Unlock Extraordinary Results by Transforming Your Approach
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If you continue with the same methods, the outcomes will remain unchanged. Leonardo DiCaprio wisely remarked, “Every next level of your life will demand a different you.” To progress to the next stage, you must alter your approach.
I began attending therapy at 21, and within a year, I felt as though I had aged five years in maturity. After several more years, I sensed an additional decade of growth. I found myself easily conversing with colleagues who were 10 or 20 years older than me. Ryan Holiday’s article, “I’m a Millennial and I Don’t Understand My Peers — Not Even a Little Bit,” resonated with my experiences.
If you're reading this, it's likely that you seek different outcomes in various aspects of your life. Perhaps you’re tired of the relentless cycle of student loan payments, or you want to break free from unfulfilling relationships that crowd your dating apps. Maybe you long to change your life instead of just wishing for it when you look out the window.
To achieve different results, you must adopt new strategies. Here’s how to start.
Common Actions Yield Common Results, So Avoid the Status Quo
> “The best results in life are often held back by false constructs and untested assumptions.” - Tim Ferriss
You’ve likely heard the phrase: “Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results.” Yet, many still engage in these repetitive actions, hoping for change.
In my book, What Extraordinary People Know: How to Cut the Busy B.S. and Live Your Kick-Ass Life, I emphasize a crucial step to escape unproductive routines: embrace the unconventional.
Here’s a quote from Chapter 5: Be a Rebel (A.K.A Don’t Be ‘Normal’):
> “It’s no great achievement to go along with the crowd. Be the unusual guy, the extraordinary guy.” – Darren Hardy
To achieve what others do not, you need to act differently. In essence, be a rebel. Start doing “weird” things that most people either avoid or are afraid to try. As Darren Hardy put it, “Successful people do what unsuccessful people are unwilling to do.”
Eat Unconventionally
Your diet shapes your day and serves as the foundation of your health, energy, focus, creativity, and endurance. Poor dietary choices can leave you feeling sluggish instead of productive.
Most individuals do not follow an optimal diet, often due to societal pressures. Fast food is frequently cheaper than healthier options, leading to subpar eating habits. As Aubrey Marcus mentions in Own the Day, Own Your Life, many find themselves trapped by cravings and convenience, battling issues like inflammation and low energy, which hinder productivity.
The chapter continues with three additional ways to be “weird”:
- Speak Unconventionally (engage deeply and fearlessly with those who matter)
- Utilize Your Time Unconventionally (prioritize learning and creativity over mere entertainment)
- Invest Your Money Unconventionally (favor self-development over trendy gadgets)
Once you stop mimicking the masses, you’ll start to gain relationships, income, health, and mindset that few possess.
> “The fear of being different prevents most people from seeking new ways to solve their problems.” - Robert Kiyosaki
Begin Small, Because Consistent Tiny Steps Lead to Significant Change
> “It isn’t so much knowing a whole lot, as knowing a little and how to use it that counts.” - George Harris Larimer
Many assume that substantial life changes occur rapidly, but that’s a misconception. It took time to develop negative habits and mindsets, so it will also take time to cultivate new ones.
Impatience often leads individuals to abandon their change efforts when they do not see immediate results. This black-and-white perspective contributes to many failed attempts at transformation. As Niklas Goeke states:
> “Tiny steps will take you much farther than infrequent home runs.”
In the last year alone, I gained 20,000 new email subscribers. In contrast, my first four years of blogging attracted just 178 subscribers. I published numerous articles, but only within a month did I gain 100 subscribers, followed by 1,000, then 3,000, and so forth.
The pathway to personal evolution isn’t complex. As Jim Rohn noted, “Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals.” This idea was echoed by Darren Hardy, who said, “Small, seemingly inconsistent steps completed consistently over time will create a radical difference.”
Personal growth often feels slow, and at times it may appear stagnant. However, success can be deceptive; it often arrives suddenly, and you may find yourself significantly improved in a short period.
> “When money begins to come, it comes in such abundance that you wonder where it has been hiding all those lean years.” - Napoleon Hill
How to Create a Life That Inspires Envy
> “If you keep living like the way you are now, you will continue to produce the same life you already have.” - Jim Rohn
Most individuals are not living their desired lives. Instead, they conform to societal expectations, prioritizing the need to fit in or appear successful over their own dreams. This often leads to exhaustion and dissatisfaction, driving them to overindulge in media and substances, negatively impacting their relationships and mental health.
Even those who seem to have it all together often struggle beneath the surface. As Seth Godin noted:
> “The problem is that our culture has engaged in a Faustian bargain, in which we trade our genius and artistry for apparent stability.”
While envy can be detrimental, it’s possible to design a life that turns heads and inspires admiration. Tim Ferriss has demonstrated that with a few strategic adjustments, extraordinary results can be achieved quickly, regardless of budget.
Small adjustments can lead to significant outcomes.
Relationships Simply take action. During premarital counseling, my wife and I received invaluable advice: always initiate the first move. If you can enhance the relationship, do so, without waiting for the other person to act.
Income Prioritize acquiring knowledge and experience over immediate financial gain. Focus on financial independence and understanding how to make your money work for you. Many millionaires have multiple income streams for this reason.
Health Good health is essential for wealth. If your energy is consumed by overcoming issues like exhaustion, poor diet, or other health concerns, you won’t have the capacity to focus on what truly matters.
Small changes can lead to substantial improvements.
In Conclusion
A significant lesson I learned from Dave Ramsey during a financial seminar was:
> “If you want what no one else has, you must do what no one else does.”
While he spoke primarily about financial matters, this principle applies broadly across all aspects of life. If you desire average results—mediocre health, finances, and relationships—continue following the crowd. However, if you yearn for extraordinary outcomes in health, wealth, and relationships, you must diverge from the norm.
Common practices yield common results, so abandon the ordinary and pursue the extraordinary instead.
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