Hey friends, welcome back. I hope you enjoyed the previous reflections. In case you haven’t read them, check them out: last week’s reflections.

Now, onto the weekly reflections for the past week:

Growth Mindset

Having a supportive network is great; family and friends telling you how special you are growing up. Truth is, you’re not that special. But that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve great things.

“The ultimate way you and I get lucky is if you have some success early in life, you get to find out early it doesn’t mean anything.” - David Foster Wallace

The first step is to recognize what separates those who achieve what they set out to, and those who don’t. Chances are, the successful people you idolize are actually pretty average (if not marginally above average). They just show up consistently and pursue things with a fiery passion.

The default path is to give up and go back to what you were doing (that you didn’t like). What does it mean for you? By just showing up consistently, you already outperform the average person.

Keen on starting a YouTube channel, a TikTok brand, or a blog? Create content every day. “But my content isn’t special and doesn’t stand out, how am going to make it?”

1. You don’t have to be special, you just have to get used to doing it. Perfection is overrated.

2. You believe you’re average, but why is that a bad thing? That just means there are others like you, and that your audience already exists!

Now get off your ass and just create/build. Afraid of what people think? Do it privately at first then soft launch. Just keep moving.

Entrepreneurship & Finance

I’ve built 2 products in the past week, which is a big win because I’m capitalizing on my momentum (remember the thing about consistency?). For the Era’s Tour Costumes, I’m using Bubble (no-code website builder) to create the website, integrate it with the ChatGPT API, and create workflows.

However, there’s an underlying problem…

I’m procrastinating on my marketing.

The irony is that I’m non-technical, with a marketing background. The struggle technical entrepreneurs face is that they’re good at building but lackluster in marketing their products.

Distribution is as important as building your product (if not more)!

What I’m going to do about it: Maintain the consistency of building but layer on creative outlets for me to make the most out of what I already do for a living (marketing). I cannot let myself get distracted by the new shiny object (of building products) and neglect a core competency of mine.

In the coming week, I’ll be exploring different social media channels and trying to market using a pseudonym instead since my portfolio of products spans different themes.

Freedom

I like the stage I’m at. Unknown, small audience. No passive income.

I can create freely, build products freely. There is serenity in the freedom of starting something new.

Once you start gaining traction and have more people watching your every step, it starts to involve more relationship & brand image management.

So if you’re in the same stage as me, take it in. Enjoy where you are. It’s not a curse that you’re a beginner.

For example, I love how I can celebrate getting $3.50 from a $5 sale of my website template. It’s the little things that you forget first as you get more experienced in your journey.

Here’s the template if you want to launch a website in under 10 minutes without code. It’s free but tips are more than welcome :)

Homework

Reflect on your beliefs: What is one thing you grew up being told that you need to unlearn?

In terms of identity, I’ve been told I’m smart and special.

I’m none of these.

In terms of how the “real world” works, I’ve been told:

1. You have to be smart to succeed.

2. You need to work X years before even thinking of pursuing your passions.

3. You need a degree to make it.

4. If you started out in one industry/domain, you have to stick with it forever.

5. You have to stay in a job for at least 1 year if not nobody will want to hire you.

6. You need to know your passion.

7. Starting a business is a bad idea, having a job is more stable.

8. You need a lot of money to start a business.

9. You need to hire more people for your business to succeed.

10. You can only travel full-time after you retire.

11. You can only retire after 55.

12. It’s too late.

I’m doing the total opposite of all of these in my 20s, and I’ve never felt more fulfilled.

Once you’ve identified those beliefs, observe how they are affecting your actions, and how they hold you back from your full potential.

Till we meet again next week.

Cheers to the future,
Ernest
indiepreneur, digital nomad, transhumanist

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