Day 1 HW · AI For R*tards

Ethan Smiley

Feb 8 • ✍️ Homework

Day 1 HW

Struggles

I am my biggest hater. All throughout my life I put self-limiting beliefs of what I can do and accomplish. Whether it was wrestling/jiujitsu, lifting, or stupid shit, like pursuing girls, I always told myself why I couldn’t do something instead of why I could it. I did not realize how negative my self talk was until it bled until relationships and my own work.
I am 26 moving back in with my parents while I enter nurse practitioner school. I feel embarrassed and like a total loser to move back in with them at times. Other people my age are getting married and buying houses.I am single and still figuring out shit. I know it is smart in the long term in order to avoid debt, but still embarrassing.
I have recovered from having an eating disorder. Wrestling in high school and college I would cut large amounts of weight. I was obsessed with the scale and I was obsessed with not being fat. I would monitor weight wayyy too much. Not for better performance on the mat but in being obsessed with not being fat. Finally at the beginning of my sophomore year of college wrestling I broke bad. I binged and purged and was at one of the lowest points imaginable.
Patience. I want to be the very best at everything I pursue in as little time as possible.However, shit doesn’t work like that. This world is all about instant gratification and I am a victim. When you plant the seed is not when you harvest.
Confused and lost. Im on my 2nd career path as a nurse.Not a huge fan but it has purpose. The gal I thought I would marry broke up with me on my birthday. Single. Lonely, and lost. All I know is that I love to lift weights, do jits, and shoot the shit with my boyz.

Contrasting wins

Biggest Hater: I have accomplished some pretty cool things despite my brain shit talking me. I have two bachelor's degrees. I wrestled in college, and I am a purple belt in BJJ. I am also starting NP school in May. What could I not do with positive self-talk?? I am on my journey of rewiring my brain and changing my thought patterns. Sky is the limit.
26 and moving back in with Parents: I am blessed to have fucking sick parents that believe in me and want to see me win. This is a temporary situation that will set me for financial success in the future. Not many people are as lucky as me to have such a wonderful support system. Most people in society are in crazy amounts of debt and fucking miserable anyway. I am in a positive environment with people I love instead of alone in an apartment stressing about money.
Eating Disorder: My wrestling coaches in college didn’t give up on me. They gave me access to help I needed which included registered dieticians, therapist, and psychiatrist. I gained tools to fucking conquer that bullshit, return to wrestling, and more importantly, have a healthier body image. I am stronger and way more jacked now than when I was in college. I pay less attention to food and some how look way better.
Patience: due to my impatience I take action NOW. I don’t wait for the right time. I try to problem solve and improve. I want to improve as fast as possible. Often times I improve very fast. I am willing to put in hours upon hours in order to get results. I was able to get my blue belt in bjj in 8 months. I gained 1000 subscribers on youtube in a year.
Confused and lost: I am only 26. I still have time to pursue a life that I dream of. Being broken up on my birthday was the best birthday present I could ask for. The relationship was terrible and I ignored too many red flags and signs of incompatibility. Most people stay in jobs and relationships they hate. I am taking action towards a better life.

Patience

Hooks

The people who win aren’t patient—they are obsessed
Waiting for the right time to do something is the most socially accepted way to fail
Patience feels wise but secretly its what keeps people stuck where they’re at.

Emotion to evoke: Urgency

Hook: “Patience seems like some wise b.s. Master Splinter would say but secretly its what keeps people stuck where they’re at.”

Visual Concept: I am wearing a white belt. Go into class and get smashed with same move and sitting off to the side with a stupid smile on my face.

“Nothing good ever happens sitting on your ass and waiting. Action trumps patience.”

Visual concept: I get sudden realization and Smile goes away. Going to Jits more and lifting. Watching youtube videos of how to get better Jiu-jitsu or lifting. Asking coaches questions. (Pretending to suck off coach as a joke and watching ridiculous videos that do not help your bjj)

“Not getting the results you want? Evaluate and try a different course of action. Still suck? Ask someone for help. Still suck? Keep trying.”

Visual concept: Me tying a blue belt around my waist and hitting some sort of stupid celebration.

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