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The 5-Step Process I Used to Accomplish Every Big Goal I Set for Myself

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The “Being a Black Belt Badass Blueprint”:
A 5-Step Action Plan to Achieve All Your Goals

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your goals, unsure where to start or how to stay motivated?

Do you struggle to prioritize tasks and find yourself constantly busy but not necessarily productive?

If so, you’re not alone.

Setting and achieving goals requires a strategic approach, and that’s where the Being a Black Belt Badass Blueprint comes in.

This framework leverages five powerful mental models to transform you from a scattered go-getter into a focused, goal-crushing machine.

The Blueprint for Being a Black Belt Badass

  1. The Five Whys: Uncover Your “Why” for Unwavering Focus

  2. The Five Hows: Break Down Your Goals into Actionable Daily Steps

  3. The 80/20 Rule: Prioritize Ruthlessly for Maximum Impact

  4. The 1% Daily Improvement: Embrace the Power of Small Wins

  5. The Flow Channel: Optimize Your Energy for Peak Performance

Step 1: Unearth Your “Why” with the Five Whys​

Before diving headfirst into action, harness the power of the Five Whys to uncover the core reason behind your goals.

Ask yourself “why” five times (or until you reach a fundamental truth).

​Matryoshka doll – Russian nesting dolls

For example, if your goal is to “get a promotion,” ask yourself:

  • Why do I want a promotion?

  • Because I want more responsibility.

  • Why do I want more responsibility?

  • Because I crave a challenge and want to make a bigger impact.

  • Why do I crave a challenge and impact?

  • Because it brings me a sense of fulfillment and growth.

By uncovering your core value (fulfillment and growth in this example), your goal becomes more than just a title or a raise.

It becomes a pursuit of something deeply meaningful, fueling your motivation and perseverance.

Step 2: Break it Down: The Five Hows to Actionable Steps

With a clear “why” in mind, use the Five Hows to translate your goal into actionable steps.

Take your promotion goal, for instance:

  • How will I get a promotion?

  • By exceeding expectations in my current role.

  • How will I exceed expectations?

  • By consistently delivering high-quality work and taking on additional projects.

  • How will I deliver high-quality work?

  • By developing my skills and mastering key tasks relevant to the promotion.

  • How will I develop my skills?

  • By taking online courses, attending workshops, and seeking mentorship from senior colleagues.

This process breaks down your seemingly insurmountable goal into manageable, daily actions you can integrate into your routine.

Like the Russian, Matryoshka doll, that nest into one another, your daily hows work in the same way, each smaller one supporting the next bigger one.

This along with the Five-Whys helps you to get to the root of any goal you set for yourself.

Step 3: Ruthless Prioritization with the 80/20 Rule

Not all actions are created equal.

The 80/20 rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, suggests that roughly 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts.

Apply this principle to your action plan.

Identify the 20% of actions that will yield the most significant progress towards your goal and ruthlessly eliminate or delegate the remaining 80%.

In the promotion example, the 20% might include acquiring a specific skill highly valued by your company or building strong relationships with key decision-makers.

Less impactful activities (the 80%) could involve attending meetings unrelated to your core responsibilities or taking on administrative tasks that others can handle.

​James Clear – The Power of Tiny Gains

Step 4: Embrace the Power of Small Wins: The 1% Daily Improvement

Forget about overnight success.

​The 1% Daily Improvement principle emphasizes the power of small, consistent actions that accumulate over time.

Focus on improving by just 1% each day, whether it’s mastering a new concept, completing a specific task, or simply dedicating focused time to your goal.

This seemingly insignificant progress compounds over time, leading to significant improvements in your skills, knowledge, and ultimately, your progress towards your goal.

In the context of your promotion, consistently dedicating 30 minutes a day to learning a relevant skill translates to over 180 hours of focused learning in a year – a significant investment in your success.

The Flow Channel

Step 5: Find Your Flow with The Flow Channel

This is the essence of Flow State, a concept popularized by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.

The Flow Channel refers to aligning your activities with your current energy level and the difficulty of the task at hand.

When creating your daily action plan, consider incorporating tasks that match your energy levels throughout the day.

Schedule demanding tasks for periods of peak alertness and leave more routine tasks for those timeslots where you’re not a ball of fire.

When I Learned That Problems Are Not Always Problems, It Changed My Life

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The Three Battlefields: Endure, Avoid, Attack – How to Conquer Your Problems Like a Master

Life throws punches, that’s a fact.

Problems come in all shapes and sizes, from a leaky faucet to navigating a career change.

But have you ever noticed some problems seem to disappear on their own, while others linger like a bad smell, and some you just can’t wait to tackle?

There’s a reason for that.

Here’s the secret most people miss.

There are actually three types of problems:

  • the ones you endure
  • the ones you avoid
  • the ones you actively seek

Mastering this distinction is the difference between feeling like a ship tossed in a storm and a captain navigating the sea with confidence.

Let’s break down these battlefields, warrior, so you can become the master of your own destiny.

Battlefield 1: The Stoic Warrior – Problems You Endure

Some problems are like bad weather – inevitable and beyond your control.

A loved one gets sick, the market takes a downturn, your car breaks down.

These are the endurance tests of life.

Here, the key is acceptance and stoicism, a philosophy practiced by Roman warriors who learned to control their emotions in the face of hardship.

  • Focus on what you can control: You can’t control the rain, but you can control your reaction. When the inevitable happens, don’t waste energy fighting the storm. Instead, focus on what you can control – your attitude, your actions, and how you choose to respond.
  • Develop mental toughness: Imagine yourself as a seasoned construction worker building through a blizzard. You can’t stop the weather, but you can keep working towards your goal. Develop mental tools like meditation or journaling to build resilience and weather the storm.
  • Find the silver lining: Even in the toughest situations, there’s often a lesson to be learned. Maybe it’s the importance of saving for a rainy day (pun intended) or the strength of your family bonds. Look for the hidden opportunities to grow within the challenge.

Action Steps:

  • Practice mindfulness. Take a few deep breaths in stressful situations.
  • Write down the things you can and can’t control. Focus on the former.
  • Reflect on past challenges. What did you learn from them? How did you overcome them?

Battlefield 2: The Agile Ninja – Problems You Avoid

Some problems are like potholes on the road – easily avoidable with a little foresight.

Maybe it’s a toxic friend who constantly drains your energy or a bad habit that’s holding you back.

These problems are often self-inflicted or stem from poor choices.

Here, the key is prevention and agility.

  • Identify your triggers: Just like a martial artist learns to recognize an opponent’s moves, learn to recognize situations that cause problems. Is it skipping breakfast that leads to afternoon crashes? Are there certain people who drain your energy?
  • Develop preventative measures: Once you identify the triggers, set up roadblocks. Avoid those people, carry snacks to avoid energy dips, or unsubscribe from tempting online shopping websites.
  • Learn from past mistakes: We all make them. The key is to analyze them and develop strategies to avoid repeating them. Did your impulsiveness lead to a bad financial decision? Maybe set up automatic transfers to savings or use a budgeting app.

Action Steps:

  • Make a list of problems you consistently face.
  • Identify the triggers that lead to those problems.
  • Develop and implement strategies to avoid those triggers.

Battlefield 3: The Relentless Samurai – Problems You Seek

Finally, there are problems that aren’t problems at all, but rather challenges waiting to be conquered.

These are opportunities for growth, adventures waiting to unfold.

Maybe it’s learning a new skill, starting your own business, or asking someone out on a date.

Here, the key is initiative and relentless pursuit.

  • Embrace discomfort: Growth occurs outside your comfort zone. Don’t shy away from challenges – that’s where the true rewards lie.
  • Set ambitious goals: Like a skilled martial artist who constantly seeks to improve, set ambitious goals that push you to become the best version of yourself.
  • Take action, every day: Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. Take small, consistent steps towards your goals every single day. Remember, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

Action Steps:

  • List down 3 challenges you want to conquer (learning a new language, running a marathon, etc.).
  • Break down each challenge into smaller achievable milestones.
  • Schedule daily actions that lead you toward your goals.

Remember, warrior, mastering these battlefields is a lifelong journey.

There will be setbacks, that’s life.

The difference is that warriors and leaders do not let the setbacks set them back, they use them to spring forward to new heights.

How I Got Burned by “Burning the Boats”

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Don’t Box Yourself In:
Keeping Your Options Open for Success

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a dead end, like every choice you make leads you to a brick wall?

You’re not alone.

Tons of guys get caught in this trap – they make a decision, chase a dream, and then – bam!

Something unexpected throws a wrench in the plan.

Suddenly, they’re feeling like they’re stuck, with no way out.

Why “Burning the Boats” is Foolish

That self-improvement stuff about “burning the boats” sounds good in theory, right?

Like forcing yourself to commit fully, all or nothing.

But here’s the thing, that strategy only works in the movies – or for those ridiculously lucky few.

In the real world, things rarely go according to a perfect script.

Let’s face it, there’s a paradoxical reason successful leaders are both cautious and willing to take risks.

They understand that calculated risks can lead to incredible rewards, but they’re also smart enough not to gamble on a single coin toss with their entire future.

How I Literally Got Burned By Burning the Boats

Look, I’ve been there.

Like that time I was working the graveyard shift, replacing lights in a hospital (talk about creepy!).

We were supposed to be swapping out old fixtures for new, energy-efficient ones.

Easy, right?

Wrong.

It was like something out of a Tom Clancy movie.

Burns from the ceiling wire rubbing along my arm

A series of tiny mistakes snowballed into a life-threatening accident.

Starting with a mislabeled box, then a faulty reading on my induction tester, then boom!

I get caught in a 277-volt live wire situation.

The worst part?

I was stuck on the ladder, couldn’t step off because of a sprinkler line against my back holding me to the ladder.

And the electricity was coursing right through my chest, a worst-case scenario for messing up my heart.

Not exactly my proudest moment.

But you know what saved me?

Not blind commitment, but a little flexibility.

I realized I couldn’t stay there, so I took a calculated risk – I let my legs buckle and I tumbled down the 10′ ladder.

It wasn’t graceful, but it got me out of that situation alive.

Luckily all I had was a few surface burns on my fingers and arms, no internal injuries.

There’s a Better Way

Here’s the thing, getting caught in a corner doesn’t have to be the end of your story.

It’s a chance to learn, adapt, and find a new path.

Here’s how to keep your options open and avoid feeling trapped:

  • Know Your Goals: Feeling lost? Get clear on your big picture. What do you truly want to achieve? Having a clear vision helps you make decisions that move you in the right direction, even when things get messy.

  • Embrace the Side Hustle: Maybe your current job isn’t your dream gig, but that doesn’t mean you have to quit cold turkey. Start a side hustle to explore your interests and build new skills. You never know, it might turn into your next big thing.

  • Develop a “Plan B” (or C, or D!): Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Having a backup plan (or several) gives you peace of mind and keeps your options open.

  • ​Learn to Say No: Don’t feel pressured to commit to things that don’t align with your goals. Saying “no” creates space for the right opportunities to come along.

  • Celebrate Small Wins: Building a successful life is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t get discouraged by setbacks. Focus on celebrating your small wins – every step forward counts.

Look, there will be times when things don’t go according to plan.

That’s life.

But by keeping your options open and learning to adapt, you’ll be better equipped to navigate the unexpected and keep moving forward towards your dreams.

Remember, you’re not stuck in a dead end – you’re standing at a crossroads.

Choose wisely, but don’t be afraid to take a detour if the road ahead looks rough.

3 Ways I Stopped Being Stupid and Created More Success and Happiness

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Stop Spinning Your Wheels:
Outsmart the Noise and Take Control

Let’s face it, you feel stuck.

Like a gear stuck in neutral, dreams in your head and frustration in your gut.

You see successful people around you, and a nagging voice whispers, “Maybe you’re just not smart enough.”

Hold on right there.

Stop letting that voice win.

The truth is, success has less to do with some magical “smart gene” and more to do with avoiding stupidity – the kind that keeps you spinning your wheels and getting nowhere.

Here’s the liberating secret.

You’re not alone.

​Carlo M Cippola, an Italian economic historian, wrote a whole book about it – “The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity.”

He talks about five kinds of people:

  • the stupid
  • the helpless
  • the intelligent
  • the bandits (the malicious ones)
  • the ineffectual (those who just don’t get it)

He argues that the number of truly stupid people is vastly underestimated, and the damage they do is staggering.

Stupid people don’t watch where they’re going

But here’s the good news.

You don’t have to be one of them.

You can become a leader, a master of your own destiny, by learning a few simple mental models.

Think of them as tools in your success toolbox.

Tool #1: The Five Whys​
Digging Deeper Than Surface Goals

Ever feel like you’re chasing shiny objects?

Goals that seem cool but don’t quite light your fire?

The Five Whys help you uncover the “why” behind your goals, ensuring they align with your deepest desires.

Let’s say you want a promotion.

Ask yourself, “Why is that important?”

More money?

Okay, why?

Security?

Why?

To travel the world!

Aha!

Now we’re getting somewhere.

By peeling back the layers, you discover the true purpose behind your desire for a promotion – travel.

This clarity allows you to focus your efforts and avoid wasting time on things that ultimately don’t matter.

Now it’s called the The Five-Fold Why but you may require more (or less).

The key is digging deep enough so that it resonates to your core.

When I’ve used this exercise, it will often connect so deeply with my most important values that it will literally bring tears to my eyes.

The exercise is that powerful!

Tool #2: The Five Hows​
Turning Dreams into Action Steps

So, you know what you truly want (travel the world!), but how do you get there?

The Five Hows break that seemingly impossible dream into bite-sized, actionable steps.

For any goal ask, “And how will I accomplish that?”

Repeatedly asking and breaking it down into ever-smaller and easier steps.

How do you travel the world?

Save money.

How do you save money?

Track your spending and cut back on unnecessary expenses.

See?

Each “how” becomes a manageable task you can tackle today.

Suddenly, that dream trip doesn’t feel so far-fetched anymore.

Like The Five-Fold Why, it may take more than 5 asks to break it down small enough into the daily actions you can do each day.

Tool #3: Second and Third-Order Thinking​
Avoiding the Stupid Pitfalls

Remember those stories I shared of the construction site I used to work at?

Yeah, the one where I was surrounded with coworkers who would have those “accidents”?

A lot of them could have been avoided with a little second and third-order thinking.

​Second-order thinking considers the immediate consequences of your actions.

Third-order thinking goes a step further, asking “What then?”

Maybe you were about to move a ladder without checking if someone was underneath.

Second-order thinking: Someone could get hurt.

Third-order thinking: You could get fired, sued, or even worse.

Suddenly, that shortcut doesn’t seem so tempting anymore.

Applying These Tools to Your Life:

  • Use the Five Whys on your current career path. Are you on the right track to achieve your travel dreams?
  • Use the Five Hows to craft a concrete savings plan. How much do you need to save per month? How can you create a budget to make that happen?
  • Practice second and third-order thinking before making any major decisions. Consider both the immediate and long-term consequences of your actions.

Martial Arts:
The Ultimate Training Ground

Think martial arts are just about kicking and punching?

Think again.

​The dojo, the training space, is a controlled environment where you learn valuable lessons about cause and effect.

You mess up, you might get a bruise, but it’s a safe space to learn from your mistakes.

The best thing about martial arts is that you are with other people who are working on being better, not just getting by.

And certainly, not stupid.

The Takeaway:

Stop letting others, or your own inner critic, tell you you’re not smart enough.

Learn these mental models, hone them like a martial artist hones their skills, and watch your life transform.

You are capable of achieving great things.

Now, go out there and prove them all wrong.

Remember, success isn’t about being a genius, it’s about being smart enough to avoid stupidity and take control of your destiny.

Quitting vs. Pivoting: How to Tell the Difference and Become Unstoppable

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Don’t Throw in the Towel, Warrior:
Why Quitting Early is the Ultimate Enemy of Success

Let’s talk straight, warrior.

You’re here because that fire in your gut, the one that used to blaze so bright, feels like a dying ember.

Maybe you started a business, a creative project, hit the gym with gusto, only to find yourself staring at the ceiling, questioning everything.

Sound familiar?

Here’s the truth they don’t tell you: Everyone faces setbacks.

Everyone hits walls so high they feel like mountains.

It’s those pesky “enemies” – doubt, fear, and frustration – whispering sweet nothings about quitting.

They want you to believe the lie that this is all some cosmic joke, that your dreams were never meant to be.

But here’s the secret weapon they don’t want you to know:

Setbacks are not failures.

They’re battle scars, warrior.

They’re proof you stepped into the arena, that you dared to fight for what you believe in.

Remember that feeling you had at the beginning?

That unbridled enthusiasm, the unshakeable belief?

That’s still there, buried beneath the frustration.

Think of it like this:

You wouldn’t quit building your dream house because you hit a rock during excavation, would you?

You’d adjust your plans, maybe even find a hidden treasure (who knows?).

The same goes for your goals.

Difficulties are inevitable, but quitting is a choice.
One step at a time

But hold on.

There is a time to “pivot,” as they say in the fancy business world.

This isn’t about mindlessly banging your head against a wall.

New information can change the game.

Maybe your initial plan wasn’t the best, or maybe the market shifted beneath your feet.

That’s okay.

But quitting because it’s hard?

That’s letting the enemies win.

Here’s how to tell the difference:

  • Setback: You hit a roadblock, need to adjust your strategy, but the core goal remains the same.

  • New Information: You discover something fundamental that changes the entire landscape of your goal. Maybe a key technology becomes obsolete, or your target market evaporates.

So, how do you keep the fire alive when the quitting monster whispers its lies?

  1. Remember Your “Why”: Close your eyes and revisit that initial spark. What ignited your passion? What problem are you solving? Reconnect with that purpose, let it reignite the fire in your belly.

  2. Celebrate Small Wins: Quitting whispers “nothing is working.” Fight back by celebrating every tiny victory. Finished a chapter? Celebrate! Learned a new skill? Do a victory dance (even if it’s just in your head).

  3. Find Your Tribe: No warrior fights alone. Surround yourself with positive, supportive people who believe in you and your dreams. Share your struggles, celebrate your wins, and let their encouragement fuel your journey.

  4. Reframe Your Thinking: Instead of “This is too hard,” try “This is challenging, but I’m learning and growing.” Shift your perspective from victim to victor.

  5. Take Action, Even Small Steps: The quitting monster thrives on inaction. Take one small step forward every day, even if it’s just researching a new strategy or reading a motivational article. Momentum is your friend.

Remember, warrior, the greatest achievements often lie just beyond the point where most people give up.

Don’t be most people.

Embrace the setbacks, learn from them, and keep pushing forward.

The world needs your unique fire, your unwavering spirit.

Don’t let the quitting monster steal your dreams.

You got this.