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 New Californian Ideology

• 1-2-3 Inner-Game

• The Real Reason You're Not Creative (And How to Fix It)

• 9 Brutal Truths Every Entrepreneur Has to Face

• Brain Candy

• Rundown of Cool Stuff This Week

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Hi,

Before we begin, I'd like to quickly invite you to an upcoming 3-day workshop, hosted by me, designed to rewire how you think, act, and lead.

This isn’t just mindset fluff. It’s science-backed strategies for lasting change. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your leadership, crush personal goals, or unlock that next-level version of yourself, this is your moment. Your future self will thank you!

And now, back to your 1-2-3 Inner Game for the week.

I saw a tweet the other day that got me thinking.

It said: “Work like an Asian. Leisure like a European. Dream like an American.”

At first, I smiled and scrolled on. But the idea stuck with me.

Because if you really break it down, that’s the holy trinity of living well in the modern world.

Most people pick one lane: – Hustle hard and burn out. – Chase lifestyle and get stuck. – Dream big but never build the muscles to execute.

But what if you could mix and match?

Work ethic from the East. That relentless, heads-down grind that doesn’t wait for motivation. Think Tokyo or Mumbai — they just show up.

Quality of life from the West. Long lunches, afternoon walks, knowing when to stop working. Europe has mastered the art of enough.

Dreaming from America. The belief that anything’s possible. That you can build something from nothing — and that “crazy” is just the first step to genius.

Put all three together? You’ve got a life that moves, breathes, and builds.

Call it the New Californian Ideology — not the old-school tech bro version, but a global mindset:

Work like you’re hungry.

Live like you’re rich.

Dream like you’re delusional.

That’s the game.

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

1 question

What are the biggest wastes of time for novices in your field?

(​Click to Tweet​)

2 questions (and answers from me)

1. How do I prioritize when everything feels urgent? When everything feels urgent, almost nothing actually is. Start by asking, “What moves the needle the most?” If it doesn’t directly impact growth, revenue, or your most crucial goal, it’s not urgent. Rank tasks by impact, knock out the big stuff, and let the minor fires burn if you have to. Get comfortable saying no—because every “yes” to the small stuff is a “no” to what really matters. (​Click to Tweet​)

   
   

2. How do I find the right people to join my team? Look for people who own what they do—skills matter, but attitude is everything. Ask yourself, “Would I want to be stuck in an airport with this person for 6 hours?” If the answer’s no, keep looking. You want A-players who see your vision and run with it, not just folks who check boxes. Skills can be taught; the right mindset can’t. Hire slow, hire right. (​Click to Tweet​)​

3 insights from me

1. Your self-esteem hinges on your actions—avoid moral slips, as they’ll erode your self-respect and linger in your psyche. (​Click to Tweet​)

   
   

2. My fundamental belief is that someone’s driving you forward or holding you back. There’s no in-between. Get rid of the people who are holding you back! Find people who are driving you forward! (​Click to Tweet​)

   
   

3. Our level of success will never exceed our level of self-awareness. (​Click to Tweet​)

What's new with the Pod - Emergence Now

The Real Reason You're Not Creative (And How to Fix It)

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9 Brutal Truths Every Entrepreneur Has to Face

Let’s talk real for a second. Everyone loves to glamorize the entrepreneurial grind, but the truth?

It’s not all unicorns and exits. Here are 9 brutal truths that’ll punch you in the face on this journey:

1. Hire for mindset, not skills Skills can be taught. A solid mindset? That’s priceless.

2. Growth = Discomfort If you’re not getting uncomfortable, you’re not growing. Simple as that.

3. ‘No’ means try harder If you stop at “no,” you don’t want it bad enough. Keep pushing.

4. Burnout is real Sprint all you want, but this is a marathon. If you flame out early, it’s game over.

5. Failure is part of the game It’s not if you’ll fail, it’s when. What matters is how you bounce back.

6. Got an itch? Scratch it There’s never a “perfect” time. If something’s pulling at you, act now.

7. Networking is overrated It’s not about the number of people you know. It’s about who you actually connect with.

8. Your health is your No. 1 asset Ignore it, and you’ll watch everything else fall apart.

9. Self-doubt is normal We all feel it. But if it stops you from moving forward, that’s on you.

What’s the hardest truth you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?

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

🏀 Facts. By the time you call the play, half the team’s already running in the wrong direction.

The biggest lie we tell ourselves? That we're "stuck" where we are.

Nah. You’re not stuck. You’re comfortable—which is way worse.

Most people don’t lack time, brains, or resources—they lack enthusiasm. That raw, irrational excitement that makes people wake up at 4 AM because they can’t NOT do the thing.

The people who break out? They don’t "have time"—they make time. They don’t "have resources"—they figure it out.

Mediocrity isn’t a circumstance—it’s a decision.

Choose wisely. 🚀

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

📖 ​AI 2041: Ten Visions for our Future​

📖 ​Driven from Within by Michael Jordan​

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

Dhiren