“Earn It”

A Mindset for Life and Success in 2025

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What’s Inside

1. The Power of Accountability

2. Earning the Small Things: A Pathway to Discipline

3. Earning Each New Opportunity

4. Opportunities Are Prepared, Not Granted

5. Steps to Earn Opportunities:

6. A Life Well Earned

7. Platform News

   1. Meta’s Changes in Content Rules

   2. Live video in the Substack app

As we stand at the threshold of 2025, there’s power in adopting a mindset that propels us forward and urges us to embrace discipline and accountability. Your phrase for the year, “earn it,” captures the essence of a life lived with intentionality, grit, and gratitude. It declares that entitlement has no place in the journey to success and fulfillment. Instead, every privilege, opportunity, and reward must be earned. This mentality is more than a mantra; it’s a transformative way of life.

Here’s how to embrace and thrive with the “earn it” mindset in 2025:

The Power of Accountability

At the heart of the “earn it” mindset lies personal accountability. It demands that we take full responsibility for our actions, results, and setbacks. This principle is closely aligned with Stephen Covey’s teachings in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Covey stresses the importance of proactivity—recognizing that while external factors may influence us, we are ultimately the architects of our responses and, consequently, our outcomes.

To live this principle:

• Start each day by reflecting on your goals and asking, What must I do to achieve desired results?

• Avoid blaming external circumstances. Instead, look inward for solutions and opportunities for growth.

• Hold yourself to a standard of excellence, knowing that consistency and effort will yield the rewards you seek.

Earning the Small Things: A Pathway to Discipline

The mindset of earning each meal, break, or moment of rest cultivates discipline. You align your daily actions with long-term goals by requiring effort before reward. This principle echoes the idea from Create Your Life that every choice we make shapes our future. When you “earn” these moments, you reinforce the notion that nothing worthwhile is free—every good thing comes from hard work and perseverance.

Practical Steps:

1. Set Micro-Goals, “such as I will walk 2,000 steps before lunch” or “I will complete this task before enjoying my coffee break.”

2. Celebrate Earned Rewards: When you’ve met your micro-goals, relish the moment and acknowledge the work it took to get there.

3. Track Progress: Use a journal to document how often you follow through. Seeing your discipline reflected in tangible achievements is incredibly motivating.