Newsletter issue #10: Productive Thanksgiving

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! 🍁

It is my first Thanksgiving since officially becoming a Canadian this year! 🎉

And if I were to name the top 5 books I am grateful for in 2023,
“The Diary of a CEO” by Steven Bartlett would make the list.

The book is broken down into 33 laws of business & life,
and today I will share my top 5 laws with you.

_{Read time: 6.2 minutes}

🎉Big Idea #1: To master it, you must create an obligation to teach it.

^{Law #2}

I first came across this concept during my university years when I began to work as a Tutor/TA on campus.

Despite earning an “A” in my Microeconomics course, my understanding of the subject deepened tenfold when I had to teach it to a group of 50+ students every week.

Every other course I chose to tutor yielded the same result.

What topic(s) would you like to master?

My current goal is to master these:

• productivity

• high performance

• personal development

That’s one of the reasons, I started a weekly newsletter and why I regularly post on LinkedIn.

Moreover, I have an exciting LIVE training coming up this Friday. 🗓️
(More on that later in this newsletter.)

Teaching is truly the best way to learn.

A variation of this law is Feynman's learning technique, which is…

• To study the subject so deeply that you can explain it to a child.

This very newsletter is my attempt to master the 5 laws that I found the most impactful from Steven Bartlett’s book.

Big Idea #2: The power of negative manifestation.

^{Law #25}

In business, they call this exercise premortem.

It is used when launching a new product/project/idea, and here’s how it goes:

1. You gather your team and instruct them to assume that the new project will fail.

2. Ask them individually to brainstorm all possible reasons why it would fail.

3. Everyone shares their ideas and common themes are created.

4. Each theme or problem becomes its own project to solve and prepare for.

This way there are two possible outcomes:

• You will continue the project more confidently, as you are now better prepared to mitigate the risk and your chances of success are higher.

• Or you may find that the potential payout is not worth the risk; thus, drop the project without having to waste any more resources.

This exercise works well outside of the business context as well.

I recommend you ask yourself this question before you enter anything new:

• new hobby

• new investment

• new relationship

Why will this idea fail?

Especially, if you are like me, you have to take your overconfidence and optimism biases into account to prevent “I should’ve known” regrets.

I am not suggesting you discard any idea with numerous potential pitfalls,
but I encourage you to think through this question and make more
informed decisions.

Big Idea #3: Don’t be an ostrich.

^{Law #23}

Ostriches are not the only ones thinking
that if they don’t see a problem,
a problem does not see them…

People too tend to bury their heads in the sand in an attempt to avoid a painful situation.

If you run away from your pain, it does not serve you.

It often makes the situation worse the longer you wait.

Do not avoid the pain of serious conversation.

Do not avoid conflicts.
Because they become toxic to everyone around you.

If faced with a problematic situation, address it head-on.

Do not react emotionally. Rather:

1. Take a pause to notice that it is a conflict that you have to deal with.

2. Become aware of your emotions and thinking at that moment.
   Know if something is being triggered in you.
   Observe the story you are telling yourself.
   Differentiate assumptions from truths.

3. Have that hard conversation.
   Be open and listen actively.
   Speak your truth.

Don’t let the conflict turn into more than it is by avoiding it.

Big Idea #4: Never compromise your self-story.

^{Law #7}

A significant aspect of the coaching process is uncovering the narratives that influence the client's thoughts.

For instance, if they convince themselves that they are not a quitter, they might stay too long in a toxic environment instead of making the right choice to leave.

Similarly, if they believe that self-care is synonymous with selfishness,
it could explain the burnout they frequently experience.

So, what is the narrative you are currently telling yourself?

And what story should you be telling yourself?

As a high performer, you consistently encounter tough challenges.

If your story doesn't acknowledge your grit and resilience,
you might hesitate to make tough choices.

How can you change it?

You must gather new evidence that reaffirms your capacity to persevere.

• Choose to do the 10th rep when it is easier to stop at the 9th.

• Choose to ask an extra question when it is easier to stay silent.

• Choose to have a difficult conversation when it is easier to avoid it.

• Every opportunity you get, prove to yourself that you can overcome
  the challenges and that you are the type of person who keeps the
  commitments made to yourself.

Never compromise your own story.

Make sure it is a positive one.

To build your story, start collecting evidence.

And always challenge anything negative you think about yourself.

Tiny Habit: Ask, don’t tell.
The question-behaviour effect.

^{Law #6}

This law reveals a simple but powerful persuasion technique that you can use to improve your chances of success in making healthier choices.

Evidently, asking a question is more powerful than making a statement.
Because questions, unlike statements, prompt an active response.
They make people think.

Instead of “I’ll eat healthy today” → ask “Will I eat healthy today?” 

If the question fits your personal and social ambitions, it becomes
an excellent way to elicit a commitment to following through.

• “I’ll eat healthy today” - good luck!

• “Will I eat healthy today? Yes, I will.” - ownership.

This is also an excellent parenting trick!

The Productivist Question

For what do you want to raise a toast on December 31st?

Maybe for launching a new product? Getting engaged? Serving your community? Hitting that goal?

Or maybe you want to raise a toast for finally starting to prioritize your health?

Because it is NOT too late.

Do NOT wait until January 1st.

You can improve every area of your life by January 1st
if you now make a commitment to turn THIS year into
a year you finally started prioritizing your health.

You can also make a decision to live an extraordinary life.
That’s worth a toast.

Remember, champions are revealed in the last quarter of the game.

We are now in the last quarter of 2023.

How can you start the year 2024 ahead? 
By finishing 2023 strong.

I am declaring it my mission to help you do that.

See you Friday,

Valeriya

PS Make sure you don’t miss the free live training this Friday. Register here.

Three more ways I can help you:

1. Register to attend a LIVE training this Friday “The High Achiever's Guide to a Happier Life”.

2. Download your free copy of Success Secrets if you haven’t already.

3. If you want to work 1:1 with me, you can book a session here. Let’s get you your dream lifestyle.