What’s the best way to apply things you just learned?
Put it in action of course!

As I re-read that list for the nth time, I realized that I’ve become what I learned. Reading that list, I see a lot of “me” in there. I can do these things. I could write articles on any of these subjects.

So what I’m proposing you to do is go through that same exercise of listing the skills you recently learned, are learning, or will be learning in the near future.

Do you see that your skills portrait who you are, or will become?

If you’re sad about your own results, prove yourself wrong!

Being “sufficiently proficient” at something can be done in about 15 hours of constant practice.

The best way I found to learn faster is to learn more

In the first week alone, I’m releasing my new book, my game and opening up my online store.

How could I not be excited for that! I could stop there and it would already be a productive month.

“Think things through, then follow through.” — Eddie Rickenbacker

Step 1: Review The Previous Month’s Accomplishments
How did you do last month?
What did you accomplish towards your goals?
Most people don’t reflect on past accomplishments or “failures”, yet it’s through understanding these experiences that we learn and grow. It’s an important thing to do to become more productive: realize where you’re productive and where you’re not.

Step 2: List All Your Goals For The Month A Few Days Before It Starts
As usual, I went a little crazy, but as I always say: “Aim freaking high!”. I tend to accomplish about 80% of the goals I set out to do. If I didn’t aim so high, I would accomplish much less.

In the list, I usually include the 3 new skills I want to learn, things I want to release, ways I’ll make money (and how much), events I want to attend, things I want to continue or start doing and more.

Step 3: Track Your Progress Regularly During The Month
Check the things you’ve done. Analyze their “success”, and course-correct — that is the main reason to track your progress weekly.

If you don’t track your progress regularly, you will side-track from your goals.

Sometimes we feel we’re too busy to take a step back, but trust me, it’s more productive to do so and make a better plan of action for the week to come.

You see, it’s okay not to be understood by everyone, but you need at least one person who truly understands you.

The feeling you get when someone listens to you and understands you is so uplifting.

It gives you the courage to keep going. To work towards the change you want to make in life.

It gives you the power to accomplish your wildest dreams and aim higher.

It makes it okay to be different.


Couldn’t agree more Danny! Being understood propels you forward, it’s almost like fan under your wings!

I can now draw, and my legs have started growing in ways I never thought would be possible.

But what changed you ask?

1. A Mindset Shift
When you reject the idea that something is not feasible, it becomes feasible.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t — you’re right.”—Henry Ford

With careful planning, consistent execution and constant monitoring of results, you can achieve almost anything.

Kyle Maynard is a quadruple amputee. That guy climbed Kilimanjaro! If that doesn’t inspire you to do things you think you can’t, I don’t know what will.

2. A Simple Habit

Around the same time that mindset shift happened to me, I developed a framework I never knew would set me up for success.
every month, I learn 3 new skills. I plan for it every end of month. I execute consistently every day for the whole month. I quantify and qualify the results.

When I rejected the idea that an introvert can’t tell a good story, I studied methods that work. I practiced public speaking and writing consistently. I researched what makes a good story good. I learned to be authentic. That’s how I became a top writer on Medium.

“Showing up is half the battle.” — Woody Allen

In the course of 6 months, I learned to draw, I learned some machine learning techniques, I learned a lot of Spanish, I learned to give public speeches, I learned to tell stories, I learned to write, I learned some basic Norwegian, I learned to Meditate, I learned to Journal. And more.

I’ve since become a top writer on Medium, started two new businesses, got my first professional photography gig, built my own personal brand, hired 5 people, wrote a book, started working on a podcast, and I’ll be releasing my game at the end of the month.

Iceberg:
People see the tip of the iceberg (success) but they don't see what's underneath:

disappointment
By going outside the norm, you’ll disappoint people you live a normal life. You will also disappoint yourself a lot along the way.

Persistence
This is where most people fail. Persistence is about executing consistently and never giving up.

Hard Work
“There’s no talent here. This is hard work. This is obsession. Talent does not exist.” — Conor McGregor

Huge Risks
Getting out of our comfort zone is a habit not many people dare to try. We are not programmed to make decisions that can break us. Successful people make huge bets that ultimately paid off.

Late Nights
I’ll rephrase that one: working long hours.
Successful people don’t count the time. When they look at their clock, it’s not because they’re eager to stop working — they’re afraid that they won’t have time to finish what they started.

Struggles
Arnold Schwarzenegger struggled to build mass in his calves. He analyzed competitors, worked long hard hours and overcame it.
I currently struggle to write one story per day. If I look at my Medium stats, I’ve written 141 stories. That includes the responses I write, but some of them are genuine answers.

Competition
We’re all competing against other people who have the same goals. Sometimes it’s an active act, but a lot of times it’s passive.
Indirectly, I’m competing for attention here on Medium.
For Soul Reaper, I’m competing against other games
“Be so good they can’t ignore you.” — Steve Martin

Discipline
I see discipline as an obsession. Do you obsess over your goals? Do you quantify and qualify everything?

Courage
Courage is the ability to do something that frightens one. It’s about having strength in the face of pain or grief.
“What defines us is how we rise after falling.” — Conor McGregor

Doubt
But by doubting it, I constantly try to figure out new ways to make the game more fun.

Criticism
I’ve been fortunate enough in my writing that as I’m writing this, I’ve only had 3 bad comments. But every time I get one, I’m happy. Criticism is a sign of success. When people take the time to write their opinion, good or bad, you’ve made an impact on them.

Personal Failures
I try so many things that I ultimately “fail” at 90% of what I do. Personally, I’ve lost friends along the way. I don’t live a conventional life and because of that, I tend to disconnect from people who live one.

Adversity
Successful people recognize that some things are out of their control, but still prepare for the eventuality that said misfortune could happen.

Rejections
No. No. No! To become successful, you’ll get rejected many many times. Tim Ferriss reached out to over 18 publishers for The Four-Hour Workweek. They all said no. The 19th said yes. You will get many “no” until you get the “yes” you’re seeking. Be persistent.

Sacrifices
I sacrificed the comfort of a stable home in order to save money.
With that money I’m saving by having lower standards, I can invest in my other ventures.

Are you doing what successful people do?

Are you struggling to answer the questions above?

Fight disappointment, be persistent, work hard, take huge risks, put in long hours, combat struggle, win over competition, be disciplined, have courage, remove doubts, accept criticism and personal failures, understand adversity, fuel off rejection and make sacrifices.


when in reality it is all about persevering through trials and challenges and coming back stronger than ever. This article was a great reminder to me that there is beauty in the struggle, and the fact that sometimes I may struggle just means that I am making progress. Thank you!

Almost all the world leaders are great storytellers. It’s one of the most important skills you can ever pick up, and for introverts like me, one of the hardest.

You don’t have to be doing epic things either. The best stories are not fabricated, they are experienced. The more you do, whatever it is, the more things you experience, and the more likely you are going to encounter unexpected events.

“All great literature is one of two stories; a man goes on a journey or a stranger comes to town.” — Leo Tolstoy

“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” — Marcus Aurelius

“Just remember; someone loves everything you hate about yourself” — Frank Ocean

“Selfish people end up having only their self.” 

“Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live in.” 

“Everything in moderation, including moderation.” — Oscar Wilde

“You can’t do big things if you’re distracted by small things”

“If it’s not a Hell Yeah!, it’s a no” — Derek Sivers

“I knew if I exposed only my better body parts — my arms, chest, or deltoids — all I’d get from my peers would be wonderful comments and I’d soon forget about my horrid lower legs, so I continued to wear the cutaway sweatpants that invited ego-bruising pain … and it worked. I trained them first every workout, and very often I did a few sets at the end of my workout.” — Arnold Schwarzenegger.

How often do we expose our weaknesses?

What are your weaknesses?

How do you hide them?

How do you expose them?

What are you doing towards them?

I totally agree with you that it’s important to expose our weaknesses and make ourselves feel vulnerable. Vulnerability is naturally unpleasant and forces us to want to make a change. It’s human nature, and it works.

My weakness is public speaking. I want to truly influence others with my stage presence. I want people to feel absolutely jacked up after listening to me speak. It’s a CRUCIAL characteristic of a great leader. But, right now it’s a weakness of mine. I decided to attack this weakness about a year ago by joining a club called Toastmasters. My public speaking skills have skyrocketed since.

I’m more passionate and motivated for it. I’m 10x more productive because I work on things I want to work on, wherever and whenever I want to.


Write down the list of things you do because you can.

Now write down the list of things you do because you want.

What’s the ratio?

How do you turn that around?

Be daring enough to do what you want.


Your story is so inspiring. Really, it’s easier said than done. Things like: “Be yourself”, “You only live once”, etc I’ve heard those a thousand times but I have never dared to because I wasn’t courageous enough and there’s too much negativity and pessimism from my family and society. However, this year is different. After reading many inspiring stories like yours and getting so sick of this mediocre life, I’ve decided to make the most crazy change ever

“[…] I wasn’t courageous enough and there’s too much negativity and pessimism from my family and society. However, this year is different. After reading many inspiring stories like yours and getting so sick of this mediocre life, I’ve decided to make the most crazy change ever.” — Introvert Vicky

Nicolas Cole;
Benjamin Hardy;
Anthony Moore;
Elle Kaplan;
Zat Rana;
Zdravko Cvijetic;
Tim Denning;
Jesse Kerema;
https://medium.com/@nicolascole77


Keep reading what inspires you and you will become inspiring yourself.