Day 1 homework · AI For R*tards

Day 1 homework

Struggles & Contrasting wins

Struggle 1: Hashimoto’s Hypothyroidism

I was recently diagnosed with Hashimoto’s hypothyroidism, and it’s been a daily battle. I deal with waves of depression, chronic fatigue, low libido, weight gain, brain fog, joint pain, and a constant lack of energy.

Contrast

For most of my adult life, I operated in the top 1% when it came to mental and physical toughness. Now I’ve had to completely change my approach and scale my expectations to match my current abilities. This disease has slowed me down—but it’s also forced me to learn patience, something I never had to rely on before.

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Struggle 2: Career vs. Fatherhood

I spent most of my kids’ lives chasing excellence in my profession. I achieved what I set out to do—but now I can’t help but feel like I missed the mark in other areas.

Contrast

Becoming elite required doing things most people can’t even imagine. While I missed time with my kids, I also showed them that discipline, planning, goal-setting, and relentless effort can turn big goals into reality.

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Struggle 3: Financial Anxiety

I grew up with parents who were always in debt, and I never had strong financial role models. As an adult, I carry a lot of financial anxiety. I’m not terrible with money, but I’m not great either. I contribute to my Thrift Savings Plan, own a rental property outright, and pay my bills—but I still waste money on dumb things. Not fun things. Just unnecessary spending, especially eating out.

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That anxiety has made me intentional about teaching my kids the importance of being financially responsible and making smarter decisions with money.

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Struggle 4: Identity Tied to Physical Output

I’ve always relied on my physical ability to get things done and move forward in life. That worked extremely well in my profession—until age and Hashimoto’s changed the equation.

I never developed traditional skills like mechanics, carpentry, sewing, investing, or higher education. I struggle with classroom-style learning. In my 20s, body dysmorphia pushed me even deeper into fitness as my identity. I’ve always been the pack mule—strong, dependable, and physical. Now, I feel like half the man I used to be.

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Losing that identity has forced me to question who I am beyond what my body can produce.

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Struggle 5: Social Media & Authenticity

My current profession makes it difficult to create personal content on social media.

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The content space in my profession is saturated with recycled advice and people acting like superheroes with a secret blueprint for success. I know most of that is bullshit. What’s missing is the voice of the normal guy—the one who’s flawed, honest, still figuring things out, and willing to tell the truth without pretending to have all the answers.

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Hooks:

1. I spent years believing toughness meant pushing harder—Hashimoto’s taught me that slowing down takes more strength.

2. My body used to be my advantage—now it’s my limitation.