I always say that to gain an unfair advantage in lifeYou must be willing to do what few others want to do.
If you can identify those things and find a way to get excited about doing those things, it’s like unlocking a door to a secret room. Years of experimentation have shown me to do difficult things is the fastest way to create your own luck as well as realize your self-confidence and self-growth in all aspects.
Smart people who create their own luck in life usually do these hard things:
1. They pull the plug completely for a week
This is difficult for workaholics, but it will give you the necessary rest and time to recalibrate. You come back twice as energetic. Smart people stop scrolling social media for a week, all without cheating. Who Said Social Media Was A Drug? Well, you’ll know it’s true when you try to quit.
2. Smart people do something they fear
Identify the thing you know you need to do. You know what it is. Go there.
3. Smart people learn a language
Even if it’s 10 minutes a day, smart people focus on honing their language skills. Even if you never use it in conversation, this activity will build your confidence and is great for the mind and prevent dementia.
4. They aim for mastery
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Take whatever you’re doing up a notch by changing your perception around why you do it. Do you just do it because it’s something to do? Or are you doing it to become a master at it? The latter is far more energizing and will lead to far better results.
5. They become a group mentor
Mentor a group or cohort for a few weeks as a coach on a chosen topic that can help them. Start free, then recharge.
6. They quit the high-dopamine junk
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This includes endless reels, caffeine and sugar for stretches as a form of reset or for good. Give your dopamine receptors a break, and you will be surprised at how much extra resilience, energy and motivation you will come back with.
7. They make a hobby out of networking
Approaching people you don’t know to get to know them isn’t easy for most people. It can even be downright uncomfortable. But what if you did it so much, in person and online, that it became second nature? What would it do for your life?
8. Smart people write daily
No one is immune to writing as a worthwhile activity, even if you ‘suck’ at writing. Writing is a powerful layer addition to someone’s life. We live in the age of self-branding, and writing is still one of the best ways to get your story across and build your audience. Warning: Copying and pasting from ChatGPT or Claude is not – we repeat – not – typing. You are better than that, and it has been proven to turn your brain to mush.
9. They go to the cinema or to a restaurant alone
If you can go places alone with nothing but the pleasure of your own company, you will realize how much more freedom you have and no longer depend on others to access and enjoy certain places.
10. They add 5% to their daily work output
Always ask: How can I add 5% more output to what I’m doing? This is not about “busy” work. This is about doing more with the things that matter. This will inevitably require you to replace a time waster with something that aligns with your purpose.
Do harder things. Be amazed at how your life changes. Now you won’t stop doing the hard things. Onward to greatness.
Alex Mathers is an author and coach who helps you build a money-making personal brand with your knowledge and skills while staying mentally resilient. He is the author of the Mastery Den newsletter, which helps people triple their productivity.
