3551: Show Success Before Asking for Help AND A Warning to Anyone Receiving Advice by Derek Sivers

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3554: A meaningful life isn’t free of struggle, it’s shaped by it. Jeff Goins explores the essential truth that good stories, like good lives, require conflict, sacrifice, and purpose beyond ourselves. Instead of chasing comfort, embracing hardship can lead to the kind of fulfillment that truly lasts. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://goinswriter.com/living-good-story/ Quotes to ponder: "It's only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come." "Good stories involve conflict, which is just a nice word for pain. People don't become heroes without sacrifice." "A life that is focused solely on self and one's own happiness ultimately ends up being shallow and unsatisfying." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3553: Good advice isn’t one-size-fits-all, yet we often forget this when seeking guidance. Colin Wright challenges the idea of universal advice, emphasizing that personal context, skills, experiences, and circumstances, plays a crucial role in what actually works. Instead of following a rigid formula, he suggests focusing on adaptable principles that align with individual strengths and realities. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://exilelifestyle.com/the-relativism-of-advice/ Quotes to ponder: "This advice is applicable to me, the author/blogger/columnist. If you are exactly like me in every way, this will probably work pretty well for you. Otherwise, results will vary." "Definitive advice is often faulty from the outset. Not because the people divvying it out are scam-artists, not because the people receiving the advice are no-talent dreamers, but because the conversation the two are having isn’t the one they should be having." "The world is full of advice, and much of it is useful in the right hands, but also essentially worthless to most people." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3552: Leo Babauta explores the power of single-tasking in an era of constant digital distractions. By shifting to "full-screen mode" in life, immersing fully in one task at a time, we can enhance focus, reduce stress, and find deeper satisfaction in our work. He offers simple, actionable steps to embrace mindfulness and presence in daily activities. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://zenhabits.net/full-screen Quotes to ponder: "Imagine working on one task with your whole mind, giving it your full screen, and not letting yourself switch constantly." "We jump from unread emails to social media to news sites, always searching for something more interesting, more urgent, more stimulating." "Single-tasking is about bringing our full attention to the moment, fully immersing ourselves in what we’re doing." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3551: Success comes from results, not just potential. Derek Sivers shares a lesson from the music industry: those who show momentum get better opportunities. He also warns against blindly following advice, as it’s often shaped by personal bias. Instead, gather multiple perspectives and trust your own judgment. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://sivers.org/success-first  &  https://sivers.org/advice Quotes to ponder: "You have to make your own success first, before you ask the industry for help." "Show that you’re going to be successful without their help. Show that you have momentum." "The problem is taking any one person’s advice too seriously. Ideally, asking advice should be like echolocation." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3550: More money can improve life if used wisely. Michael Laurence explores why higher incomes don’t always lead to greater happiness, often due to stressful jobs, debt, and societal pressures. True financial well-being comes from spending in ways that create freedom, security, and genuine joy, rather than simply keeping up with the Joneses. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.getrichslowly.org/more-money-less-happiness/ Quotes to ponder: "Money, in short, is neutral. It’s a tool that can make you happier, or less happy, depending on how you choose to spend it." "Instead of using the extra income to buy freedom and peace of mind, which would make them happier, they incur more debt, which makes them more anxious than ever." "Living on somebody else’s terms, living somebody else’s life, is not a recipe for happiness, and if you do it, extra money won’t make you any happier." Episode references: Your Money or Your Life: https://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Life-Transforming-Relationship/dp/0143115766 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3549: Spending time in nature and reconnecting with cherished childhood places can offer a profound shift in perspective. Rachel Macy Stafford reflects on how revisiting her aunt and uncle’s home after decades helped her rediscover the power of "unselfing," turning attention outward to embrace the beauty of the world beyond personal worries. By zooming out, immersing in nature, and appreciating life's vastness, we can find strength and clarity in unexpected ways. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.handsfreemama.com/2023/08/25/i-hope-you-feel-small-the-surprising-upside-of-unselfing/ Quotes to ponder: "This card reminded me of your long driveway. Every time we pulled into the driveway leading up to your house, my heart raced with excitement and happiness." "At home, I tended to make myself the center of my own universe, so naturally, everything felt big and overwhelming. But at my aunt’s house, I was immersed in the beauty of nature using all of my senses." "Experiences that refresh our energies, calm our anxieties, and nurture our well-being are more accessible than we might think." Episode references: The Sovereignty of Good by Iris Murdoch: https://www.amazon.com/Sovereignty-Good-Iris-Murdoch/dp/0415253993 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3548: Emma McLaren highlights how starting new habits is much easier when life is calm, rather than during stressful, overwhelming times. Stress impairs executive function and memory, making it harder to establish lasting routines. By leveraging the path of least resistance, such as habit stacking or introducing positive changes during mellow periods, you set yourself up for long-term success. While it's always possible to make good choices, timing can play a crucial role in whether new habits stick. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.getmyrth.com/myrthblog/start-good-habits-when-youre-less-busy Quotes to ponder: "It’s easier to take up new habits when other stressors in your life aren’t so intense and when you aren't being pulled in several directions at once by a busy schedule." "That’s why we love habit stacking, which helps you leverage old habits to build new ones more easily." "It’s easier to make changes when life is calm, but it’s still possible (and healthy!) to make those changes when life is harder." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3547: Ali Cornish explores how investing in experiences rather than material things leads to deeper connections, personal growth, and lasting happiness. Shared adventures strengthen relationships, build character, and create memories that far outlive the fleeting joy of possessions. Research supports this idea: experiences leave a profound emotional imprint, shaping who we are in ways that objects never can. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://everthrive.org/blog/2017/3/1/experiences-not-things Quotes to ponder: "Experiences last longer in our memories than material items do." "We are the sum of our experiences, not our things." "Conquering tricky situations paves the way for potential opportunities to become better people, and becoming better people is the best gift of all." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3546: When spring arrives, nature bursts into life effortlessly, so why do our dreams stay locked inside? Ingrid Y. Helander explores how our fears and worries act as protective buds, preventing our true potential from blooming. By acknowledging and working with our anxieties instead of resisting them, we can finally step into the life we were meant to live. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ingridyhelanderlmft.com/its-spring-the-secret-to-make-your-life-dreams-bloom/ Quotes to ponder: "Instead, we usually keep our dreams locked up inside their bud well protected by a long list of worries and excuses." "If those summer buds on the trees worried about all the cold, wind, and bleakness ahead, we’d probably never have those fresh green leaves." "You cannot simply dismiss these worries. If you could, you would already be living your dreams." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com. Episode 3545: Rising from a frugal college diet of spaghetti and peanut butter sandwiches to a multimillion-dollar net worth, Mr. 1500 reflects on his journey to financial independence and the power of positive financial momentum. With multiple income streams, careful spending, and an entrepreneurial mindset, he highlights how early retirement isn’t about sitting idle but about creating more wealth, both financial and experiential. The greatest luxury, he argues, isn’t money, but the freedom to pursue meaningful work and a fulfilling life on your own terms. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.1500days.com/richer-in-retirement/ Quotes to ponder: "The greatest luxury in life is time. It’s hard to truly appreciate it until you have it. Or have lost it." "Just when I need money the least, we have more of it than ever." "Not working frees me up to do what I love. It just so happens that some of the things I love to do like building things and farting around with real estate have the side-effect of making more money." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices