🏁 How to finish what you started

The 5-minute weekly newsletter to help married fathers feel supported, think differently and take action.

Good morning. After mourning the loss of the Tarheels during March Madness over the weekend, I found solace in the fact that Duke also lost and won’t be going to the Final Four. I have no other words.

-Collier

This is somewhat of a rendition of “reap what you sow” but what I like about this one is the “repeat” part.

I may be the KING of starting something but not finishing it, or I will get excited about something/fixated on a new idea only to let it die a fast death in the graveyard of “good ideas.” 

What strikes me here is that James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, gets at the heart of something I am learning even in starting this newsletter—the gold is in the repetition.

So how do we finish what we start? Well, take what you are trying to accomplish and turn it into steps you can repeat…and sustain for a consistent amount of time. 

But let’s not deceive ourselves - we are always repeating something - whether positive or negative.

So given that, let’s take a step back and audit the areas of our lives that may need a change in repetition.

This is for all of the dwellers and overthinkers (aka for me).

When you encounter a difficult or negative situation, ask yourself this question: “Can I do anything to fix this?”

If so, you do it.

If not, you don’t give any energy to it. (credit Sahil Bloom)

A lot easier said than done, but at its core, it’s a simple concept.

Living a full life (married, kids, work, other obligations) oftentimes takes up a good bit of mental real estate.

It is my goal to simplify wherever I can, but dwelling on situations I can’t do anything to fix is a one-way ticket to mental gymnastics amirite??….

To all my fellow dads who are thinking about starting a side venture, already have one, or are off and running as a full-time entrepreneur, I found this to be a compelling way to address the popular “finding your niche” question:

Don’t find a niche. Create one.

Turn yourself into your customer avatar by:

• Listing out your interests

• Listing out your goals

• Listing out your problems

• Listing out exactly how to overcome the problem and achieve the goal.

In short, forego “what is hot right now” and start solving your own problems and then sell the solution.

You create a niche by creating a story worth telling.

• Know yourself

• Write to yourself

• Build for yourself

• Sell to yourself

You can get a full breakdown of Dan Koe’s approach to creating your niche here.

That’s it and that’s all, folks!

You read. We listen. Let us know what you think by simply replying to this email. Your feedback is greatly valued!

Receive this from a friend? Subscribe here.