9 powerful ways to level up your thinking:

1. 10-Year Horizon
↳ "Plan in decades, think in years, work in months, live in days."

2. SWOT Analysis
↳ Before any major decision, map your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

3. Second-Order Thinking
↳ Think beyond what happens next by asking “And then what?”

4. Inversion
↳ Imagine the worst possible outcome, then work backwards to prevent it.

5. Kaizen and Kaikaku
↳ Balance incremental improvements with breakthrough innovations.

6. Category of One
↳ Create something so unique that you escape competition entirely.

7. Skill Stacking
↳ Become top 10% in several skills, and you create a rare combination that opens top 1% opportunities.

8. Barbell Strategy
↳ Place 90% of your time, money, and energy into low-risk bets and 10% into high-risk, high-upside opportunities.

9. Regret Minimization
↳ When facing tough decisions, ask: "Will I regret not trying this in 10 years?"

The best part?

You can apply these to your career, business, and life.

Start with one. Master it. Then move to the next.

You’ll be thinking strategically in no time.

Consistency is not growth.

It's only half the battle:

I see this advice everywhere:

"Just be consistent and you'll get there."

I've seen people:
Consistently pitch the same failing product
Consistently work 80-hour weeks without results
Consistently network without building real relationships

I'm not saying consistency isn't crucial.
It is.

But it won't get you to your goal alone.

Here's the full equation:

Consistency + Intentional Change = Growth

The real work starts here:

1. Spot your loops
↳ Where you're consistent but not improving

2. Learn from experts
↳ Ask people who've solved what you're facing

3. Adjust your approach
↳ Keep showing up, but actually make changes

Show up every day AND:
↳ Challenge your assumptions
↳ Question your methods
↳ Upgrade your toolkit

Let's stop celebrating consistency alone.

Start asking, "What do I need to change while staying consistent?"

That's where real growth happens.

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Want to be interviewed and get your message in front of thousands of people?

We’re kicking off a new interview series with people who’ve got deep experience and real stories to share

Push marketing isn’t dead.
It’s just lazy when it’s all you rely on.

Push = “Buy now.”
Pull = “Come learn with us.”

One is direct. The other is strategic.
Both have a place — if you know how to use them.

Here’s the real problem:
Most marketers treat push like a megaphone and pull like a buzzword.

Push works when:
→ You’ve got a product launch
→ You’re targeting a mass market
→ You want conversions fast

Pull works when:
→ You want to build loyalty
→ You’re targeting a niche audience
→ You care about long-term growth

But relying on only one is like trying to run a business with one leg.

TV ads and cold emails might still get attention.
But consistent content and strong SEO will keep it.

Get tactical. Not trendy.


Which do you lean towards in your current strategy — Push or Pull? Let’s discuss


Great image by: Kenny Song on Pinterest

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Great marketing starts with the right mindset. Luckily, we have one.

Navigate away from toxic leadership with these 7 steps
(your career will thank you):

Earlier this week, I posted about positive vs. toxic leadership.

As part of my research, I found that 56% of employees report having "toxic" workplace leaders! *

That is wild!

Toxic leadership can cast a long shadow on workplace culture.

Recognizing toxic traits is the first step towards illumination:

➟ Arrogance and Self-interest
➟ Lack of Confidence and Incompetence
➟ Inconsistent Expectations and Discrimination
➟ Overemphasis on Hierarchy and Ignoring Feedback

The fallout is real—workplace bullying, unproductive behavior, psychological distress, and more.


Here's how you can deal with it:

1️⃣ 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁:
↳ Attempt to help rather than passing judgment. It can transform perspectives.

2️⃣ 𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀:
↳ Stay composed. Controlling your reactions preserves your professionalism.

3️⃣ 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴:
↳ Keep records. It’s your safety net when memory fails or disputes arise.

4️⃣ 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀:
↳ Draw clear lines. Professional boundaries protect your mental space and well-being.

5️⃣ 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘂𝗲:
↳ Engage in honest conversations. Candidness can be the catalyst for change.

6️⃣ 𝗦𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆:
↳ Clarify expectations and instructions. Misunderstandings breed discontent.

7️⃣ 𝗘𝗴𝗼 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲:
↳ Focus on the job. Invest your energy in your work, not in clashing egos.


We spend a significant slice of life at work; don't let toxicity darken it.

Steering clear of toxic traits and handling challenging leadership with grace can light up your path to career success.

Have you ever faced toxic leadership, and how did you navigate through it?

* From a research study by workplace consulting firm, Life Meets Work
______________

Most CEOs don’t fail from bad decisions.

They fail because they never even made one.

They waver
Delay
Overthink

And it annihilates momentum.

Here’s how top CEOs make confident, clear decisions
(quickly):

1. Define the real problem
↳ Most people solve surface-level symptoms
↳ Ask “why?” five times until it gets uncomfortable
↳ If it feels obvious, you haven’t dug deep enough

2. Set decision criteria early
↳ No criteria = endless debate
↳ Choose your 3 non-negotiables
↳ Score every option before discussing it

3. Gather input, not consensus
↳ Consensus slows you down
↳ Give 48 hours for input
↳ Then decide—solo

4. Consider the Reversibility
↳ Two-way door? Move fast
↳ One-way door? Slow down
↳ Save deep thinking for what really matters

5. Trust Your Gut Check
↳ Data shows what’s visible
↳ Your gut senses what’s missing
↳ Sleep on it. If you still feel off, pause

6. Commit and Communicate
↳ Half-decisions confuse your team
↳ Announce it. Set a deadline
↳ Make reversal harder than follow-through

Clarity beats certainty.

Every. Single. Time.

Which step do you need most this week?

Pick one.

Try it.

Watch what shifts.