Balance was the First Lie You Accepted As Truth

You probably started a side hustle or learned new skills to get that promotion so you can have better "work-life balance," right? But here's the truth: you won't find what you're looking for on the path you're going down.

Reframe Your Expectations

Balance doesn't exist the way you think it does. Right now you're starting from step 1, or year 0, comparing yourself to someone else's year 10.

Dan Martell says, "Don't compare your Chapter 1 to someone else's Chapter 10. The only person worth competing with is yesterday's version of you."

The life you want—with freedom to enjoy taking time off, going on vacations whenever you want, or even just choosing your work schedule and working from home in your pajamas all day—is not happening tomorrow.

Stop and think: the people you admire are living the life they have after working countless hours when no one was watching, only to be called "an overnight success" or "lucky."

Say No, So You Can Say Yes

Give up the idea that this will be quick, easy, and painless.

It's going to suck. You'll ask yourself why you're doing this. And it's going to take longer than you think.

Before you argue that you don't have enough time—you do. And if you really think you don't, then maybe this isn't for you, and that's okay. Just know what you're choosing.

This journey is about eliminating distractions, committing to your goals, and becoming the person you need to be along the way:

• Say no to the things that stand in your way

• Say no to the people who don't understand your growth

• Say no to family functions, friend events, and nights at the bar (especially the social obligations you didn't even want to attend)

Learn to say no so that you can say yes to the things that matter. Spend enough time saying no until your yes truly means something. Say yes to what provides value and gets you closer to your goals.

And for anyone who tries to stand in your way or judge you for saying no to their night out or the barbecue—while they complain about their job and count down days until summer—remember you don't want the life they have anyway.

This isn't forever. It's temporary. Stop fighting it and say no, for now.

“You’re going to lose sleep. You’ll doubt whether it’ll work. You’ll stress to make ends meet. 

You’ll wonder whether you made the right call - and have no way to know for years. 

This is what ‘hard’ feels like. And that’s okay.” - Alex Hormozi