How To Achieve Big Goals So Fast It Feels Like Cheating

Let’s cut straight to it.

If you’re wondering why most people never actually do anything great with their lives, it’s not because they’re lazy. It’s not because they’re stupid. And it’s definitely not because the “timing wasn’t right.”

It’s because they’ve been mentally conditioned to expect failure — and worse — to accept it before they’ve even tried.

There’s a name for this:

Learned helplessness.

It’s that nasty psychological loop where someone takes a few Ls in life, feels like nothing they do matters, and then just gives up. From the outside, it’s frustrating. From the inside, it’s reality. You’ve probably got a friend like this — the type who shoots down every new idea with “sounds like a scam” or “I could never do that.”

And yeah, I get it. They've been burned. So they think playing it safe is smart.

But here’s the thing:

Playing it safe is what’s keeping them stuck.

They’re skeptical of everything except their own limitations. That’s the trap. Their beliefs are the bars on the cage they’re stuck in.

But the harsh truth?

They haven’t failed enough.

They haven’t spent enough time in the mud to realize that failure is the only thing that actually teaches you anything. Every win is built on a mountain of Ls.

Success is an inside job. It’s a mental war between the version of you that wants to grow — and the one that’s afraid to let go of who you used to be.

So let’s flip the script.

Let’s rewire how you think about failure, strategy, and the game you’re playing.

Here’s what we’re covering:

• How to think like a war general (without the bloodshed): 7 core principles of strategic thinking
  

• A mental tool that shows you how to fail in advance so you’re prepared when real problems show up
  

• Why most advice doesn’t work for you — and how to build your own custom strategy from scratch
  

But first...

Let’s start where all transformation begins:

Inside your mind.

Winning the Mind Game (Before You Even Play It)

Ever feel like you’re stuck in a loop?

Like you know you want more — the money, the freedom, the purpose — but every time you try, something drags you back down?

It’s not because you’re broken.

It’s because you’re playing someone else’s game... with someone else’s rules.

Wittgenstein once said, “What is your aim in philosophy? To show the fly the way out of the fly-bottle.”

Translation?

You’re the fly. The fly-bottle is your current way of thinking.

Let’s break out.

1 – Your Mind Is a Filter

Your mind doesn’t show you the world. It shows you a version of the world that makes sense to you.

In other words, it tells you stories. Those stories become your “reality.” And that reality decides what you believe is possible.

But if the story sucks — like “I’m just not cut out for success” or “I always screw things up” — then guess what?

You’re trapped in a bad movie with no climax.

Most people are living out a script they didn’t write.

Their parents handed it to them. Their teachers reinforced it. Society marketed it with a Super Bowl budget.

And they never questioned it.

But you’re here because you are questioning it.

That means you’re ready to become the writer, director, and lead actor in your own story.

Let’s dig deeper.

2 – Mistakes Are Your Only Real Teacher

Let’s be honest.

You’ve probably read the books. Watched the YouTube videos. Maybe even bought the online courses.

Still feel stuck?

Here’s why:

You’re borrowing someone else’s map for your territory.

What worked for them might not work for you — because they’ve got different experiences, beliefs, and goals.

That’s why your mistakes are infinitely more valuable than their advice.

When you mess up, you get feedback that is laser-targeted to your life.

But most people run from mistakes. They hide behind more information. More “research.” More preparation.

And they never act.

They confuse theory with truth.

Do you want real growth? Screw theory. Get in the ring. Take some hits. Adjust your stance.

Because failure is the truth. Everything else is just opinion.

How to Think Like a Strategist (So You Can Actually Win)

Lawrence Freedman nailed it:

“Strategy is not a lengthy action plan. It is the evolution of a central idea through continually changing circumstances.”

In plain English?

Strategy is your guiding idea. Your North Star. And it adapts as life throws punches.

So let’s break down how to build a strategy that actually works in real life.

1 – Strategic Intent: Pick Your Game

Start by getting real about what you hate.

Hate your job? Your body? Your routine?

Cool. That’s fuel.

Now: What does the opposite look like?

What would an ideal day feel like?

What game would you actually want to play?

Choose the big game. Business. Freedom. Creativity. Health. Purpose.

Then commit to it.

2 – Self Analysis: Know Thyself

You can’t change what you don’t understand.

Run a quick SWOT:

• Strengths: What comes naturally to you?
  

• Weaknesses: Where do you constantly mess up?
  

• Opportunities: What skills or connections could 10x your progress?
  

• Threats: What’s likely to derail you?
  

This is how you stop winging it — and start acting with intention.

3 – Strategic Preparation: Build Your World

Your environment matters.

If your phone is full of nonsense, your mind will be too.

So clean house:

• Delete distractions
  

• Unfollow noise
  

• Load up on books, podcasts, and content that matches the new version of you
  

• Hang out with people who push you forward — not pull you back
  

Your environment is your silent partner. Make it work for you, not against you.

4 – Concentration of Force: Pick the Right Project

You can’t do everything. So don’t.

Pick one high-leverage project that moves the needle toward your goal.

Want freedom? Start a content business. Build an audience. Monetize your expertise.

Write. Post. Ship. Repeat.

List your daily “big 3” actions and do them before the world gets loud.

5 – Disciplined Execution: Build a New Routine

Your current routine is producing your current results.

If you want different outcomes, you need different inputs.

Start small. 1-2 hours a day of focused, needle-moving work. Morning or night — doesn’t matter. Just be consistent.

Design your day around energy, clarity, and momentum.

Everything else? Cut it.

6 – Adaptability: Stay Loose

No strategy survives first contact with the enemy.

You will hit roadblocks. You will mess up. You will question everything.

That’s the game.

Adapt. Adjust. Keep moving.

Mistakes are signals. They’re not stop signs.

7 – Learn the Patterns of Nature

Everything follows a rhythm: Rise, fall, rise again.

You’re not failing. You’re just between chapters.

Understand this, and you stop taking the lows personally.

Zoom out. See the story. Play the long game.

BONUS: How to Fail Before You Even Start

Here’s the ace up your sleeve.

Before you begin any big project — quitting your job, starting your business, whatever — run a Pre-Mortem.

It’s a mental simulation of failure. You imagine the whole thing crashing and burning in advance — so you can prevent it.

Here’s how:

1. Pick your project.
   

2. Visualize failure. Total collapse. Worst-case scenario.
   

3. List the causes. Internal blocks, external threats, bad habits.
   

4. Rank them. What’s most likely to kill the project?
   

5. Strategize. Build countermeasures now — before it’s too late.
   

This is how you turn fear into fuel.

Final Thought

You’re not helpless.

You’ve just been taught to think that way.

This isn’t about motivation. It’s about strategy. It’s about building your own path — instead of following one that leads to mediocrity.

You already have what you need to begin.

Now go build something great.