Assuming I get this out on time, I turn 39 years old today. I'm grateful for yet another trip around the sun. If you want to do something nice for me, share my newsletter on your Twitter timeline. I've made it super simple. Just click this link, and you'll automatically share a tweet on your timeline. Or click it here—>Share this newsletter on your timeline. The Podguesting Power Pitch workshop is live to sign up for. This course teaches you how to search for and pitch yourself to podcasts without spending thousands on outside PR. This is perfect for anyone looking to grow their audience or sell their products to a warm audience. I partnered with another creator, Adrian Moreno, to bring this to my audience at a discounted price. The lessons are already completed and ready for you to watch at your own convenience, and there will be at least two live Q and A sessions in the next two weeks. When you join, you get lifetime admission to the Hard Lessons Academy, where all of my courses will be forever posted. So buy once, and you'll always get access to my paid content. Easy deal. Check it out. Today's newsletter covers the three frameworks that I've used when it comes to making decisions. But first, a word from our sponsors... Today's sponsor is Greco Gum
3 frameworks for making better decisions In a podcast interview this week, I was asked what rule or metric I use when making decisions. At first, the question gave me a little trouble, as I couldn't readily identify how—or even if—I thought about making decisions. Then I thought about all the decisions I've made in my life that had a significant positive impact. I consider these events "watershed moments." Watershed moments are critical points of change that cause a major shift in the potential outcome of events. These were events where I had a choice to make. All but the first choice was made as an adult, and my decision on where to attend high school was mine alone. Among those were:
I also thought about important decisions that affected the direction of my life but were not as defining. The decisions I made in the first category, I'm either incapable of imagining an alternative life, or the life I picture is so fundamentally different that my life wouldn't look like it is now. The difference between these choices and the life-defining watershed moments is that I can see how my life looks if I don't take the following actions. While it's impossible to know for sure, I can imagine a life where I didn't do the following.
And lastly, there are the small decisions I make more frequently. They would affect the quality of my daily life but would not change its course or where I’m going. Those decisions are too numerous to list, and I’d forget most of them anyway. Thinking about the significant decisions I've made and my approach to the lesser ones did reveal that I have a set of rules or metrics. They're so ingrained in my method of operation that I had trouble articulating when I was put on the spot about them. However, I eventually answered, and that's the subject of today's newsletter. Here are my three frameworks for making decisions—with a bonus fourth. These metrics are responsible for everything positive in my life, regardless of the domain. Furthermore, whenever I've found myself in an adverse or precarious situation, the reason is because I was not following these metrics. Interesting things I read this week Seven Frames: This is an ebook by David Elikwu from https://theknowledge.io. I discovered this guy from a great article he wrote about the power of using Bayesian Statistics in decision-making. The ebook covers seven unique frameworks for making better decisions, none of which I'd heard of but I learned a lot from. It's purely a coincidence of timing that my newsletter this week is about decision-making making, which is the cool thing I'm reading. Check it out. |
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Forgiving myself has been the most challenging thing I've done. I'm not sure I've done it, but I try every day. As of the writing of these words, I've got 12 years of sobriety. This isn't enough time to forgive myself, as I still feel guilty for my behavior under the influence and beyond. But each day is a new one I approach with humility and gratitude for my luck and second chances. The main idea I remember when forgiving myself is that the past isn't real. Understanding this concept is...
Before we get into today's newsletter, here are some announcements and updates. We're not one week out from my return to the ring after 8 years off. July 12th, I fight here in my city at the Highmark Stadium. I feel fortunate that I'm able to fight on this card in the heart of the city. The card is not broadcast or streamed. I know my email list spans the entire world, but I also know there are some people in the Pittsburgh area where I live. If you want to come down and enjoy a great night...
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