The First Step Toward Your Goals? Betting on Yourself.
Working Order #60
Good morning.
Working Order is a weekly newsletter that helps you spend less time thinking and more doing.
Here’s 1 story to move you forward, 2 insights to keep in mind, and 3 simple wins to aim for this week.
Shall we?
1 Story to Move You Forward
Sylvester Stallone wrote the script for Rocky by hand in three days in a New York hotel room.
When Hollywood wanted to buy the rights to the screenplay, they didn’t want Stallone to play the lead role. They thought a more established actor was a safer bet.
Stallone was facing a huge gamble—he had just $106 in his bank account, but he chose to bet on himself anyway.
His bet paid off. Rocky became a classic, earned several Oscars, and launched Stallone’s career.
Takeaway: You have to bet on yourself before anyone else will. Sometimes, that means saying no to the easy path, like Stallone did. Other times, it means going all-in when the odds are stacked against you—like I did when I lost my job last year. In both cases, believing in yourself is the first step to taking action.
2 Insights to Keep in Mind
You don’t have to be great to start, but you must start to be great.
Small steps compound. Tiny progress today is momentum tomorrow.
3 Wins to Aim for this Week
Make one bold move. Say yes to something that scares you or no to something that doesn’t align with your goals.
Show up every day this week as the person who will achieve your goals. Your attitude determines your altitude. Identify a trait you want to promote, like having high energy. Commit to that for a week.
Say your goal out loud. Telling someone about your goal makes it real. Pick a friend, mentor, or even post it publicly. Betting on yourself starts with owning your ambition.
Words: 252 (1 minute of reading time)
That’s it for me. As always, I hope this was helpful.
Let’s make it a great week,
Jake