In this discussion, James Smith, a personal trainer and bestselling author, shares his insights on achieving success and personal growth. He emphasizes that all wins feel the same and encourages embracing both small victories and failures. Smith advocates for being polarizing to foster authentic connections, arguing that genuine expression trumps sensationalism. He also reminds listeners that everyone starts somewhere, and it’s perfectly okay to be terrible at first. Join him for a thought-provoking journey into the rules that guide his life!
Success milestones often feel underwhelming, so it's crucial to appreciate small wins and the joy in the journey.
Being polarizing in one's beliefs helps to build an authentic audience and creates genuine connections through clear, resonant opinions.
Deep dives
Embracing Wins and Happiness
Success milestones often feel underwhelming despite significant achievements. Many people assume that each new accomplishment will bring greater happiness, but in reality, the emotional reward doesn’t scale linearly with success. Instead, individuals should focus on enjoying the small wins along the way, as these are equally valuable and can bring joy in the present moment. Pursuing success without appreciating the journey can lead to a constant cycle of dissatisfaction and the misconception that future achievements will yield greater fulfillment.
The Power of Polarization
Standing firm in one's beliefs helps to cultivate a strong and authentic audience. Being polarizing doesn’t mean being controversial for the sake of it, but rather presenting clear opinions that resonate with specific individuals. In contrast, trying to appeal to everyone dilutes one’s message and attracts the wrong people. Examples like openly expressing opinions on products or debates demonstrate that having a distinct viewpoint can foster engagement and create genuine connections.
The Learning Curve of New Experiences
Individuals should accept that being terrible at something new is a natural part of the learning process. No one becomes proficient without first making mistakes; it is essential to embrace those early failures as opportunities for growth. Success comes from understanding the problems one is solving and continuously improving skills over time. By redefining success to prioritize enjoyment and problem-solving over perfection, individuals can maintain motivation and fulfillment in their endeavors.
I’m joined by James Smith, personal trainer, content creator, and bestselling author of Not a Diet Book. His videos have been viewed hundreds of millions of time online– and he’s here to share the rules that got him to where he is today.
Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:32 Rule 1: All wins feel the same.
06:22 Rule 2: Be polarizing.
11:17 Rule 3: You will be terrible the first time you do anything.
Get 3 rules emails every week: https://www.mattdavella.com/threerules
Support my podcast: https://patreon.com/mattdavella
Follow James Smith: https://www.instagram.com/jamessmith
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