My dad sent me a video recently. I watched it. Then rewatched it. And I’ve been thinking about it ever since.

👉 Here’s the video – trust me, it’s worth your time.

The message is simple, but powerful. You don’t need to overhaul your life. You need to commit to a few small actions every day mentally, physically, and spiritually in order to find your true persona that creates a meaningful life.

Today, I want to talk about how that applies directly to becoming a better investor, trader, and human. Because let’s face it…if we want to win in crypto or stocks, we have to win with ourselves first.

Here’s what the video spoke to me that I want to share:

1. Don’t be busy; be effective to truly experience life

2. Identify areas where your gut says you can do better or pivot

3. Align yourself with who you really want to become

Don’t Get Too Busy That You Forget To Live

If you’re sort of a high achiever who has a to do list and likes to push through the pain for the glory of what’s on the other side, this will probably hit home.

For years, I have been taught that my outcome was my worth. What I provide is my worth and if something fails then essentially I have failed. Wow harsh huh?

Dr. Foster explains how most people in these mindsets can be wildly successful but vastly unfulfilled at the exact same time. Ever heard of the multimillionaire that isn’t happy? Well this is sort of inline with that perspective.

The goal of investing in crypto and stocks and building businesses shouldn’t be to get rich but forego an amazing life. The goal should be to pursue happiness and freedom.

What we get wrong when we come from this perspective:

• Track everything we do all day on lists

• Have detailed calendars to the minute

• Overload our lives with tasks that feel productive but are just busy compared to the true goal

• Limit the actual “living” that we do and mostly just check things off

The end result here is that we are busy, we have accomplished a ton, but we still feel unfulfilled at the end of the day. Like there’s something more we could have done or something better we could have done.

1. We didn’t actually live our true life getting these tasks done

2. These tasks didn’t effectively move the needle forward on our goals

3. There is a misalignment with our inner desire and our daily life

Action: Do the work that matters and forget everything else. 20% of the actions make 80% of the results. You don’t need to be perfect, just on point.

This can look like:

• Saying no to some action items at work that don’t meet your scope

• Only analyzing crypto or stocks at the end of the day to free up the rest of your time

• Prioritizing actions with people that truly matter in your life and understanding how to model life around happiness and fulfillment

Identify Areas Where Your Gut Says You Can Do Better & Align Yourself With Who You Should Be

Maybe you dislike your job or just at least feel unfulfilled. Maybe you know you can workout more and eat cleaner. Maybe you know that staring at your phone all day only harms your productivity and limits your goal achievement.

We all have these gut feelings that we know are trying to push us in the right direction. These can be scary, but often times lead to the growth we desperately are reaching out for. The routines we are stuck in feel comfortable, but really are trapping us in lack of growth.

1. Listen to your body and examine how certain actions make you feel

2. Limit actions your dream version of yourself wouldn’t align with

3. Focus on consistent input and know the outcome will happen

When we start our day, many of us reach for the phone to scroll a bit. When we end the day, we typically sit in front of the TV and on our phone at the same time. These aren’t really choices we make but habits we have formed over the last decades. Cheap dopamine calls you in a red dress when you know that the hard dopamine fulfills you longer.

1. Swap out actions that numb you to actions that build your dream life and fulfill you and those around you

2. You know what’s good and bad; act on the good and avoid the bad

📈 You Don’t Need to Do Everything Today

This is how real transformation happens:

• 12 minutes reading charts instead of scrolling Twitter

• 12 minutes breaking down a loss instead of blaming the market

• 12 minutes moving your body instead of numbing your mind

• 12 minutes praying, breathing, writing, or just sitting with your thoughts

Do this for 30 days and see what happens.

A 3 step action plan can look like this. Let’s do it together.

Action 1: Focus on limiting screen time. Keep the phone out of your pocket and in another room. Bring your focus back to your family, your goals, or anything else you want to be present in during your life.

Action 2: Focus on understanding your inner emotions. This is especially true as we limit screen time and are forced to notice the world more. What do you feel? Are you bored, anxious, energetic? Limiting distractions and being more present will force you to look yourself in the mirror and allow you to understand your inner spirit.

Action 3: Focus on moving more. Whether it’s walking, lifting, or doing pushups in your room while watching TV, more movement is never a bad thing as our society becomes more sedentary by the day.

If you want accountability, just reply to this email. Let me know you’re in. I’ll check in with you personally halfway through.

Final Thoughts

Trading and investing isn’t just about money.
It’s about who you become on the way to financial freedom.

Your discipline. Your clarity. Your energy.
All of that determines your outcomes just as much as your buy zone or macro read.

And that’s what this video nailed for me. 12 minutes a day isn’t about doing more.
It’s about doing what matters. Let’s build something powerful inside and out together.

Talk soon,

Dawson

P.S. If you liked this breakdown, forward it to someone who needs to hear it. And if you’ve got your own mental/physical/spiritual stack for trading, reply and tell me. I’d love to feature it.