:

• Set specific "rep" goals for regular practice
• Seek out mentors and learn from those ahead of you
• Embrace constructive criticism while ignoring unhelpful negativity
• Create a support system of fellow learners
• Remember that mastery is a ongoing process, not a destination

7. Harvest Success and Guide Others

Awesome always goes viral.

Share your journey. The Harvesting stage is about reaping the rewards of your hard work and using your success to inspire and help others. It's not the end of the journey, but rather a time to celebrate progress and prepare for the next cycle of growth.

To harvest effectively and guide others:

• Celebrate small wins along the way
• Be careful not to become entitled or complacent
• Look for opportunities to mentor and guide others
• Share both your successes and failures to inspire and teach
• Remember that guiding others often leads to new insights for yourself

By following these key takeaways and continuously cycling through the stages of Learning, Editing, Mastering, Harvesting, and Guiding, you can create a life of ongoing growth, purpose, and impact. The path to awesome is not a straight line, but a dynamic journey of self-discovery and contribution to others.

Last updated: August 8, 2024