The First Place to Start to Change This Hellscape

When you are continually commenting on current events, history, politics, culture, etc., you will inevitably succumb to conjecture. It is rare that one person can be an expert on every single one of those subjects and speak with confidence. As a dreaded "content creator," I struggle to consistently highlight when I’m speaking from a position of first-hand experience vs. when I’m relying upon history or the testimony of experts. My hope is that in writing this Substack, it will help me remember to separate what I know from personal knowledge from what I know from secondhand information.

With that out of the way, please allow me the floor to speak on a subject I find often ignored, especially when the world outside your window seems to be going to hell. I have mentioned many times recently that the first step to getting through these unprecedented socially and politically turbulent times we are experiencing is to take care of yourself first when it comes to self-employment, entrepreneurship, or getting that promotion that puts you over the top when it comes to your expectations. I wish I had the experience of my friend Charles Haywood, who recently released an episode of his podcast, The Worthy House, in which he laid out the entrepreneurial roadmap that led him to the heights of the 1%. While I have not quite reached that level yet, I can attest to the fact that building a business of your own from home is a step toward a freedom you won’t understand until you achieve it.

I recognize the irony of my giving advice to many of the people who make it possible for me to do what I do full-time. But I want you to understand that a big part of the reason I want to see you take control of your own work lives is because of the appreciation and love I have for every one of you.

If you are looking to get out of your current work situation, I suggest giving Charles’ episode above a listen. Even if it’s not a path you think you can follow to the end, you may discover ideas that you can use to achieve your goals. I find that most people working for someone else have a general idea of what it takes to reach their preferred position within an organization. As I mentioned in a recent Substack, just showing up on time, doing your job perfectly, and leaving five minutes after your allotted time will make you stand out above 99% of the people you work with.

Not only is taking care of yourself the first step in getting through these turbulent times as stated above, it is also the first step in the process of changing the culture in which we live. When you take care of yourself, you by default take care of your family, which, if more people follow suit, leads to vastly improved morale in our society. Which breeds less dependence on government, making it all the more irrelevant in the minds of the people. People who are financially successful and attain a status of accomplishment in society are more likely to successfully guide others down their path than someone who tells them, "You have to read this book, man!" Take a moment to consider someone you've seen who has achieved what you want to achieve and begin to emulate them. Your success and happiness just may be the most potent weapon to defeat the cultural and political cesspool we see outside our windows. I want that for all of you. I want that for all of us.