This issue is about building projects that revolve around your interests. One of the best forms of a project that you can build is an email based course (I am also currently building one) due to the flexibility to adapt it to any interest of yours combined with the ease with which a beginner can create one. Check it out below!
The best “build once, sell twice” asset.
While most creators sleep on email courses, the best ones scale with them.
Sign up for Master the Email-Based Course and see why Dickie Bush had “Takeaways within 5 minutes... Huge value.”
There is a movement on X and it’s called “you can just do things” which sort of encapsulates my philosophy and brand (btw if you want more content from me, I just published a video about Creating Opportunities Over The Internet)
The movement consists of people are stepping out of their comfort zones in the simplest ways—like a guy who decided to lie down on the floor of crowded tourist spots to conquer his fear of public judgment. It's all about challenging societal norms and taking action.
This "You Can Just Do Things" mindset is all about embracing the power of doing without seeking permission from anyone or waiting for the perfect moment.
I would argue that this movement is so much more important for our cultural consciousness than it may appear at first glance.
We are living in times of unprecedented opportunities in the form of diversity of income sources, career paths and learning opportunities.
Think about it: YouTube is the greatest school on the planet right now. You can learn just about anything on there. For instance, I recently learned to create a trading bot from scratch using YouTube tutorials. I didn’t wait to become an expert; I just started and learned along the way.
The resources are abundant. The will to learn is not.
This is where most people get stuck. They think they need the perfect plan, the right skills, or the approval of experts. But the truth is, you just need to start. The skills and knowledge will come as you go.
Think about all the opportunities on the internet today. The competition isn’t as fierce as you might think.
People like Dwarkesh Patel and Jesse Pujji recently posted coveted job opportunities on X where anybody could apply (and they would be judging you off of real world skills and accomplishments, not college projects). Dwarkesh Patel recently unvailed that only about 7 people applied to even such a prestigious opportunity. People self-reject way more often than you would think.
The internet has levelled the playing field, making it easier for anyone to get noticed and seize opportunities.
The real barrier for most people isn’t a lack of skills but a belief gap.
You’ve been conditioned to follow a set path: study hard, get good grades, secure a stable job, and then repeat the cycle with our kids. This script leaves little room for questioning or pursuing our own unique goals.
To break free, you must recognize that many of these goals were imposed onto you by society. True freedom comes from setting and striving for our own objectives.
For many, trying new things isn't about lacking skills—it's about overcoming deeply ingrained beliefs. Our education system often emphasizes rote learning and standardized testing, stifling creativity and risk-taking.
The "You Can Just Do Things" philosophy encourages learning by doing. Your first attempt might be a flop, but that’s okay. The key is to start. Your next attempt will be better because you’ve learned through doing.
The takeaway here is clear: if you have an idea, don’t wait for the perfect moment or until you feel completely ready. Start now, learn on the go, and iterate until you achieve your goals.
Everybody wants to build billion dollar businesses, raise funding and secure an exit that makes sure that you never have to work again. I call this “The Shark Tank Effect” and I absolutely hate it. This ideology that you cannot become an entrepreneur unless you have a unique idea that changes the world holds most people back from ever starting.
Yes, the stats are true, most businesses and entrepreneurs with The Shark Tank ideology are destined to fail. No, most people cannot be entrepreneurs in that sense. But I am talking about the everyday entrepreneurs running small, profitable, lean and cash-flowing businesses or even acting as solopreneurs, now everybody can do that and the odds of success are much higher (even guaranteed if you do it right but most people aren’t ready for that conversation yet).
Sure, if you can build a billion dollar company, go ahead and do it. For most people though, a much more achievable goal is to build a SAAS company with no employees that makes them $1 million a year with little to no overhead or stress.
The essence of the "You Can Just Do Things" philosophy is about finding joy and freedom in your work and life, regardless of the scale of your projects.
People often talk themselves out of starting something new. "I’m not ready," they say. "I don’t have the right skills, the capital, or the connections." What they don’t realize is that by starting the project and working on it publicly, they will acquire the skills, capital, and connections they need. It’s the act of doing that propels growth and attracts the resources needed.
My Own Experience
I’ve always wanted to manage a systematic trading fund, but the traditional path seemed insurmountable. For years, I hesitated to take the initial steps—experimenting with my broker’s API or coding a simple strategy—because of my limiting beliefs about my capabilities.
Recently, however, I decided to dive in and start building, learning as I encountered challenges. This proactive approach has led to significant progress toward developing a profitable strategy.
BTW, in today’s age of AI, many tasks, including coding, are much more manageable than ever before. The barriers that once seemed insurmountable are now mere hurdles, thanks to technological advancements and the wealth of information available online.
The process of doing things can be distilled into a memorable, actionable framework:
Pick an Interest: Don’t get stuck on this step. Choose something that appeals to you at the moment. You can always explore other interests later.
Choose a Project: Your project should be meaningful and challenging. It doesn’t have to be grandiose. It could be something as simple as developing a walking habit for health or building a small online following.
Create a Goal: Set a measurable goal for your project. For example, aim to walk 10,000 steps a day or gain 100 followers on social media. Clear, specific goals provide direction and motivation.
Set a Deadline: This should be a deadline that excites you, not one that causes anxiety. It should be close enough to spur action but realistic enough to be achievable.
Perform Step 1: Take the first obvious step. This could be as simple as signing up for a platform, buying a domain, or creating a basic outline for your project. The key is to start moving forward without overthinking.
Keep Doing the Most Obvious Steps Until You Hit a Wall: When you encounter obstacles, seek out resources to overcome them. Use YouTube, online forums, or communities to learn what you need to proceed. This approach ensures that you’re learning relevant information as you need it.
Iterate and Repeat: Continue this process of building and learning until you’ve achieved your goal. Then, apply the same methodology to a new interest or project. Documenting your journey on social media can amplify your efforts, attract like-minded individuals, and create new opportunities.
By following this framework, you’ll discover that you can achieve far more than you initially thought possible. Each step forward builds momentum, and each iteration brings you closer to your goals.
This process is not just about achieving specific outcomes but also about personal growth and fulfilment.
The World Ahead
Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune
This quote resonates deeply with the ethos of the "You Can Just Do Things" movement. In an era where the number of solopreneurs is expected to rise significantly, the ability to start, build, and iterate is more valuable than ever.
According to a study by Emergent Research and Intuit, the number of U.S. small businesses is projected to increase by 9.4% over the next five years, driven largely by solopreneurs. This trend highlights a growing recognition of the value of self-education and the entrepreneurial spirit.
The barriers to entry for many endeavours have never been lower. Technology, particularly AI, has democratized access to tools and knowledge that were once the preserve of a select few.
For instance, coding, which was once a specialized skill, is now accessible to anyone willing to learn. AI tools can assist with debugging, provide suggestions, and even automate parts of the coding process. This accessibility empowers more people to create, innovate, and bring their ideas to life.
Yet, despite these advancements, the most significant hurdle remains the mindset. The belief that you need to be fully prepared before starting can be paralyzing.
But the truth is, you will never feel completely ready. There will always be more to learn, more to prepare, and more to perfect. The key is to start anyway.
Action begets clarity. As you engage with your project, you will naturally encounter challenges that will guide your learning. This experiential learning is far more effective than trying to anticipate and prepare for every possible scenario in advance.
Furthermore, documenting your journey publicly can put your growth into hyper speed. It not only holds you accountable but also allows others to learn from your experiences.
Sharing your progress, setbacks, and successes creates a narrative that others can follow and be inspired by. It also opens up opportunities for feedback, collaboration, and support from a community of like-minded individuals.
The Fun of Building
There’s another layer to this conversation that often goes unnoticed—the sheer joy and satisfaction that come from creating something. When you build something from scratch, there’s an intrinsic reward that goes beyond financial gains or external validation. It’s the sense of accomplishment, the learning process, and the journey itself that enriches your life. You become more resilient, adaptable, and confident in your abilities.
There are two reasons you should ever learn anything. Learning for fun and learning to build. Never learn something if it isn’t fun and isn’t directly helping you build what you’re working on at the moment.
The scale of the project doesn’t matter; what matters is the action and the willingness to learn. This approach is about reclaiming control over our lives and careers. It’s about recognizing that we don’t need permission to pursue our passions or to start something new. The tools and resources are at our fingertips; it’s up to us to use them.
The power of social media cannot be overstated in this context. Platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube are not just for passive consumption. When you document your journey online, you end up attracting your dream friends, mentors, customers and opportunities passively.
This entire process is a newsletter issue in and of itself so I’ll leave you here for this week, I hope you use the info in today’s issue to build whatever you’ve been craving to build recently. Just start, you’ll find the joy in that process as you go along.
BTW, If you want more from me for this week, watch this video!