1-2-3 Inner Game

Welcome to 1-2-3 Inner Game, your weekly hit of actionable strategies to achieve a high-performing, healthy, and thriving life.

Today's Highlights

• The Power to Pause

• 1-2-3 Inner-Game

• Comedy: The Final Frontier of Free Speech

• Go All In

• Brain Candy

• Rundown of Cool Stuff This Week

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Hi,

Life throws punches—traffic jams, bad emails, spilled coffee. It’s easy to react, but here’s the real hack: pause.

Viktor Frankl nailed it: “Between stimulus and response, there’s a space. In that space is your power to choose.”

Last week, I was cycling with Mikhayl when I got a call that threw my day off balance. Old me? I’d have spiraled—stressed out, distracted, probably ruined the ride. But this time, I caught myself. I paused, took a deep breath, and decided the call could wait. That moment of calm turned what could’ve been a bad day into one of connection and joy.

Most people miss the space. They go straight from Oh no! to What now?! But when you pause—even for a second—you take back control. You stop reacting and start responding.

Here’s the cheat code: that gap is your superpower. Use it.

Here's some Inner Game wisdom to chew on this week

1 question

What’s one assumption about your business that you’ve never challenged—but if you did, could completely change the game?

2 questions (and answers from me)

1. What’s the simplest way to get unstuck? Look at your to-do list and find the one thing that feels uncomfortable—but important. Do that first. Progress loves discomfort.

   
   

2. How do you decide where to invest your energy? I ask, “What’s the one thing that makes everything else easier or irrelevant?” That’s where I double down.​

3 insights from me

1. The bottleneck in your business is usually you. Step back so the team can step up.

   
   

2. Great businesses aren’t built on ideas—they’re built on execution. Show up every day and do the work.

   
   

3. Obsession beats balance. If you’re chasing “work-life balance,” you’re probably chasing mediocrity. Go all in on what matters most right now.

What's new with the Pod - Emergence Now

Comedy: The Final Frontier of Free Speech

Listen Now

Go All In

There are two kinds of people: dabblers and committers 💪.

Dabblers dip their toes in, try a little of this, a little of that, and hope for 80% of the results with half the effort. Committers? They dive in, head first 🏊‍♂️. No backup plans. No half-measures.

Here’s the brutal truth: nothing important in life works halfway.

• Half trustworthy? You’re not trustworthy 🤷‍♂️.

• Kinda reliable? Nope, you’re not reliable ❌.

• Mostly consistent? You’re inconsistent 🙅‍♀️.

Commitment isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing it right. When you’re all in, people notice 👀. They trust you, bet on you, and invest in you. When you’re half-in, they don’t. Why should they?

Think about it: the best relationships, careers, and businesses aren’t built on shortcuts. They’re built by people who show up every day and go all in.

Yes, committing is hard 🥵. It’s work. That’s why most people avoid it. But here’s the kicker: being half-in is even harder. It leaves you stuck—no real results, no progress, just wasted effort ⏳.

So here’s the deal: if you’re not ready to commit, step out. But if you are? Go all in 💥. That’s where the magic happens ✨.

Brain Candy Tweets That Made Me Think, Laugh, or Go ‘Huh, Interesting!

The truth? You control the input 🎯, not the output.

Hard conversations = compound interest 📈. They’re tough now, but grow into trust 🤝, clarity, and growth.

Easy now, hard later…or hard now, easy later 🚀.

Hot take: Alcohol is like downloading a virus onto your operating system 🧠. You willingly lower your performance, drain your energy, and wake up with bugs you didn’t need 🤕

Here’s a rundown of some cool stuff I’ve been diving into this week.

📖 ​The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey​

📽️ 📖 What ​books to try​ based on the movies you loved last year.

I'm rooting for you to continue crushing it! 💪🏼

Dhiren