It’s January which means setting goals and reflecting! Whether you have a business or you’re looking to start one, I’ve put together a list of 31 lessons I’ve learned from starting and growing my agency Amplify.
I’d love to hear your favourites, so reply to this email if any resonate!
Let’s get into it.
💭Thought of the week
Building a business is hard.
The good news? It’s just a matter of learning new skills.
Sometimes the work required isn’t even difficult, it’s just new, and that’s where we can short-circuit success by learning from other people’s experiences.
Here are 31 life hacks every founder must know 👇️
Invest in your personal growth. Building meaningful and modern skills is not a luxury, it's a necessity.
Don't skip the basics. Mastery comes from a strong foundation.
Hire top performers and step aside. Micro-managing can limit their potential and your company's growth.
Books and podcasts can change your life. Get into the habit of consuming them.
Don't burn bridges with clients or fellow founders. You never know when your paths may cross again.
Step out of your comfort zone. That's where the magic happens.
Regularly offload your thoughts. It clears your mental workspace for fresh ideas.
Use OKRs. They align efforts, communicate objectives, and measure progress.
Batch similar tasks together. Context switching can drain your mental energy.
Adopt the 10/10/10 Rule in decision-making. Consider the impact of a decision in 10 minutes, 10 months, and 10 years.
Explore meditation and mindfulness. Headspace and Calm are great apps for this.
Don’t burn the midnight oil as an extra hour of work at night does not equal an hour in the morning with a fresh mind. (I’m always working on this one 😆)
Invest time in networking. Remember that your network is your net worth.
Don't ignore stress. It has a way of creeping into all aspects of your life and can impact your performance and health.
Master the Pareto Principle. 80% of results often come from 20% of actions. Identify your high-impact activities and focus on those.
Learn to say no. Your time and decisions are your most valuable assets as a founder.
Listen to founder stories on podcasts. Learn from the successes and failures of others to accelerate your progress.
Use the Eisenhower Matrix. It helps prioritize tasks based on their urgency and importance, leading to better productivity.
Foster a culture of accountability. When you commit to something, follow through.
Find a mentor for every area of your life you want to get better at.
Understand your relationship with alcohol, food, and sleep. They significantly impact your energy levels and productivity.
Think who, not how. When facing a challenge, think about who can help you solve it, rather than how to do it yourself.
Make the most of exercise and music. They’re tools that can change how you feel, fast.
Use the 'Two-Pizza Rule'. If a team can't be fed with two pizzas, it's too large. Smaller teams improve communication and efficiency.
Practise Lean Startup principles. Build, measure, learn. Don’t be afraid of failing, but learn from your mistakes quickly.
Use productivity tools. Apps like Notion, RescueTime and Freedom can easily 10x your efficiency.
Implement the 90/90/1 Rule: For the next 90 days, spend the first 90 minutes of your workday on the one most important task. This helps maintain focus and momentum.
Master the art of deep work. Focused and undistracted work produces high-quality results in less time.
Develop a morning routine that sets you up for the day. Whether it's exercise, meditation, or reading, starting your day right can boost productivity.
Never hire a ‘maybe.’ If you’re not excited about a candidate, don’t make the hire.
Don’t let a decision take too much headspace. If it’s reversible, just take it.
BONUS 🎁 Future-proof your skills. If you feel that AI can replace you anytime soon, it’s time to step up your game.
💡A perspective to consider
What held you back last year? It’s time to get honest with yourself as the same approach this year will lead to the same results.
Carve out an hour of open time and write. Reflect. Don’t blame anybody else and point the finger externally… go inside.
When I recently reflected on the progress I made last year, I realised that I did actually have enough time to achieve my goals, I just didn’t protect my focus enough.
- Do you need to change your daily environment? This video perfectly visualised how I’ve been trying to create a home space more conducive to my goals. Removing friction is everything.
- I’m really enjoying learning more about spirituality. If that’s an alien topic to you, I recommend Lighter as it feels like a modern book that covers timeless principles. If you’re in the UK it’s 99p right now on Kindle 🇬🇧
- We all need to do more hard things. Listening to David Goggins talk about discipline and battling our inner mind is my antidote for that. If you need a shake-up check this out.
✍️ Quote of the week
❝
Remember you have asked for growth. Don't be surprised when life challenges you.
Unknown
Creator’s Compass
Helping you to become a better creator, every Sunday.
.svg)
.svg)
.svg)
