Discovering Your Obsessions: Three Engaging Tests

In this episode, I sit down with Jay Yang, a 19-year-old who landed jobs with Noah Kagan and Tyler Denk before graduating high school and is now working with Alex and Leila Hormozi. We explore his "permissionless approach" to creating opportunities, finding your obsession, navigating imposter syndrome, and why most people wait for permission that will never come. If you've ever wondered whether you're too young, too old, too inexperienced, or too whatever to go after what you want, this conversation will shift your perception of what’s possible when you adopt a permissionless approach.

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ABOUT JAY YANG:

Jay Yang proves you don't need permission to create extraordinary opportunities. He built a six-figure business and hundreds of thousands of social media followers before graduating high school, then became Head of Content for Noah Kagan where he led the social media campaign that made Noah's book a NYT bestseller. Now 19 and working with Alex and Leila Hormozi at acquisition.com, Jay shares his permissionless strategies in his new book You Can Just Do Things: The Power of Permissionless Action.

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CONNECT WITH JAY YANG:

• Twitter (X): @jayyanginspires
• Instagram: @jayyanginspires
• LinkedIn: Jay Yang
• Weekly Newsletter: The Spark

Get Jay’s Latest Book: You Can Just Do Things: The Power of Permissionless Action

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TOPICS DISCUSSED:

• Do the Work Upfront - Instead of asking "how can I help," create actual value first and show them what you can do.
• The Three Obsession Tests - Find what makes you lose track of time, keeps you up past midnight, and what others find boring but you love.
• Show Evidence, Not Arguments - When family doubts your non-traditional path, prove it works rather than trying to convince them why it should.
• Build Friends, Not Networks - Focus on genuine relationships and being generous without expecting anything in return.
• Reframe Imposter Syndrome - That uncomfortable feeling means you're growing and entering new territory, not that you don't belong.
• The North Star Decision Filter - Evaluate every opportunity by asking if it moves you closer to your ultimate goal.
• Find Your Torture - Success comes from finding the suffering you're willing to embrace because you love the work itself.
• Permission is a Myth - Most doors are unlocked; people just assume they're locked and never try the handle.
• Compress Your Timeline - You can achieve in months what others take years to do by strategically connecting with the right people.
• Choose Long-term Fulfillment - Prioritize what's worthwhile over the long run rather than chasing short-term pleasures.

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TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Intro: What is a Permissionless Approach?

07:42 Noah Kagan: 50 Hours That Changed Everything

11:44 Why Jay Dropped Out of College

19:52 Ambition vs. Enjoyment

27:15 The Obsession Tests: Pee Test, Midnight Test, Boredom Test

32:59 What Holds People Back

40:16 Filtering Opportunities

51:19 Overcoming Family Pressures

1:00:00 What Do You Want?

1:10:50 Building Relationships Without Being Transactional

1:20:45 Navigating Imposter Syndrome

1:32:16 Jay’s Equation for Success

1:34:54 Final Thoughts

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Disclaimers: The content provided is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here constitutes personal or professional consultation, treatment, diagnosis, or creates a professional-client relationship.