Hey {{First Name|Leader of Today}},

You know how I sometimes geek out over productivity hacks? (yes, guilty 🙋🏽‍♂️). Last week I went down a rabbit hole and found this blog post from 2007 by Marc Andreessen (the guy behind Andreessen Horowitz, one of Silicon Valley’s biggest firms).

What surprised me? Even though this was written almost 20 years ago, it still feels like it was written for us today - navigating school, projects, side hustles, and life all at once.

I pulled out Marc’s best lessons and broke them down for you. Some are funny, some are savage, but all of them will make you rethink how you spend your time 👇🏽

read time: 5 mins

Be one of our first 100 beta testers for our new platform 🚀

Screenshot of Waitlist Page

Over the last 2 years, our google sheets of opportunities has been viewed 3 million times and we’ve heard from the community about all the challenges they face in finding opportunities.

To address this, we’ve been quietly building an opportunities platform that will help you find and apply to opportunities better than ever before.

Now, we want you to be part of the creation - we’re looking for our first 100 beta testers.

You’ll be the first to explore the platform, help shape its features, and define a tool that will soon be used by thousands of young people around the world.

If you want to be part of this first group:

Opportunities This Week

In addition to these, here’s the full list of 15+ Youth Leadership Opportunities.

Pmarca Guide to Productivity

1. Don’t keep a schedule

Marc refused to commit to meetings in advance. His rule? Don’t let your future days get locked up with commitments. Instead, he kept his calendar clear so he could always work on whatever was most important right now. He even pointed to Arnold Schwarzenegger as an example - Arnold never scheduled far in advance, and it gave him the freedom to pivot quickly when he decided to run for governor. The takeaway: leave space so you can focus on what matters most instead of being trapped in busywork.

2. Keep 3 lists only

Marc said to keep things simple with just 3 lists:

• Todo List: things you must do.

• Watch List: things you’re waiting on or need to check later.

• Later List: things you might want to do someday.

If it doesn’t fit in one of those? Delete it. He believed too many lists or categories just create clutter and confusion.

3. The 3–5 Rule

Each night, Marc would write down 3–5 things on an index card that he wanted to get done the next day. Not 30. Just 3–5. And the next day, he’d focus on those. He also created what he called the Anti-Todo List—every time he did something useful (big or small), he’d jot it down. At the end of the day, he could look back and realize how much he actually accomplished. Then he’d rip it up and toss it, starting fresh the next day. Simple, grounding, and motivating.

4. Structured Procrastination

Marc admitted he procrastinated. His trick was to use it. If he was avoiding a big scary task (like making a phone call he hated), he’d channel that avoidance into doing a bunch of smaller, useful tasks instead. He got so much done while “procrastinating.” The lesson: procrastination isn’t always bad—if you use it to move other things forward.

5. Email twice a day

Marc compared email to mice pressing a button for food pellets - every new email gives you a tiny dopamine hit, but it wrecks your focus. His solution: check email only twice a day, morning and evening. In between? Keep it closed. Hard to do, but if you pull it off, you’ll actually focus long enough to get meaningful work done.

6. Don’t answer the phone

Marc’s advice was simple: let calls go to voicemail and then batch your responses later. He even suggested having two phones—one for family and close friends, and another for everyone else. Answer the first, ignore the second. The point? Protect your focus. Not every ring deserves your time.

7. Hide in an iPod

This one’s clever. Marc said just wearing headphones makes people less likely to interrupt you. The trick? You don’t even have to play music. Sometimes the signal alone (“I’m focused right now”) is enough to buy you uninterrupted time.

8. Strategic Incompetence

This one’s savage but smart. Marc said if you don’t want to get asked to do something, be bad at it, or admit you’ll be bad at it. People will stop asking. The deeper point: you don’t need to say yes to everything. Protect your energy for the things that matter most.

9. Only say yes when BOTH your head and heart agree

Marc warned against saying yes with your head while your gut says no. That’s how you end up stuck with commitments you resent. His rule: only say yes if your head and heart are in it. It’s a simple filter to save time and frustration.

10. Eat a real breakfast

Marc believed starting the day with a proper sit-down breakfast was one of the most important habits. Why? It fuels your body and also gives you quiet time to prepare mentally for the day ahead. It’s not just about food - it’s about setting the tone. No rushing, no chaos. Just focus and fuel.

11. Do something you love

At the end of the day, Marc reminded readers that productivity isn’t the point. The point is creating space to do the work you actually care about. If you don’t love what you’re working on, no productivity trick will fix it.

{{First Name|My friend}}, I don’t share these because I think you need to become a productivity robot. I share them because I’ve been on the other side - burnt out, overwhelmed, and saying yes to everything.

These rules are reminders that productivity isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing what actually matters.

So this week, try just one: maybe it’s protecting your morning with a real breakfast, or saying no when your gut isn’t in it, or simply leaving space in your calendar. Your future self will thank you.

As always, hit reply - I’d love to know which one of these rules you’ll try first.

Sending you the best vibes {{First Name|my friend}},

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Hey {{First Name|Leader of Today}},

One of the things I constantly struggle with is figuring out whether to specialize or diversify what I am involved in.

In a world of AI, social media and so much innovation, I keep asking myself whether it’s more valuable to be a generalist or an expert in one thing.

In today’s newsletter, I explore this dilemma through a study in the context of sports.

Hope you like this one…

read time: 3 mins

Be one of our first 100 beta testers for our new platform 🚀

Screenshot of Waitlist Page

I shared this for the first time here last week..

Over the last 2 years, our google sheets of opportunities has been viewed 3 million times and we’ve heard from the community about all the challenges they face in finding opportunities.

To address this, we’ve been quietly building an opportunities platform that will help you find and apply to opportunities better than ever before.

Now, we want you to be part of the creation - we’re looking for our first 100 beta testers.

You’ll be the first to explore the platform, help shape its features, and define a tool that will soon be used by thousands of young people around the world.

If you want to be part of this first group:

Opportunities This Week

In addition to these, here’s the full list of 15+ Youth Leadership Opportunities.

Specialisation vs Diversification

Growing up, I always went back and forth in my head about the activities I was involved in.

My parents signed me up to almost everything.

Football, Volunteering, Scouts, Piano lessons - you name it.

As I started growing older, I slowly started to specialise but would always have a dilemma if I am doing too little vs too much.

On one hand, I’d hear the story of people like Tiger Woods and how all he did from a young age was focus on his craft.

On the other hand, I was told about the importance of developing holistically and trying out various things to develop as a whole.

This constant dilemma led me to a study that explored the same - but in the context of sports.

The study looked at 51 reports, including 772 of the world’s top performers.

Here were the findings:

World class athletes (highest level) engaged in more multidisciplinary sports during their early years compared to their main sport.

They started in their main sport later in their journey and had better long term performance outcomes than those who specialised early.

This can be because of a range of reasons including:

i) those who played multiple sports were more likely to prevent themselves from burnout and injury

ii) diversified practice could’ve given them a broad range of skills which they could eventually apply to the main sport

iii) participating in a range of sports could increase the athlete’s enjoyment and intrinsic motivation for physical activity which could lead to long term sustainability for success at a high level

When they looked at parallels in Science and studied Nobel Prize laureates, the results were the same.

Those that reached the highest levels of long-term success had diverse experiences at the start and showed slower early career progress.

But how does this apply to us?

1) Diversify: don’t be afraid to gain as many experiences at this stage of our lives. As young people, our goal at this point in our lives should be to increase our luck surface area and gain as many tools in our toolkit. But also remember, the world class athletes were playing multiple sports and not doing multiple other activities - they still had a sense of focus to be an athlete and had intention behind playing a range of sports.

2) Play the Long Game: the study shows that young athletes who specialised early had high levels of success earlier in their career. However, they wouldn’t make it as far the world class athletes (that would specialise later). This one was hard for me to digest. I got a lot of success as a teenager and start specialising when I was 15. But this study opened my eyes to a different perspective and validated some of my experiences. Having early success made me feel burnt out and in a lot of ways took my love away from the craft.

3) There is no one formula: most of the stories we hear about are usually the exceptions - the Michael Jordans, Tiger Woods, Ronaldos of the world. But these are exceptions, and not the rules. This study showed me there is no one way to do it. Yes there may be certain patterns, but at the end of the day everyone is on their own journey. You can create your own path. As long as you’re being true to yourself and working towards maximising your potential and happiness, nothing else matters.

I am curious to hear from you. What did you think of this study? Do you agree with the insights? Do you believe in specialising or diversifying at this stage of your life?

{{First Name|My friend}}, summer is almost over, school is starting soon and I am hoping you are taking as much sun in as you can. Aug is usually a time when most people go on vacation and slow down. I am hoping that today’s newsletter gave you the opportunity to evaluate and remind yourself of your goals and priorities as we go into the final third of the year.

Sending you the best vibes {{First Name|my friend}},

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Hey {{First Name|Leader of Today}},

If you’re part of this community, you’re probably someone that applies to different opportunities each week. Scholarships, Grants, Fellowships, Awards, etc.

As a Leader of Today, I have applied to 100’s of these opportunities and in the early days, I got a lot of no’s.

But after iterating and getting lots of feedback, I slowly started seeing some results.

Diana Award, Global Teen Leader… and eventually a full ride scholarship to UBC.

Today, I am sharing and breaking down the essay that got me the scholarship worth 250,000.

Hoping you can use some of these best practices in your applications.

p.s: trying out this new format, once you’re done reading please let me know if you want more of it.

read time: 5 mins

Be one of our first 100 beta testers for our new platform 🚀

Okay, this is the first time I am sharing this … we are finally taking our work to the next level.

Over the last 2 years, our google sheets of opportunities has been viewed 3 million times and we’ve heard from the community about all the challenges they face in finding opportunities.

We’ve been quietly building an opportunities platform that will address all these pain points and help you find and apply to opportunities better than ever before.

Now, we need your help - we’re looking for our first 100 beta testers.

You’ll be the first to explore the platform, help shape its features, and define a tool that will soon be used by thousands of young people around the world.

If you want to be part of this first group:

Opportunities This Week

In addition to these, here’s the full list of 25+ Youth Leadership Opportunities.

The Winning Application Format

The prompt for the essay was “What is important to You? And why? (250 words)”

Step 1: Start With a Hook That Makes People Lean In

Why this works:

• Unexpected start — most scholarship essays open with “Ever since I was a kid…” or “I have always been passionate about…” This opening immediately grabs attention because it’s raw, surprising, and deeply personal.

• Vulnerability — I lead with something that could be uncomfortable to share. That honesty makes the essay memorable and human.

• Specific details — instead of vague “I was acting strange,” I gave vivid scenes (dancing in a mosque, posting hype videos, etc). That imagery sticks in a reader’s mind.

Takeaway: Start with a scene or moment that makes people lean in, not a résumé summary.

Step 2: Deliver a Turning Point

Why this works:

• It’s a plot twist — I flip the reader’s expectation (“it was just a dream”) into a shock (“it was real, and three weeks had passed”).

• The “out of body” moment invites them to feel my disorientation.

• Short sentences here make the revelation hit harder.

Takeaway: After your hook, deliver a shift that raises the stakes and deepens emotional connection.

Step 3: Sit in the Questions

Why this works:

• I’m open about the confusion, shame, and identity crisis without rushing to “the lesson.”

• The questions are universal — even if someone hasn’t lived my exact experience, they’ve likely asked similar questions about identity and purpose.

Takeaway: Don’t skip straight to “and here’s what I learned.” Let the reader sit in the uncertainty with you.

Step 4: Show the Transformation

Why this works:

• It’s a purpose-driven pivot — turning the negative into motivation.

• It shows personal ownership — “I had a responsibility to change” makes it clear I’m taking accountability, not playing the victim.

Takeaway: Show growth by connecting your experience to a bigger purpose.

Step 5: Re-emphasise Core Belief + Action

Why this works:

• The “tomorrow vs. today” line is simple, sticky, and becomes a mantra.

• I make the shift actionable — I’m not just saying “I value life more now,” I’m showing it (“I started valuing every second”).

Takeaway: End your lesson with a principle that’s easy to remember and repeat

Step 6: Tie It Back to the Prompt

Why this works:

• I directly answer the question, making it clear what’s most important to me.

• My values feel earned because they’re tied to a lived experience — not a generic statement.

Takeaway: Always circle back to the prompt in the final lines so there’s no doubt you’ve answered it.

Why this essay worked:

• Radical honesty — told a story no one else could tell.

• High stakes — life-threatening illness, identity crisis, purpose shift.

• Clear transformation — took a chaotic experience and turned it into a mission.

• Strong closing — leave the reader with clarity on my values

{{First Name|My friend}}, it’s super vulnerable sharing my essay with 1000’s of us in this community. But I am doing this because there’s so many of us here that are doing such incredible work and have the right talent but still struggle with your applications. I am curious to learn from you - did you find it helpful? Would you like to see more of this? Do you have a winning application that you would like to share with the community? Let me know, would love your feedback.

Sending you some Toronto heat {{First Name|my friend}},

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Hey {{First Name|Leader of Today}},

One of my biggest weaknesses that I have been working on over the last couple years is: relationship management.

For the longest time, I used to be that guy that wouldn’t reply to your texts for weeks and would only reach out when it’s urgent or I need something.

This would be me:

I became more aware of this in 2022.

This bad habit starting showing up in my professional relationships.

I started realising that I would be so good at having initial “coffee chats” but wouldn’t know how to convert those into long term relationships.

Looking back, I have had chats with so many cool people - from CEO’s, to MP’s to Celebrities, Sports Legends and even a Billionaire … but none of those mean anything now.

I used to think networking was all about having chats with as many established people as possible.

Only to realise I was ‘playing the game’ wrong the entire time.

Networking isn’t only about the number of people you know, but more importantly about the depth of the relationships you have.

This week, I share the first step of building a long term relationship with someone: the follow up email.

read time: 4 mins

Apply for the World’s Top Innovation Program for Youth

If you're 13–17 (or know someone who is) and curious about things like AI, climate tech, space, or gene editing — this is worth checking out.

TKS is a 10-month experience where teens don’t just learn about the future — they start building it.

Each week, students explore emerging technologies, build hands-on projects, and get support from people at DeepMind, NVIDIA, and Stripe. They dive into:

• Generative AI

• Gene-editing (CRISPR)

• Robotics

• Quantum systems

I’ve met some of the students myself. They’ve spoken at TEDx, launched startups, and contributed to projects at MIT — all before turning 20.

Some young people wait years for the right moment. Others spend 10 months at TKS and create their own.

Applications close tomorrow - July 31.

Opportunities This Week

In addition to these, here’s the full list of 25+ Youth Leadership Opportunities.

Mastering the Follow-up Email

Within the first 24-48 hours after meeting the person, it’s important that you send a follow up message. As simple as it sounds, most people get this initial part wrong.

Instead of just sending a basic “thank you” note, it is important that you use this opportunity to add value to the person that you meet.

“But Ziyaan, I am only a student - how can I add value to someone more experienced than me?”

It doesn’t have to be something huge or complicated.

Let me give you a real life example:

In 2023, I met with Zabeen Hirji - former Chief HR Officer at RBC (Canada’s largest bank).

During our 30 min conversation, I spent time learning about her journey, her interests, goals and challenges.

This was the follow up email I sent her 👇🏽

Email Subject: Notice how I didn’t overcomplicate it and it’s simple

Personalised thank you: After thanking her for our conversation, I made sure I mentioned something very specific I took away from our conversation. This included a reference to an anecdote she shared with me as well as a mention of her new initiative. This is so important to do because it shows that the conversation was impactful and there was a specific takeaway.

Value: During our conversation, Zabeen mentioned she listens to a lot of podcasts and she is really interested in the Future of Work. Although I had nothing significant to offer, I did some research on the above (took me less than 15 minutes) and sent them to her. When sharing things like the above - it’s also important to share why you shared them and give them a summary of it.

No Ask: Zabeen is one of the most connected people I know. I could have infinite number of asks for her that would be life changing for me. But notice how I didn’t have one. If you want to network the right way, it’s important you build relationships that aren’t transactional.

Now I know when you’re looking for a job, they say you should have a coffee chat with HR and then ask for a referral. You may see some success with doing that, but ideally you should already having a relationship before you even have an ask. If an HR manager already knows you for a while and has followed your journey, you won’t even have to go through an application process. The point here is - it’s important to build new relationships especially when you don’t need something.

Meeting Zabeen has led to so many opportunities like getting interviewed on CTV and meeting new partners for Leaders of Today - but I’ll save that story for another day.

The follow up email is only the first step though, building relationships takes time and it’s not something that happens overnight. If you’d like to learn more about 4 other things you can do after this initial email, check out this deep dive I did on this topic last year.

{{First Name|My friend}}, it took my forever to figure networking and relationships - and I feel like I am still learning and getting better at this. Hoping this newsletter will give you an additional tool in your toolbox and will help you in your journey. Let me know if you found it helpful - I make sure to reply to every single email we get from our community.

Sending you the best energy from my place in Toronto {{First Name|my friend}},

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Hey {{First Name|there}},

This week I wanted to bring back one of our most valuable newsletters we have written.

One of the most common questions I get from the Leaders of Today community is: “How to get press for my work?”

My work has been featured on major platforms on both the national and global scales (including my BBC interview).

In today’s newsletter I broke down every step on how that happened, the press release template I used as well as a cheatsheet for you to use.

This is probably one of the most valuable newsletters you will read.

read time: 4 mins

Apply for the World’s Top Innovation Program for Youth

If you’re 13–17 (or know someone who is) and you're curious about building with AI, climate tech, space, or blockchain — check this out 👇🏽

There’s a program called TKS that helps young people become real-world problem solvers. I’ve met their students — they are some of the smartest and coolest young people I know. Some are working at OpenAI, SpaceX, and Google. Others are building startups and speaking on global stages. Yes, as teenagers.

TKS is where ambitious teens learn the mindset, skills, and tools to actually build the future — not just memorize for tests.

Application close July 31. Make sure you get in your application.

Opportunities This Week

In addition to these, here’s the full list of 25+ Youth Leadership Opportunities.

How I Got Featured on BBC

When I think about a pivotal moment of building For The Menstruator, one thing that stands out to me is my interview with BBC.

Picture this: It’s June 2019, I am in grade 11 and it’s been just over a year since I launched my organization.

We have a team of around -10 volunteers, have empowered -350 people and worked in -5 countries (for context, we are now 150+ volunteers, 25,000+ people empowered in 10 countries).

I have just found out that I won The Diana Award: the most prestigious award a young person can win for social impact.

But what do I do next?

Step 1: What is “The Story”?

Before doing anything, it is important to figure out what is “The Story” you will be pitching.

Based on my experiences, I created the MINT framework for a compelling media story:

MINT Framework for compelling media story

• Match: How does your story align with the interests of the media company you’re pitching to?

  Example: BBC ran a series called “What’s New?" to highlight stories of young Africans across the continent.

• Important: Why is your story important for people to know about?

  Example: Period Poverty was a stigmatised issue in Kenya and Africa as a whole

• New: What is unique about your story and how will it generate eyeballs?

  Example: It was unique for people to see a 17-year old boy in Africa work on menstrual health as an issue

• Timely: How is your story relevant to ongoing issues around the world?

  Example: People around the world were going to celebrate Princess Diana’s birthday and legacy in July

Step 2: Writing a Press Release

This is probably the most important step.

A press release is a 1-2 page doc that outlines all the information media will need to run a story.

Guess what? I am sharing the template that I used here.

Here’s 6 things you want to make sure you always have:

1. Headline: Think of this as “Breaking News” on the front page of a newspaper. Make sure it is clear and attention grabbing.

2. Introduction: Your first paragraph should include the 5 W’s (Who, What, Where, When and Why)

3. Body: Go into more detail here to give more context to the audience. Use numbers, research and statistics here. Use the inverted pyramid style (most important to least important)

4. Quotes: Include 1-2 quotes. This can be from yourself or a testimonial from a relevant stakeholder to give the story a human voice.

5. Media Collateral: create a drive and include a link of pictures, logos and videos of you work. This is something they will ask for at some point, so it’s better to have it before hand.

6. Contact Info: press releases are usually circulated among people and platforms in the industry. A lot of people usually forget this. Include your/ your teams info at the start/end of the doc

Step 3: Start at “Home”

At the time (just like most of us here), I didn’t have any connections with people in the media.

But I didn’t let that stop me from sharing my story.

So I reached out to the communications team at my school.

In the early days, you can reach out to the marketing department at your school, university or even work. Consider also reaching out to people like me who you know have already had some media engagement in the past.

The comms teams decided to post the press release on the school website and sent it to some of their local media connections.

But how did the BBC find out about our story?

Step 4: Building Momentum

Headlines of Media outlets around the world

A couple local outlets covered the story.

That led to national outlets writing pieces.

And then global outlets in Europe, Asia and North America were writing about it as well.

The story had caught fire. I was having my “15-seconds of fame”.

And this is when it landed on BBC’s desk.

It was a random Tuesday evening, I get a call from the comms team - “Ziyaan, BBC just called. They are flying in tomorrow from Nairobi, prepare your team and we will inform your teachers, you will be missing class”.

And the rest is history.

Lesson: Media works really fast. You will have no traction for a long time. But when someone picks up a story, it moves fast. When you’re in this stage, make sure you build momentum and leverage the early features. Post them on socials, reach out to more connections, etc.

You can watch the interview here

Step 5: Maintain Relationships

This is something I wish I knew earlier.

You see, people in media are super hard to access. People are always pitching them something.

So when you do have an opportunity to engage with them - it’s important you maintain a long-term relationship.

Here’s some ways you can follow up:

• Thank them: after the story is released, send them a personal note thanking them for the opportunity. Share with them feedback and what you liked about working with them speifically.

• Engage: follow them on socials, and engage with their content (like, share, comment, you know the drill).

• Leads: if they liked your story, they will probably like similar ones to yours. Share it with them, it will make their work so easy (don’t be spammy though)

• Update: keep them updated once/month about progress since your story. They love to keep tabs and see impact of their work.

• Meet: Try meet them (preferably in person) once/ quarter. Use this as an opportunity to get to know them more personally and understand their “pain points”.

To summarise the above, here’s a quick cheatsheet you can always reference in the future:

How to get Media Cheatsheet

{{First Name|My friend}}, hoping you found this of value. Newsletters like these are what I wish 15 year old Ziyaan had when he was just starting off. When I was starting out, there were so many gatekeepers and it would be so hard to figure things like these out. I feel so lucky that I had the opportunities I had and now I get to change that for you.

Sending you lots of warmth from Dubai {{First Name|my friend}},

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Hey {{First Name|friend}},

Don’t know if you can relate but one thing I have always struggled with is this inner voice of “you’re not doing enough”.

Last week I was listening to a podcast and they were talking about this and referred to this book called the “Inner Game of Tennis” Initially, I thought it was a sport’s book but eventually realized this was the book I needed to help me work on my inner monologue that has held me back in a lot of instances.

Think you will really like this one…

read time: 3 mins

Here’s a really cool opportunity I encourage you to apply to this week:

[FELLOWSHIP] Western Union Global Fellowship Program – 1 Jul
Eligibility: Global
Description: The Western Union Global Fellowship Program is a fully-funded Impact Fellowship, empowering individuals supporting or hailing from refugee, highly-marginalized, or forcibly displaced communities around the globe. Through this experience, Fellows will gain essential skills, resources, and networks to scale their ventures and accelerate their impact.
Link: Apply here

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

Unleashing Your Inner Champion

This book, written by W. Timothy Gallwey in the 70s, is about the mental game behind anything you want to do well.

The premise is simple but powerful. There are two games we all play:

1. The Outer Game: the visible, external stuff - deadlines, performance, exams, meetings, etc.

2. The Inner Game: the invisible battle in our heads - doubt, fear, imposter syndrome, self-criticism.

Most of us focus so much on improving the outer game (learning more, doing more, working harder) that we ignore the inner one.

But Gallwey flips that. He says your performance isn’t just about skill. It’s about Potential − Interference.

And that interference? It’s mostly in your head.

Self 1 vs Self 2

Gallwey introduces two inner selves:

• Self 1 = The Critic. It’s the voice that says: "You’re not good enough." "You’re going to mess this up."

• Self 2 = The Performer. It’s your intuitive, capable self that knows how to execute.

Here’s the catch: Self 1 constantly interrupts Self 2.

Imagine trying to give a presentation and your inner critic keeps yelling, "Don’t stutter. Don’t mess up. They’re judging you."

Self 2 would do fine on its own. But Self 1 is in the way.

The solution? Learn how to quiet Self 1 and trust Self 2.

Three Actionable Things You Can Do

1. Observe Without Judgment

Most of us instantly label everything:

• "That meeting went terrible."

• "I sucked at that interview."

Gallwey suggests practicing non-judgmental awareness:

Instead of: "I messed up." Try: "I paused for 3 seconds before answering."

Just notice. Observe. Let your brain learn without the shame spiral.

2. Let It Happen (Don’t Force It)

Self 2 performs best when we’re not micromanaging it.

Think about times you’ve been in flow—presenting, playing, creating—and it felt effortless.

That’s Self 2 in charge.

Gallwey says: "Don’t try harder. Trust more."

Visualize what you want. Then let it happen.

Honestly, this is how babies learn to walk. They don’t coach themselves through it, yell at themselves when they fall, or overthink the angle of their foot. They just try, fall, get back up, and keep going.

Same thing with riding a bike. (Okay, I’ll be real with you - I still don’t know how to ride one. Don’t judge. I’m trusting my Self 2 will figure it out one day.)

3. Redirect Your Inner Voice

You don’t need to completely silence Self 1. Just give it a better job.

In tennis, Gallwey tells players to say "bounce" and "hit" when the ball does those things. It keeps their mind present.

In your work?

• Focus your mind on the person you’re helping.

• Pay attention to your breath.

• Repeat an empowering cue.

Presence over perfection.

{{First Name|My friend}}, as someone in this community, I know you hold yourself to a high standard. But sometimes (just like I have experienced), that can lead to being too hard on yourself and having your self 1’s voice interfering from you taking action. I am hoping that reading this has given you some additional tools you can now use to make the voice abit more quite and allows you to start taking action.

Curious to learn - what does your self 1 usually say to you?

Sending you good vibes {{First Name|my friend}},

Forwarded this email? Sign up here

Let’s connect on Linkedin and Instagram

Hey {{First Name|friend}},

Yesterday I got rejected for an award that would give me 50,000 for growing Leaders of Today.

It was one of those things I had applied for and felt extremely confident about winning.

I was feeling quite disheartened for a couple hours but before I went to bed last night, I reminded myself this story of the Taoist Farmer and His Son.

Think you will really like this one…

read time: 3 mins

Here’s a really cool opportunity I encourage you to apply to this week:

[FELLOWSHIP] Western Union Global Fellowship Program – 1 Jul
Eligibility: Global
Description: The Western Union Global Fellowship Program is a fully-funded Impact Fellowship, empowering individuals supporting or hailing from refugee, highly-marginalized, or  forcibly displaced communities around the globe. Through this experience, Fellows will gain essential skills, resources, and networks to scale their ventures and accelerate their impact. This program is supported by Western Union.
Link: Apply here

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

The Parable of the Farmer and His Son

There was once an old farmer who had worked his crops for many years. One day, his horse ran away.

"Such bad luck," his neighbors said sympathetically.

"Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see," the farmer replied.

The next morning, the horse returned, bringing with it three wild horses.

"How wonderful!" the neighbors exclaimed.

"Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see," replied the old man.

The following day, his son tried to ride one of the untamed horses, was thrown off, and broke his leg.

The neighbors again came to offer their sympathy.

"Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see," answered the farmer.

The day after that, military officials came to the village to draft young men into the army. Seeing the son’s broken leg, they passed him by.

"How lucky!" the neighbors said.

"Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see," said the farmer.

Why This Matters to Us

As young leaders, we’re constantly trying to predict the future.

We overthink every outcome. We celebrate wins like they’re the final answer and take losses like they’re the end of the road.

But the truth is:

Maybe so, maybe not. We’ll see.

Real Talk

When I didn’t get the internship I really wanted? I was crushed. A few months later, I met a mentor on a completely different path who ended up opening doors I never imagined.

When my podcast didn’t get the traction I hoped for? I thought I had failed. That same podcast helped me build the foundation for this newsletter you're reading right now.

When I burnt out and had to step back from everything? That forced pause helped me completely redefine how I manage my time and take care of myself.

None of it made sense in the moment. Now? It all connects.

What the Farmer Teaches Us

The point is:

• Not every "win" is as good as it seems

• Not every "loss" is as bad as it feels

• Everything is still unfolding

So instead of jumping to conclusions:

• Practice patience

• Trust the process

• Hold your emotions with gentleness

Equanimity doesn’t mean you don’t care. It just means you have the wisdom to pause before labeling something as good or bad.

{{First Name|My friend}}, let life play out. You’re doing better than you think. The universe is working in your favor, even if it’s hard to see. The best is yet to come.

Let me know, was this story helpful for you in your journey? How are you going to apply this in your life right now?

Sending you good vibes {{First Name|my friend}},

Forwarded this email? Sign up here

Let’s connect on Linkedin and Instagram

Hey {{First Name|friend}},

If you’ve ever felt like you’re constantly busy but still not making progress, this one’s for you.

When I first started out, I thought the secret to success was saying yes to everything: more projects, more meetings, more opportunities. I wanted to be helpful, responsive, and involved.

But what I didn’t realize was that I was drowning in urgency.

Every email felt important. Every notification felt like it needed a response. Every opportunity felt like the last one I’d ever get.

And then came the burnout.

read time: 3 mins

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

The Tyranny of the Urgent

Of all the challenges that you confront as a young leader, nothing is more relentless than the demand of your time time. In an age of constant connectivity, the barrage of emails, notifications, and requests creates a perpetual sense of urgency, pulling attention in a dozen directions at once.

This whirlwind of activity can easily be mistaken for productivity, but it often leads to stress, burnout, and a frustrating lack of progress on the goals that truly matter.

As someone that’s eager to make an impact, escaping this trap is everything.

That’s where the Eisenhower Matrix comes in.

The Eisenhower Matrix: A Tool for Clarity

Named after Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th U.S. President and five-star general known for his legendary productivity, this matrix helps you prioritize with intention.

Eisenhower once said:

The matrix is a four-quadrant grid based on two simple criteria:

• Urgency

• Importance

Let’s break it down:

Quadrant 1: Urgent + Important (DO)

This is the stuff you must do now: crises, deadlines, emergencies. It’s necessary—but if you spend all your time here, you’ll burn out.

Quadrant 2: Not Urgent + Important (SCHEDULE)

This is where your long-term success lives: strategic planning, deep work, learning, relationship-building. These things don’t scream for your attention, but they matter most.

Quadrant 3: Urgent + Not Important (DELEGATE)

These feel pressing but don’t really move the needle. Often they serve someone else’s priorities. Think: certain emails, quick favors, low-stakes meetings.

Quadrant 4: Not Urgent + Not Important (DELETE)

This is the junk. Mindless scrolling. Endless busywork. It adds zero value.

Where Most Leaders of Today Get Stuck

The trap? Living in Quadrants 1 and 3.

We react instead of respond. We clear our inboxes before we build our vision. We attend meetings that could’ve been emails.

We’re working hard, but not smart.

The power move? Shifting to Quadrant 2.

This is where:

• You build relationships before you need them

• You work on your goals before they become emergencies

• You train, reflect, and grow

Time for Q2 won’t magically appear. You have to make it.

How to Use the Matrix

1. List your tasks – Dump everything that’s taking up space in your brain or calendar.

2. Sort by quadrant – Ask: Is this urgent? Is this important? Be honest.

3. Take action:

   • DO Q1 tasks immediately.

   • SCHEDULE Q2 tasks (put them on your calendar!).

   • DELEGATE Q3 (or say no politely).

   • DELETE Q4.

Pro tip: Try doing this weekly, on a Sunday or Monday morning. It'll transform your week.

Why This Matters

When I started using this tool, I realized something hard:

I was doing a lot of things that didn’t actually matter.

Yes, I was busy. But I wasn’t being intentional.

This matrix helped me:

• Protect my time

• Say no without guilt

• Focus on what matters

And slowly, the burnout faded. The progress came back.

If you’re feeling stretched thin or stuck in constant motion, try this. Your future self will thank you.

{{First Name|My friend}}, it’s summer time here in Canada and I have set some goals to spend time Quadrant 2 tasks. One of those tasks is moving to a new email server to improve our deliverability and content. Over the next few weeks, you will receive an email from ziyaan@leadersoftoday.com giving you some instructions about migrating and your subscription. Till then, would love to hear from you: what’s a Quadrant 2 task you plan to do this summer?

Sending you good vibes {{First Name|my friend}},

Forwarded this email? Sign up here

Let’s connect on Linkedin and Instagram

Hey {{First Name|friend}},

Alot of people in our community are graduating this year. For this week, I am writing 20 things I would say to my younger self when he was graduating.

And even if you're not graduating this year, you might want to keep reading too.

There’s something special about the transition moments. You’re closing one chapter, opening another. So before you jump into your next big thing, here are 20 lessons I wish someone told me when I finished school:

read time: 3 mins

Okay so two really cool opportunities I highly recommend you check out this week:

1,000 AI Hackathon – 7 Jun
Description: As part of NY Tech Week, TKS and GenZTea are hosting an AI hackathon for the most curious and driven young people to learn and build using the world’s most powerful AI tools.
Link: Apply here

10,000 Eureka Fellowship for Changemakers – 8 Jun
Description: Astrazeneca and Plan Canada are giving youth changemakers making the world a healthier, more sustainable and equitable place funding, mentorship, community and more through the Eureka Fellowship
Link: Apply here

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

20 things for my Graduating self

1. This is a long game. You don’t need to have it all figured out. The best things take time. Think long term. Build for your future self.
   

2. Nothing matters more than your wellbeing. Not the awards. Not the job. Not the prestige. If you’re not okay, nothing else is.
   

3. Say thank you. To your family, your teachers, your mentors, your friends. Write them handwritten notes. Call them. Let them know they mattered.
   

4. Maintain your relationships. Meeting new people is great. But maintaining existing ones is magic. Send updates. Check in. Remember the little things.
   

5. Brush your teeth at night. You know you get lazy. Just do it.
   

6. Get your 8 hours of sleep. Seriously. You're not productive at 2am. Sleep is the cheat code.
   

7. If it takes 5 minutes, do it now.
   

8. Stop comparing yourself to people online. Most of what you see is curated. You’re doing just fine.
   

9. Say sorry. If you hurt someone, apologize. Say it while you still can.
   

10. Forgive yourself. You were young. You made mistakes. Let them go.
    

11. Create content. Your voice matters. Share your story. The internet is your resume.
    

12. Journal. One day, your future self will want to remember how this all felt.
    

13. Read. If books aren’t your thing, get audiobooks. There’s a world waiting for you.
    

14. Eat healthy. That piece of chocolate after dinner every night? It adds up. Trust me.
    

15. Be kind. Always. Everyone is fighting a battle you can’t see.
    

16. Ask for help. Someone out there has done what you want to do. Reach out.
    

17. Give value first. When you meet someone new, think: How can I help them?
    

18. Build a reputation for getting sh*t done.
    

19. Remember names. Remember birthdays.
    

20. You're doing better than you think. Be proud of how far you’ve come. This is only the beginning.

{{First Name|My friend}}, whether or not you’re graduating this year. Hope this was of some value. Honestly, writing this was as much a reminder for my current self (especially brushing my teeth).

Also quick one, just wanted to remind you of my goal of having my TEDx talk viral (see last week’s newsletter for context). We are now 12 days from launch date and almost 200 people from our community have joined the inner circle. It would mean the world to have you join as well (our goal is to hit 1000 people by launch date).

Love from Toronto {{First Name|my friend}},

Forwarded this email? Sign up here

Let’s connect on Linkedin and Instagram

Hey {{First Name|friend}},

If you’re anything like me, saying "no" can feel super awkward. We say yes because we don’t want to let people down, miss out on opportunities, or be seen as ungrateful. But here’s the truth:

Every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else.

And sometimes, that "something else" is your mental health, your purpose, or your priorities.

This week’s deep dive is on a skill I wish someone taught me earlier: how to say no.

Let’s get into it…

read time: 4 mins

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

I have partnered up with my friends at TKS and GenZTea to share with you a really cool opportunity in NYC. They are hosting a one-day AI Hackathon for curious, young people like yourself. Whether you’ve a technical background or just getting started, this is an opportunity to learn and build with AI. As part of the Hackathon, you will:

• learn to use real tools like Bolt, Cursor, Windsurf, Lovable, and more

• Work in teams to tackle real-world problems

• Build a working demo — even if it’s your first time

• Pitch your project live to surprise industry judges

• Compete for prizes up to 1000, plus exclusive swag and AI credits

Why Saying "No" is a Superpower

Warren Buffett said, "The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything."

Let that sink in.

Saying no isn’t about being rude or lazy. It’s about:

• Protecting your time

• Prioritizing what actually matters

• Creating space for better opportunities

The most successful people don’t say yes to more things. They say yes to fewer, better things.

What Makes Saying No So Hard?

If you’ve ever:

• Felt guilty turning down a request

• Agreed to something and regretted it 5 mins later

• Said yes out of fear of missing out (FOMO)

...you’re not alone.

Some of the biggest reasons we struggle to say no:

• People pleasing: We don’t want to disappoint anyone

• Imposter syndrome: We feel we have to prove ourselves by taking on more

• FOMO: We’re scared we’ll miss out on something big

• Fear of judgment: We don’t want to be seen as difficult or ungrateful

But here’s what I’ve learned:

A little awkwardness now is better than months of burnout and regret.

How to Say No (Without Burning Bridges)

Saying no is a skill. And like any skill, it gets easier the more you practice. Here are 5 go-to strategies I use:

1. The "Affirm-Thank-Decline" Formula

• Affirm the relationship: "I really appreciate you thinking of me."

• Thank them: "It means a lot that you reached out."

• Decline: "But I won’t be able to commit to this right now."

Example:

2. The "Yes-No-Yes" Technique (by William Ury)

• Yes to your priorities

• No to the request

• Yes to the relationship

Example:

3. Delay the Decision

If you’re caught off guard, buy time:

4. Offer an Alternative

You can say no and still be helpful:

5. Set Boundaries Proactively

Don’t wait for the ask. Make your priorities clear in advance:

Things You Can Literally Say

Here are a few scripts for different situations:

Decision-Making Frameworks

Before saying yes to anything, ask:

• The Hell Yeah Test (Derek Sivers): If it’s not a HELL YES, it’s a no.

• Regret Minimization Framework (Jeff Bezos): Will I regret not doing this in 10 years? If yes, consider saying yes.

• The Relief Test (Christine Carter): Imagine this event is tomorrow. Would you feel relieved if it got cancelled? If yes, say no today.

{{First Name|My friend}}, I hope this gave you the tools to protect your time and prioritize what matters most to you. If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you: what’s something you recently said no to? Or something you wish you had? I try my best to reply to every message from our community.

Also quick one, just wanted to remind you of my goal of having my TEDx talk viral (see last week’s newsletter for context). We are now 17 days from launch date and almost 200 people from our community have joined the inner circle. It would mean the world to have you join as well (our goal is to hit 1000 people by launch date).

Sending you love from Toronto {{First Name|my friend}},

Forwarded this email? Sign up here

Let’s connect on Linkedin and Instagram

Hey {{First Name|friend}},

If you’re anything like me, saying "no" can feel super awkward. We say yes because we don’t want to let people down, miss out on opportunities, or be seen as ungrateful. But here’s the truth:

Every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else.

And sometimes, that "something else" is your mental health, your purpose, or your priorities.

This week’s deep dive is on a skill I wish someone taught me earlier: how to say no.

Let’s get into it…

read time: 4 mins

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

I have partnered up with my friends at Plan Canada to share with you an amazing opportunity. If you or someone you know is a young changemaker actively working to tackle challenges in health equity, health system resilience, biodiversity and climate action, this is for you. As part of the Eureka Fellowship, you will get access to:

• a 10,000 grant to support each Eureka Fellow’s work

• leadership development with  mentorship and skill-building

• attend a fully funded in-person Summit in 2026

• and so much more

Why Saying "No" is a Superpower

Warren Buffett said, "The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything."

Let that sink in.

Saying no isn’t about being rude or lazy. It’s about:

• Protecting your time

• Prioritizing what actually matters

• Creating space for better opportunities

The most successful people don’t say yes to more things. They say yes to fewer, better things.

What Makes Saying No So Hard?

If you’ve ever:

• Felt guilty turning down a request

• Agreed to something and regretted it 5 mins later

• Said yes out of fear of missing out (FOMO)

...you’re not alone.

Some of the biggest reasons we struggle to say no:

• People pleasing: We don’t want to disappoint anyone

• Imposter syndrome: We feel we have to prove ourselves by taking on more

• FOMO: We’re scared we’ll miss out on something big

• Fear of judgment: We don’t want to be seen as difficult or ungrateful

But here’s what I’ve learned:

A little awkwardness now is better than months of burnout and regret.

How to Say No (Without Burning Bridges)

Saying no is a skill. And like any skill, it gets easier the more you practice. Here are 5 go-to strategies I use:

1. The "Affirm-Thank-Decline" Formula

• Affirm the relationship: "I really appreciate you thinking of me."

• Thank them: "It means a lot that you reached out."

• Decline: "But I won’t be able to commit to this right now."

Example:

2. The "Yes-No-Yes" Technique (by William Ury)

• Yes to your priorities

• No to the request

• Yes to the relationship

Example:

3. Delay the Decision

If you’re caught off guard, buy time:

4. Offer an Alternative

You can say no and still be helpful:

5. Set Boundaries Proactively

Don’t wait for the ask. Make your priorities clear in advance:

Things You Can Literally Say

Here are a few scripts for different situations:

Decision-Making Frameworks

Before saying yes to anything, ask:

• The Hell Yeah Test (Derek Sivers): If it’s not a HELL YES, it’s a no.

• Regret Minimization Framework (Jeff Bezos): Will I regret not doing this in 10 years? If yes, consider saying yes.

• The Relief Test (Christine Carter): Imagine this event is tomorrow. Would you feel relieved if it got cancelled? If yes, say no today.

{{First Name|My friend}}, I hope this gave you the tools to protect your time and prioritize what matters most to you. If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you: what’s something you recently said no to? Or something you wish you had? I try my best to reply to every message from our community.

Also quick one, just wanted to remind you of my goal of having my TEDx talk viral (see last week’s newsletter for context). We are now 17 days from launch date and almost 200 people from our community have joined the inner circle. It would mean the world to have you join as well (our goal is to hit 1000 people by launch date).

Sending you love from Toronto {{First Name|my friend}},

Forwarded this email? Sign up here

Let’s connect on Linkedin and Instagram

Hey {{First Name|friend}},

If you’re anything like me, saying "no" can feel super awkward. We say yes because we don’t want to let people down, miss out on opportunities, or be seen as ungrateful. But here’s the truth:

Every time you say yes to something, you’re saying no to something else.

And sometimes, that "something else" is your mental health, your purpose, or your priorities.

This week’s deep dive is on a skill I wish someone taught me earlier: how to say no.

Let’s get into it…

read time: 4 mins

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

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p.s: my goal is to never charge you for this newsletter and opportunities I share. To enable my to do this, I work with advertisers. If you don’t mind, please click on any of the above links (it will help me make rent this month aha)

Why Saying "No" is a Superpower

Warren Buffett said, "The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything."

Let that sink in.

Saying no isn’t about being rude or lazy. It’s about:

• Protecting your time

• Prioritizing what actually matters

• Creating space for better opportunities

The most successful people don’t say yes to more things. They say yes to fewer, better things.

What Makes Saying No So Hard?

If you’ve ever:

• Felt guilty turning down a request

• Agreed to something and regretted it 5 mins later

• Said yes out of fear of missing out (FOMO)

...you’re not alone.

Some of the biggest reasons we struggle to say no:

• People pleasing: We don’t want to disappoint anyone

• Imposter syndrome: We feel we have to prove ourselves by taking on more

• FOMO: We’re scared we’ll miss out on something big

• Fear of judgment: We don’t want to be seen as difficult or ungrateful

But here’s what I’ve learned:

A little awkwardness now is better than months of burnout and regret.

How to Say No (Without Burning Bridges)

Saying no is a skill. And like any skill, it gets easier the more you practice. Here are 5 go-to strategies I use:

1. The "Affirm-Thank-Decline" Formula

• Affirm the relationship: "I really appreciate you thinking of me."

• Thank them: "It means a lot that you reached out."

• Decline: "But I won’t be able to commit to this right now."

Example:

2. The "Yes-No-Yes" Technique (by William Ury)

• Yes to your priorities

• No to the request

• Yes to the relationship

Example:

3. Delay the Decision

If you’re caught off guard, buy time:

4. Offer an Alternative

You can say no and still be helpful:

5. Set Boundaries Proactively

Don’t wait for the ask. Make your priorities clear in advance:

Things You Can Literally Say

Here are a few scripts for different situations:

Decision-Making Frameworks

Before saying yes to anything, ask:

• The Hell Yeah Test (Derek Sivers): If it’s not a HELL YES, it’s a no.

• Regret Minimization Framework (Jeff Bezos): Will I regret not doing this in 10 years? If yes, consider saying yes.

• The Relief Test (Christine Carter): Imagine this event is tomorrow. Would you feel relieved if it got cancelled? If yes, say no today.

{{First Name|My friend}}, I hope this gave you the tools to protect your time and prioritize what matters most to you. If this resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you: what’s something you recently said no to? Or something you wish you had? I try my best to reply to every message from our community.

Also quick one, just wanted to remind you of my goal of having my TEDx talk viral (see last week’s newsletter for context). We are now 17 days from launch date and almost 200 people from our community have joined the inner circle. It would mean the world to have you join as well (our goal is to hit 1000 people by launch date).

Sending you love from Toronto {{First Name|my friend}},

Forwarded this email? Sign up here

Let’s connect on Linkedin and Instagram

Hey {{First Name|friend}},

This week’s newsletter is abit personal.

See, a lot of us are great at working hard. At showing up for others. At building cool things, chasing big goals, and being “on track.”

But you know what most of us struggle with? Actually owning our story.

The messy parts. The weird parts. The parts that make us feel like we don’t belong.

For years, I used to hide those parts. I thought they made me less credible. Less impressive. Less “leader-like.”

But the older I get and the more stages I step one, the more I realise: Those parts? They’re not weaknesses. They’re your edge.

So today, I want to share a lesson from my TEDx talk about what it really means to own your story and why it might be the one thing holding you back from the impact you’re meant to have.

Let’s get into it.

read time: 4 mins

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

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p.s: my goal is to never charge you for this newsletter and opportunities I share. To enable my to do this, I work with advertisers. If you don’t mind, please click on any of the above links (it will help me make rent this month aha)

Owning Your Story

Let me tell you something I wish I knew earlier:

People can only connect with you when they can see you. Not the polished version. Not the perfect version. The real you.

And the fastest way to show people who you really are? Is to own your story.

In my TEDx talk, the second step of the T.O.D.A.Y. framework is O – Own Your Story. And it’s one of the hardest ones to do, especially when the story you have feels too weird, too different, too “out of place.”

For me, that meant starting a menstrual health project as a teenage boy. People called me “PAD Man”. I got made fun of. Questioned. Some people even told me I shouldn’t be doing it. But the truth is? That “oddness” was my edge. That story became my strength.

Because when you own your story, you take control of your narrative. You turn what could be shame into something powerful.

It reminds me of this quote my brother used to live by: "You have to be odd to be number one."

He had it everywhere. His WhatsApp status, his Instagram bio, even tattooed on his skin. I didn’t get it then. Now? I live by it.

Your quirks, your awkwardness, your failures, the things you think are too different—those are the things that make you unforgettable.

Let’s be real:

If you’re trying to change the world, stand out in your field, or lead in any way... you won’t get there by blending in.

Think about it:

• MrBeast counted to 100,000 on camera before becoming one of the biggest creators on YouTube.

• Messi was told he was too small to go pro—and now he’s one of the greatest to ever do it.

• Taylor Swift got hate for writing about her feelings—and now those feelings sell out stadiums.

They didn’t hide their story. They owned it.

And the same goes for you.

If you’re writing poetry in your free time, building something on the side, or leading a movement no one understands yet—own that.

That’s the thing that will set you apart. That’s the part of you that others will remember.

And when you do that? You don’t just shift your own life—you give others permission to do the same.

So here’s what I want you to reflect on today: What part of your story are you hiding? And what would happen if you chose to own it instead?

Because the truth is: You have to be odd to be number one. And the sooner you start embracing that? The sooner the world gets to meet the real you.

{{First Name|My friend}}, there’s so much going on around the world and I don’t know about you but it feels really hard to keep up with everything. From politics to AI to socials, the list goes on. On top of that, the constant feeling of “I am not doing enough” feels so overwhelming sometimes. If you feel anything close to this, just want you know that you’re not alone and I am here with you sitting side by side. And I say this every week but I genuinely am very grateful to have you part of this community (even though this email may feel automated lol).

Before I say bye for this week, just wanted to remind you of my goal of having my TEDx talk viral (see last week’s newsletter for context). We are now 23 days away from launch date and 102 people from our community have joined the inner circle. It would mean the world to have you join as well (our goal is to hit 1000 people by launch date).

Thank you for always supporting {{First Name|my friend}},

Forwarded this email? Sign up here

Let’s connect on Linkedin and Instagram

Hey {{First Name|friend}},

Alright, so this week’s newsletter is going to be a little different.

We were originally going to continue Part 3 of the High Agency series (and don’t worry, we’ll come back to it), but something happened recently that made me want to switch things up.

I’m launching a bit of a wild idea. Something I’ve never done before—and honestly, something I’ve never asked from this newsletter community either.

For the first time, I’m inviting you to be part of the behind-the-scenes of one of the biggest moments in my life so far. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s got a bold goal.

More on that in a second.

But before we get there, I want to share a simple concept that changed the way I approach almost everything I do—and it might just be the permission you’ve been waiting for to finally take that idea in your head… and make it real.

Let’s talk about the 6-week experiment sprint

read time: 4 mins

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

The 6-week Experiment

Let’s be honest for a second—one of the hardest things about being a young person with big dreams is this:

You have so many ideas… And at the same time, you feel like you don’t have enough experience, resources, or direction to get started.

So what do you do? You overthink. You compare. You procrastinate. You scroll. You tweak your Notion dashboard for the 10th time.

Been there. Too many times.

But a couple years ago, during my time at NEXT Canada (a startup incubator that felt like Survivor meets Shark Tank), I picked up a concept that changed everything for me.

It’s called the 6-Week Experiment Sprint.

And in my TEDx talk (which goes live in just 30 days), I break it down as one of the core tools inside the T.O.D.A.Y. framework. Especially for the first step: T – Take Initiative.

Here’s the idea:

Instead of asking, “What’s the one perfect thing I should do with my life?”—you flip the question to:

“What’s one thing I can test over the next 6 weeks?”

That one mindset shift unlocked so much for me.

I made a list of everything I was curious about:

• Podcasting

• Consulting

• Launching a community platform (hello, Leaders of Today)

• Even an NFT project… yeah, it was 2021. Don’t judge.

And I gave each one a 6-week sprint. During each one, I would:

• Talk to at least 10 people already doing it

• Try a small version of it (record a pilot, build an MVP, host an event)

• Set a mini-goal (e.g. 100 listeners, 1 partnership, 10 users)

• Reflect: Did I enjoy this? Did I add value? Can I see myself doing more of it?

Some flopped. Some were fun but not sustainable. And one (Leaders of Today) became what I now do full-time.

Here’s why this matters:

Most of us procrastinate not because we’re lazy—but because we’re overwhelmed. The 6-week sprint lowers the pressure. You don’t have to commit forever. You just have to commit for six weeks.

It turns “someday” into “day one.”

And if you’re in school or university, this is one of the most powerful things you can do right now.

Make a list of everything you see yourself possibly doing—fields you're curious about, paths you might want to explore. Then, run a 6-week sprint for each one. By the time you graduate, you won’t just have clarity—you’ll have tested your ideas in the real world, built relationships, gathered data, and know exactly where to double down.

That’s how you build a career on purpose, not by accident.

And today… is that day one for me.

Because we’re officially 30 days away from my TEDx talk launch. And I’m doing something I’ve never done before (lol, are you gonna acknowledge how smooth that transition was).

For the first time in 2.5 years of writing this newsletter, I’m asking something personal from you.

Here’s my pitch:

I believe this message—Tomorrow Never Comes—deserves to be heard by as many people as possible. I believe it can help someone finally take that first step. And I believe that with the support of this community, we can push it further than I ever could alone.

My goal? 1 million views. And maybe, just maybe, a spot as a TED Editor’s Pick.

But it won’t happen with just a “like” or a quiet watch.

So I’m inviting you to join me as part of what I’m calling The Inner Circle—a private WhatsApp group of the most engaged people in this community.

As part of the Inner Circle, you’ll:

• Get early access to the TEDx talk the moment it goes live

• Decide on the talk’s thumbnail, title, etc

• Be first to receive behind-the-scenes content, voice notes, and updates throughout the 30-day countdown

• Join our TEDx Watch Party (virtual + in-person details coming soon!)

• Help create a ripple effect by sharing, tagging, commenting, and making sure this message reaches the people who need it most

This isn’t about going viral for the sake of it. It’s about building momentum around something that matters.

If you’ve ever resonated with this newsletter… if you’ve ever wanted to be part of something bigger… if you’ve ever needed a push to start your own 6-week sprint…

Consider this your invitation.

Let’s make some noise. Let’s build this thing in public. Let’s do it together.

{{First Name|My friend}}, ngl I am quite scared putting myself out there like this and setting this ambitious goal. But you know that feeling when you’re super excited about something and lose sleep over it. This is how I feel about this goal. And with your support, I feel a tiny bit more confident that we can get to a million views. So if you haven’t already, would love for you to join my inner circle here and work with you to get there. So excited to get this talk to as many people as possible :)

Rooting for you {{First Name|my friend}},

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Hey {{First Name|friend}},

Last week, we started breaking down one of the most important essays I’ve read in the past few years: High Agency by George Mack. It’s the kind of piece that gives language to something you’ve felt for a long time but maybe didn’t have words for.

If you haven’t read Part 1 of this series, hit pause and go do that first. Trust me, it’ll make this one hit way harder.

This week, we’re diving into what George calls the High Agency Software—five beliefs that high-agency people tend to install in their minds. It’s not motivational fluff. It’s how people actually move through the world when they stop waiting for permission and start thinking differently.

So if you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or unsure where to start… this is for you.

By the end of this series, my goal is to make sure you never feel stuck and ask “how do I actually take initiative?” ever again.

read time: 4 mins

We have moved our opportunities section to an entirely dedicated newsletter on Thursdays. Make sure you’re subscribed to it here.

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The 5 Beliefs of High Agency Software

1. There’s No Unsolvable Problem

When you hit a wall, ask: “Does this defy the laws of physics?” If not, the problem is solvable.

The essays explores a wild story of two men—Claude Shannon and Ed Thorp—who decided they could beat the roulette wheel in a casino. Instead of saying “That’s impossible,” they built the world’s first wearable computer. It was hidden in a cigarette box and operated with their toes to track ball speed and wheel rotation. The result? A 44% edge over the house.

The takeaway: If the problem doesn’t violate physics, it’s solvable. You just haven’t found the solution yet.

2. There’s No Way

We’re conditioned to believe there’s one “correct” path to success. But look at Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic—three of the greatest tennis players of all time. Each warmed up in totally different ways: Nadal was aggressive, Djokovic was calculated, Federer was chill and playful.

Same goal. Different paths.

High agency means letting go of the idea that there’s a right way—and doing what works for you.

3. There’s No Adults

We often think there’s a group of “real adults” who have life figured out.

Spoiler: there’s not.

The essays shares a list of historical icons who were messy and flawed:

• Steve Jobs delayed cancer treatment for carrot juice.

• Mozart begged friends for money.

• Nikola Tesla fell in love with a pigeon.

• Newton wrote 1 million words on alchemy.

• Napoleon may have lost a battle because of hemorrhoids.

There are no perfect gurus. Just people. And that includes you.

4. There’s No Normal

“Normal” is a trap. It’s short-term comfort that leads to long-term invisibility.

George Mack shares examples like paying the bill for everyone at a dinner or flying across the world for a friend’s birthday. People might say “you don’t have to,” but those are the stories they remember.

Being weird in the short term makes you unforgettable in the long term.

5. There’s Only Now

The essay ends with a heavy story of Kevin Smith. Kevin’s dad followed all the rules—worked a soul-crushing job at the post office and never broke the rules.

However, when his dad was on his death bed.

His final act? Screaming. Full of regret.

That moment shook Kevin. He realized there’s no prize for playing it safe. So he started chasing every creative dream.

You only get so many “nows.”

If something’s been on your heart—an idea, a project, a move—act on it.

As yours truly like to say:

Tomorrow never comes. Start Today.

Your Turn Now

If you’ve got to this point. Want you to stop what you’re doing and pick one of the 5 software lines from above and test it out this week. Not all five. Just one.

Feeling stuck on a problem? Ask yourself: does this defy the laws of physics?

Worried you're doing things the "wrong" way? Ask yourself: whose way is this, actually?

Caught in comparison or waiting for someone more qualified to come along? Remind yourself: there's no adults.

Write it on a sticky note. Say it in the mirror. Whatever it takes to get it in your system.

Reply to this email and let me know which one you’re gonna test out. Will make sure I hold you accountable.

{{First Name|My friend}}, just got back to Toronto after 3 weeks on the road. Not gonna lie being on the road was amazing but definitely missed my regular routine. Have so many exciting projects and things I’ve been building behind the scenes for this community that I can’t wait to show you. For now - just wanna say thank you. Means the world to me that you spend time each week reading this. Hope it’s been of some value to you.

Always in your corner {{First Name|my friend}},

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Hey {{First Name|friend}},

A couple weeks ago, I was sharing my T.O.D.A.Y framework as part of my speaking tour in North Carolina and after I finished one of the students came up to me and said:

Sounds like you? I feel you, that was me.

Honestly, it still is me sometimes. We’re all told to just start, but no one ever teaches us how.

That question stuck with me. And when I went home, I went down a full rabbit hole trying to find answers.

That’s when I came across one of the best essays I have read my entire life. And I am not even exaggerating. Really wish I read something like this when I was starting my journey at 15.

It’s called High Agency by George Mack. It’s a 30 minute read but wanted to give you a simplified version.

This essay hit so hard, I’ve decided to create a 5 part series out of it.

By the end of this series, my goal is to make sure you never feel stuck and ask “how do I actually take initiative?” ever again.

read time: 4 mins

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

We plan to phase out this section by next week and move the opportunities section to an entirely separate newsletter on Thursday. If you’d still like to receive opportunities, make sure you’re subscribed to that newsletter here.

Part 1: What is High Agency?

If you were stuck in a third-world jail cell and could only call one person to help you get out, who would it be?

That person? They have high agency.

They’re the kind of person who, even without a clear plan or resources, would find a way. Not because they have connections or money, but because they’d start solving the problem without waiting for someone else to tell them what to do.

What separates them isn’t intelligence or privilege—it’s how they think.

High agency is the belief that, no matter the situation, you have the ability to influence the outcome. It’s not about being fearless or confident. It’s about thinking: “Okay… how can I figure this out?”

High Agency in a meme
Source: High Agency by George Mack

George describes three traits of high agency individuals:

First, clear thinking. This is about seeing the world as it is, not as we’re told it is. High agency people don’t just accept something because an expert said it or because it’s always been done that way. They pause and ask: “Does that actually make sense?”

Second, a bias to action. High agency people don’t wait for the perfect plan. They test things. Take small steps. Learn by doing. Instead of spending weeks creating the ideal pitch deck, they send a rough draft and get feedback. Instead of reading 10 productivity books, they just try something and see if it works.

It’s not about being reckless—it’s about being willing to move before everything feels ready.

Third, healthy disagreeability. This one can feel tricky. It doesn’t mean being rude or combative. It just means being okay with going against the grain.

Most people will go with the flow to avoid conflict. But high agency people aren’t afraid to say, “Actually, I think we’re doing this wrong,” even if they’re the only one in the room who thinks so.

Together, these three traits form a kind of mental software. The good news? You can install it. It’s not something you’re born with. It’s something you learn.

Will show you next week on how to “install” the high agency software in part 2 next week.

In the meantime, here’s an action you can take:

Think of one situation where you feel stuck. Maybe it’s something you’ve been putting off or convinced yourself you can’t do. Ask yourself: If this doesn’t defy the laws of physics, what are 3 things I could do today to move it forward?

Even one of them is a start.

Reply to me and let me know what that one action is. I make sure I reply to every single email from our community of 80,000 young people.

{{First Name|My friend}}, things have been crazy lately for me. Our tour is in full swing, 8 cities down, was at the UN 2 weeks ago, Kenya last week and now at my home in Tanzania. If you’ve been on this journey with me long enough, you must know how up and down this journey has been for me. Regardless of so many set backs and pivots, I have always practiced my agency and taken one step forward. You being part of this community we’ve been building gives me so much confidence to exercise my agency. So thank you, truly. It means so so much to me. If there’s anything I can do to return that favour to you, please just shoot me an email. Always in your corner.

Rooting for you {{First Name|my friend}},

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Hey {{First Name|friend}},

I was giving a keynote at Huron University yesterday, and a student came up to me after and asked:

And honestly? I hear that question all the time. Especially during our 15-minute Friday chats with community members.

It’s one of the biggest shifts I made in my journey. From 15 to 20 years old, I was doing so much—press features, top global stages, helping 25,000+ people through my nonprofit…

But I was broke.

$0 in my account. Burnt out. Frustrated.

Until I realized: You don’t have to be a broke person changing the world.

You can create impact and income.

So today’s newsletter? I’m giving you the exact things I wish someone told me earlier. Here are 10 tools, tactics, and mindset shifts to help you start getting paid for your work:

read time: 3 mins

Learn AI in 5 minutes a day

This is the easiest way for a busy person wanting to learn AI in as little time as possible:

1. Sign up for The Rundown AI newsletter

2. They send you 5-minute email updates on the latest AI news and how to use it

3. You learn how to become 2x more productive by leveraging AI

Sign up to start learning.

p.s: gonna get paid $1.00 for each click on the above. Take a second and click the above, this is how I get paid for my work (and pay rent 😉). Your support will go a very long way - more than you know.

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

We plan to phase out this section by May 1 and move the opportunities section to an entirely separate newsletter on Thursday dedicated to opportunities. If you’d still like to receive opportunities, make sure you’re subscribed to that newsletter here.

10 Ways to Start Getting Paid for Your Work

1. Set Your Value: Know Your Hourly Rate
Start with a simple formula: how much do you want to earn this year? Divide it by the number of working hours you're willing to put in. If your goal is $50,000/year and you want to work 20 hours a week = ~$48/hour. Don’t forget prep time, follow-ups, etc. Know your rate, and honor it.

2. From Cost to Investment
Shift your language. Don’t say “I cost $500.” Say: “This is an investment of $500, and here’s what you get.” You’re not a line item. You’re bringing value, transformation, and outcomes.

3. Solve a Pain Point
What makes you unique? Is it your lived experience? Your Gen Z insights? Your social media skills? Think about the problems you can solve better than anyone. That’s what people pay for.

4. Build Beautiful Proposals & Packages
Create professional-looking decks or PDFs that explain what you offer—whether it’s speaking, consulting, design, content, or anything else. Make it visual. Make it clear. Make it sellable.

5. Have a Personal Website or Portfolio
You need a digital home. A place where people can find you, see your past work, and understand what you offer. Use platforms like Notion, Squarespace, or Carrd to start simple.

6. Ask the Magic Question: “Is there a budget for this?”
When someone invites you to do something, don’t be afraid to ask: “Is there a budget for this?” You’d be shocked how often the answer is yes—they just assumed you wouldn’t ask.

7. Do Outbound Sales
Don’t just wait around. Identify organizations, schools, or brands you want to work with. Record short personalized videos (Loom, Vidyard) and send them out. Do 10–20 a day. Follow up.

8. Know the Different Ways to Monetize
Speaking, workshops, social media partnerships, consulting, facilitation, creating toolkits, writing—there are multiple ways to turn your skills into income. Test and learn what works for you.

9. Build in Public
Share your journey online—what you’re building, learning, and doing. It attracts opportunities. People won’t know how amazing you are if you’re hiding.

10. Start Saying No to Free (Sometimes)
Exposure doesn’t pay the bills. Be intentional. Ask yourself: Will this lead to more paid work, meaningful connections, or growth? If not, it’s okay to say no—or to say yes, but on your terms.

11.Bonus: For free work, ask for value in return
If you decide to do something for free, ask for value in return. A testimonial, referral for a paid engagement, a media feature. Make sure you directly communicate and for something tangible you can leverage in your journey.

{{First Name|Friend}}, everything I share on the newsletter is stuff I wish someone taught me when I was just getting started as a 15 year old in Tanzania. As a young person, it’s so easy to do things for free but not get compensated (directly or indirectly) for it. I am hoping that you can at least use one of the above tools to help navigate this for the future.

I am curious to learn: which one did you find most valuable? Anything that I am missing on the list?

Reply to the email: I make sure I reply to every single one :)

Time to get paid for our work,

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Hey {{First Name|friend}},

Confession: I used to hate setting goals. Every time I tried, I'd stay motivated for about two weeks before life took over and I completely lost track.

But in 2023, I stumbled onto a goal-setting method that changed everything. Since then, I've had some of my biggest wins ever—and more importantly, I've felt genuinely proactive rather than just reacting to whatever life threw at me.

Most people set goals once a year and then forget about them until December. But imagine a flight taking off—if the pilot shifts the route by just 1 degree every minute, the plane will land in a completely different destination. That's exactly why quarterly (every three months) check-ins are critical. They keep you aligned, focused, and headed exactly where you want to go.

So, here’s the simplified but powerful process I use to reflect, reset, and realign every quarter. You can dive deeper with Sahil Bloom’s amazing guide here, but let's start simple:

read time: 5 mins

I don’t usually ask for much in this newsletter… but this one’s personal.

I’ve partnered with The Possibilists—a global collective of 300+ youth organizations—to help elevate the voices of young leaders like us.

They’re running a global survey right now to understand what support we actually need. And honestly, it would mean so much to me if you took 15–20 minutes to fill it out.

This isn’t just data—it’s how funders, policymakers, and support orgs will shape the future of youth leadership.

And you’re not doing it for free either 👀

You’ll get a chance to access:

• 💆‍♂️ Headspace Premium (for your mental health)

• 🎨 Canva Pro

• 💼 LinkedIn Premium

• 💸 Exclusive funding + fellowship opportunities

• 🎤 1:1 coaching with fundraising & pitching experts

It’s the kind of stuff I wish I had access to when I was starting out.

If you’ve ever found value in this newsletter, consider this a small favour I’m asking of you.

p.s: as I have shared before, I spend hours each week writing this content and collecting these opportunities to help with your journey. I only do this because when I started I found it really hard to access these things. Partnerships like these allow me to do this important work (and pay rent 😉) so your support when I share something goes a very long way - more than you know.

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

We plan to phase out this section by May 1 and move the opportunities section to an entirely separate newsletter on Thursday dedicated to opportunities. If you’d still like to receive opportunities, make sure you’re subscribed to that newsletter here.

Step 1: Reflect and Score Your Last Quarter

Take 1–2 hours. Grab a journal, a doc, or a notes app. Divide your life into buckets that matter most to you. For me, those are:

• Work

• Health

• Relationships / Family

• Social

(If you’re a student, you might also add School, Learning, or Extracurriculars.)

For each bucket, answer these prompts:

1. Wins:

• What went great?

• What are you proud of?

• What progress did you make?

2. Lessons:

• What didn’t go as planned?

• What felt off or could’ve been better?

• What habits or decisions do you want to change?

3. Score:

• Rate your satisfaction in this area from 1–10. (Think about where you started and where you want to be—not compared to anyone else.)

Step 2: Dream Big (But Realistically)

Take another hour. Let yourself dream. Make a list of everything you’d love to do in life if there were no constraints—time, money, fear, or experience.

Prompt: What would your 7-year-old self, the one who believed they could do anything, put on this list?

These are your long-term goals. You won’t act on all of them this quarter, but they’ll guide your direction.

Step 3: Set Your Q2 Goals

Grab another sheet. Draw a table with four columns:

Define specific actions for each category that would move your score forward.

Step 4: Identify Your KPIs (Metrics for Success)

Now define KPIs—how you’ll measure progress:

• Health: Gym 3x/week, 7.5 hours of sleep/night

• Social: 1 meaningful convo/week, 2 group events/month

• Work: Weekly planning, finish X project by end of Q2

Make them simple, measurable, and realistic.

Step 5: Schedule and Prioritize

Let’s be real—your most limited resource is time. You get about 115.5 waking hours/week (after 7.5 hours of sleep per night).

Now assign hours to each category based on your KPIs:

• Work: 50 hours → 43%

• Health: 23 hours → 20%

• Social: 11.5 hours → 10%

• Relationships: 17 hours → 15%

• Free / Buffer Time: 14 hours → 12%

Seeing your time this way makes it easier to make better decisions—what to say yes/no to, and where to adjust.

Step 6: Set Up Accountability

None of this matters unless you track and follow up.

• Find a friend, coach, or accountability partner.

• Schedule a weekly 1-hour reset call.

• During the call: review your scores, wins, misses, and update your plan if needed.

If you want, use Google Calendar to create a color-coded system for your categories. Or, write down an "ideal day in the life" that reflects your goals.

{{First Name|Friend}}, let me know if you try this. Drop me a reply or message—I’d love to hear how it works for you or help walk you through it. I learned this system the hard way, but it completely changed how I operate.

And if you haven’t read it yet, Sahil Bloom’s Annual Planning Guide is the inspiration for a lot of this process. You can read it here.

We’re not playing the short game anymore. This is how we take control of our life. Quarter by quarter.

p.p.s: Don’t forget to fill out The Possibilists survey by Apr 6 - you don’t want to miss out on your chance to have your voice heard (+ get all those perks).

Let’s goo,

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Hey {{First Name|friend}},

Was reflecting on my performance I did this Saturday in Toronto for my Leaders of Today tour and had a thought I wanted to share with you:

When you hear "networking," what comes to mind?

Probably reaching out to mentors, leaders, or someone “above” you, right? Everyone tells you to network upwards—but here's the truth no one talks about:

The real magic is often found sideways and downwards.

Let me explain...

read time: 3 mins

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

We plan to phase out this section by May 1 and move the opportunities section to an entirely separate newsletter on Thursday dedicated to opportunities. If you’d still like to receive opportunities, make sure you’re subscribed to that newsletter here.

The Story of the Old Man and the Young Tree

There was an elderly man in a small village who spent each morning tending to a tiny sapling he'd recently planted. People often questioned him, “Why bother? You’ll never enjoy its shade.”

But the old man just smiled and replied, “I don’t plant trees for myself. Others planted trees for me, and now I do the same for those who come after.”

Years later, the young tree grew tall and strong, offering shade to the village. The man, now elderly and frail, struggled beneath the harsh sun. One afternoon, a young man from the village approached, gently guiding him into the shade of the tree. “You cared for this tree years ago,” the young man said, “and you cared for me. Now it’s my turn to care for you.”

With a smile, the old man whispered, “Life repays us—not from where we expect, but from where we have given.”

Two Ways This Changed My Life Recently

Horizontal Networking:

Just a couple of weeks ago, I reconnected with someone I went to high school with. We hadn’t spoken in years. He was now the president of the student government at his university. One call later, he hired me to speak at his school. Why was it so easy? Because we'd built trust when we were peers. Now, he was opening a significant opportunity for me to speak and make an impact—something I never saw coming.

Downward Networking:

A young student I had a 15 min chat with last year in our Leaders of Today community reached out recently. One year after our conversation, he invited me to come speak at a TEDx event he organized at his school. A young person I supported was now in a position to support me back.

That's how relationships work. They’re not just about immediate gain—they’re about planting seeds that bloom later.

How to Start Networking Sideways and Downwards Today

1. Peers: Reach out to one person at your level—someone doing interesting things, who you respect but might have overlooked.

2. Mentorship: Identify one younger person you can genuinely support—someone just starting out or needing guidance. Offer your experience and resources.

Where to find these people?

• School/ University/ Work: self explanatory

• LinkedIn/ Instagram/ Tiktok?: Peers and younger people sharing your values.

• Alumni groups from your school/university.

• Local community meet-ups or networking events.

• Online communities or Discord channels.

{{First Name|Friend}}, everyone keep saying relationships are everything—and honestly it’s true. Now more than ever I am starting to see the power of the ones I have built over the years. And it’s not just the upward ones. The people beside you, the ones coming up behind you—that’s where the real growth and unexpected opportunities come from. I’ve lived it. And now it’s your turn.

Reply and let me know: Who’s one person you’ll reach out to this week?

Always grateful for you ahh,

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Hey {{First Name|friend}},

Let's cut straight to it: You're probably lying to yourself. Not intentionally—but still lying.

Ever feel super busy, yet deep down, you know you're not actually moving forward?

I get it—I've been there too.

Back in my nonprofit days, I spent 90% of my energy applying for awards, chasing conferences, and hunting down media features. And it worked—at least externally. Diana Award, BBC features, speaking on global stages in Dubai and New York. I was praised everywhere. But behind the scenes? I had barely moved the needle.

Two years in, I'd impacted only 500 people. Yet everyone celebrated me as if I was changing millions of lives.

That's the False Progress Trap.

read time: 2 mins

Opportunities This Week

If you’re looking for more opportunities, check out our living document of 25+ opportunities here

We plan to phase out this section by May 1 and move the opportunities section to an entirely separate newsletter on Thursday dedicated to opportunities. If you’d still like to receive opportunities, make sure you’re subscribed to that newsletter here.

You're Probably Doing It Right Now

The trap feels amazing because external validation is addictive. Likes, awards, follower counts, recognition—they give a dopamine rush that tricks your brain into believing you're successful.

But let me ask you this:

• Are the likes you're chasing actually turning into meaningful impact?

• Are those awards and recognition directly connected to what you're truly trying to achieve?

If you're honest, the answer might sting.

How to Spot False Progress

Here are some examples—see if any feel familiar:

• Career: You chase fancy job titles or LinkedIn praise instead of becoming truly skilled or fulfilled.

• Creative Work: You obsess over views, likes, or followers instead of creating quality work you actually believe in.

• Nonprofit/Social Impact: You measure success by events held or superficial stats like "people reached," instead of genuine change in people's lives.

In all these scenarios, you're optimizing for vanity metrics that sound great but don't lead to lasting change.

Breaking the Cycle

In 2020, when COVID hit, I had no choice but to face reality. The flashy opportunities dried up, leaving me alone with the truth: I hadn't been doing the real work.

I shifted focus. Instead of chasing validation, I spent 90% of my time directly impacting people. The result?

• 2020: From 500 people to 8,500 people impacted.

• 2021: From 8,500 to 20,000+ people impacted.

Less applause, fewer headlines—but way more impact. And that's what truly matters.

Your Turn: Brutal Honesty

{{First Name|My Friend}}, here's what you need to do, right now:

1. Ask yourself: "What does real progress look like for me?"

2. Audit your actions: Are you actually working towards your goal or just making noise?

3. Replace vanity metrics: Choose a metric that genuinely reflects your core goal—impact created, skills mastered, lives touched—not just superficial wins. Stop chasing validation. Start chasing real progress.

Reply to this email and tell me: What's the false progress you're dropping today, and what's your new meaningful metric?

Let's keep each other honest.

Always here for you,

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