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# Embracing Imperfection: The Realities of Achieving Success

## The Myth of the Superhero

We often like to portray certain individuals as superheroes - successful, flawless, and always "winning." The media loves to highlight these dramatic stories of overcoming the odds, which can be incredibly inspiring. However, this can also lead to an unhealthy conclusion: "Maybe they can do it because they're incredible, they have no faults, they're just crushing it at all moments. But I'm just a normal person, I can't do that."

The reality is that most "superheroes" are nothing of the sort. They are just as weird and neurotic as the rest of us, with their own self-defeating habits and self-talk. They are strange creatures who do big things despite their flaws, not because they are perfect.

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## Embracing My Imperfections

To illustrate this point, the author shares a "laundry list" of their own quirks and imperfections:

- Crying while watching Rudy on an airplane

- Repeatedly hitting snooze for hours, not wanting to face the day

- Considering drastic life changes like moving to another country

- Using "gentlemanly websites" to relax during the workday

- Wearing the same pair of jeans for a week straight

At the same time, the author has also been able to achieve significant accomplishments, such as:

- Increasing their passive income by 20%

- Buying their dream house

- Meditating consistently

- Cutting back on caffeine and improving their sleep

- Signing an exciting business deal

- Transforming their blood work and biomarkers

- Feeling closer to their family

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The author acknowledges that these "manic depressive symptoms" are just part of the entrepreneurial journey. They don't consider themselves a superhero, but rather someone who struggles with efficiency and consistency.

## A Coping Mechanism for Maximizing Efficacy

To address this, the author shares an 8-step process for maximizing their efficacy, or "doing the right thing":

1. Wake up at least an hour before needing to be at a computer screen.

2. Make a cup of tea and sit down with pen and paper.

3. Write down the 3-5 things causing the most anxiety or discomfort.

4. For each item, ask if accomplishing it would satisfy your day and make other tasks easier.

5. Focus on the high-leverage items you answered "yes" to.

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6. Block out 2-3 hours to focus on one of those items, without distractions.

7. Repeat step 6 - block out uninterrupted time to work on the most important task.

8. If you get distracted, gently bring yourself back to the task at hand.

The author has found that this process is the only way they can create big outcomes, despite their tendency to procrastinate. The key is to focus on the what (the most important task) rather than the how (doing everything perfectly).

## Embracing Our Shared Humanity

In closing, the author reminds us that even the best of the best sometimes feel like they're "losing at the game of life." When in the "pit of despair," they recall the words of writer Kurt Vonnegut: "When I write, I feel like an armless, legless man with a crayon in his mouth."

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The message is clear: don't overestimate the world and underestimate yourself. We are all in this together, fighting our own battles, and everyone has their own imperfections. By embracing our shared humanity, we can find the strength to keep moving forward, one step at a time.