The Water Dropper

Imagine you are sitting in the top row of a massive, watertight stadium - think Melbournes MCG.

Down on the field, there is a magic water dropper.

• At 12:00 pm, it drops one drop of water.

• At 12:01 pm, it drops two drops.

• At 12:02 pm, it drops four drops.

It keeps doubling every single minute.

Here is the question: If the stadium is completely full and you are drowning at 12:50 pm, at what time was the stadium still 97% empty?

Stop and guess.

Was it 12:10? 12:30?

The answer is 12:45 pm^.

At 12:44, you’d be sitting there looking at a few puddles on the grass, wondering why I trapped you in a stadium for 45 minutes to watch nothing happen.

You wouldn’t be worried. You wouldn’t see the wave coming.

Then…bam! Five minutes later, you’re underwater.

Share

The Human Glitch

This is called exponential growth, and our brains are simply not wired to understand it. We think in straight lines (1, 2, 3, 4). We don’t think in doubling curves (1, 2, 4, 8, 16).

This “human glitch” is exactly why most people think Bitcoin is sketchy, or a bubble, or even if they were interested, that think they have “missed the boat”.

They are looking at the puddles at 12:44 pm and saying, “It’s nothing.”

But Bitcoin is built on three different exponential patterns that nobody talks about.

1. The Scarcity Explosion (The Pokemon Rule)

Roughly every four years, Bitcoin undergoes an event called “The Halving”.

Imagine if stores sold Pokemon cards, but only 21 million Charizards would ever exist.

At first, the store gets 50 new Charizards every 10 minutes. Then, four years later, they only get 25. Then 12.5.

Okay, obviously you can’t buy half a Pokemon card. But that’s the magic of Bitcoin—you can.

The supply gets cut in half, automatically, forever, but the pieces just get smaller and more valuable.

This creates a level of scarcity that not even Gold can match.

We are always digging up more gold (the supply increases every year). Bitcoin is already twice as scarce as gold is right now, and in 2028, the supply drops again—making it harder to find than any physical asset on earth.

2. The Security Universe

People worry about Bitcoin being hacked. But again, they are missing the math.

Bitcoin is secured by a cryptographic system called SHA-256. To break it, you would need to guess a combination from a pool of possibilities so large, it’s hard to describe.

Put it this way: There are roughly 10^80 atoms in the entire universe.

The possible combinations to hack Bitcoin are almost as high as that number (10^77).

Trying to hack Bitcoin is harder than finding a single specific grain of sand on all the beaches on Earth.

It is security built on exponential math so vast, it’s effectively unbreakable.

So, are you too late?

I get it. When you see the price has gone from tens to hundreds to thousands, it feels like the ship has sailed.

But people thought they were late when it hit $100. They thought they were late at $1,000. They thought they were late at $30,000.

They were looking at the stadium at 12:44 pm.

They saw a few puddles and thought the show was over. They didn’t realise that the doubling effect was just getting started.

Even if Bitcoin “only” grows at a conservative 25% per year for the next 20 years (way less than its history), a $10,000 investment today would turn into $867,000. Compare that to the stock market average (lets go with 10% per year), where that same money becomes just $67,000.

But let me be upfront with you - its not about making money here. Its about having a means of opting out.

The Opt Out Takeaway

Opting out isn’t just about leaving a job or traveling. It’s about opting out of linear thinking.

The world tells you to take the slow, linear path. Bitcoin operates on a curve.

Most people are standing in the stadium, looking at the puddles, laughing at the “magic water.”

Once you understand the math, you stop laughing, and you start building a raft.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about Bitcoin, leave me a comment - I’d be happy to answer them.

Thanks for reading.

But I promised to answer the question that stumped me for years: If it’s not just “digital gold” for speculation, what actually is it?

To understand the answer, I had to realise something uncomfortable about the money I already had.

The IOU Illusion

Open your banking app right now. Look at the balance.

You think you’re looking at your money. But you’re not. You’re looking at an IOU.

That number is just an entry in a database controlled by a bank. You are trusting them to let you spend it. You are trusting them not to freeze it. You are trusting the government not to print so much of it that your savings buy half as many eggs as they did three years ago.

The entire financial system is like a casino where the dealer holds your chips, controls the rules, and can print more chips whenever they start losing.

The problem isn’t money; the problem is trust. Every time we use digital money, we have to trust a middleman.

And that’s what Bitcoin actually solved. It figured out how to create digital money that doesn’t require a middleman.

The Magic Notebook

When I finally understood how Bitcoin did this, I stopped what I was doing and just stared at the screen.

Forget the technical jargon for a second. Imagine a magic notebook at a school .

• The Public Record: This notebook makes a copy of itself for every single student in the class. Everyone has the exact same record.

• The Verification: If someone wants to write “Kyfer gave Craig $20” in the notebook, everyone in the class has to check their copy and agree that I actually have $20 to give.

• The Permanence: Once it’s written, it’s written in pen. No teacher (or bank manager) can rip the page out or change the numbers.

This is essentially the Blockchain. It’s a public record maintained by thousands of computers (nodes) around the world, who reach consensus on updates roughly every 10 minutes.

Because everyone has the record, you don’t need a bank to verify the transaction. The network does it.

Share

The “Immaculate” Feature

But here is the part that really creates the “Opt Out” moment.

Every other crypto project or company has a CEO, a founder, or an office. People who can be pressured, regulated, or corrupted .

Bitcoin’s creator, “Satoshi Nakamoto”, did something unheard of. They released the code - the recipe for this digital fire and then vanished .

There is no one to arrest. There is no one to manipulate. There is no server to unplug. It belongs to everyone and no one.

Why this matters to us

When you hold Bitcoin in your own wallet (not on an exchange), you possess a Private Key.

This key isn’t a password to an account; it is the asset itself . It’s a “bearer asset,” just like cash in your pocket or gold in your hand. If you have the key, you have the money. No bank can freeze it. No government can seize it.

For the first time in human history, we have a way to send value to anyone, anywhere, instantly, without asking permission from a bank or a government .

It is the financial equivalent of taking your power back.

The Scarcity Factor

Oh, and one last thing.

There are 56 million millionaires in the world. There will only ever be 21 million Bitcoin. You do the math.

I know this is a lot to take in. It took me five years to wrap my head around it. But once you see the difference between “money by permission” and “money by ownership,” you can’t unsee it.

Coming up next:

If this is such a “no-brainer,” why isn’t everyone doing it? And is it too late to start now that the price is high?

Next week, I’m going to ask you a riddle about a stadium. The answer completely rewired my brain and it might just prove that we are still incredibly early.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about Bitcoin, leave me a comment - I’d be happy to answer them.

I appreciate your time.

Last time, we opened the door to a big question: what if the real "scam" isn't Bitcoin, but the very money we use every day?

That's a heavy thought, and if you're still skeptical, good. You should be. I was for years.

I’d lost money to crypto scams myself and experienced the gut punch of a market crash. Early on, I had every argument ready: too volatile, full of scams, wasteful of energy, no real value. I was sure I was right.

But the real turning point for me wasn't about Bitcoin's price. It was about questioning the traditional path I thought was smart, and then stumbling upon something that defied all my assumptions.

For years, I was in the property game. Like many of us, I’d been taught that property was the "safe" bet, the clear path to building wealth. On paper, it sounded perfect: buy, rent, refinance. I’d done the sums, planned the strategy, and it seemed like a solid move.

And for a while, things were 'alright'. But honestly? The reality became a financial headache and a time drain, especially as the tax benefits started to reduce the older the property got.

Oh, and don't get me started about endless fees, unexpected repairs, countless hours dealing with tenant issues... all for a return that, when I truly ran the numbers, just didn't feel worth the stress in the grand scheme of things.

The potential financial gain and the risk involved simply wasn't worth the peace of mind I was sacrificing.

I found myself asking: is this truly the path to freedom?

While I was neck-deep in property "fun", I kept hearing whispers about Bitcoin doing something crazy. My initial thought? "This is exactly the kind of speculative nonsense that ruins people." And when it crashed hard in 2018, it only confirmed my bias: "Flash in the pan. Going to zero."

But something kept nagging at me. Governments around the world were trying to kill it and failing. India, China, Egypt – they all banned it or severely restricted it. Yet, the network barely noticed. It just kept working. I mean, China has banned crypto 46 times.

Then, a moment arrived that changed everything. When the world locked down with COVID, I suddenly had something I’d never had before: time. Lots of it. That’s when I truly went down the Bitcoin rabbit hole.

I started digging, not because I believed, but because I was still trying to prove it wrong. What I found wasn't about quick riches, but something far more profound.

The real "aha" moment for me wasn't about price or how many big institutions were adopting it (though that's happening now too). It was realising what made Bitcoin truly special: those first ten years when nobody cared.

Bitcoin was like a secret fort being built deep in the woods by a group of determined kids. While everyone else was playing in the open, fancy playgrounds, this fort was quietly getting stronger.

It faced challenges – sometimes a branch would fall, or a wall might lean, but the kids always worked together to fix it, making it even tougher each time.

No grown-up was in charge telling them what to do; they just kept building and improving it, piece by piece, until it was super strong and could stand on its own, long before anyone else even knew it existed.

Most investments get hyped before they're truly ready (think Dot-com bubble or even some of the AI hype today). Bitcoin did the opposite.

It quietly built a bulletproof network of roots before the sunlight of public attention ever found it. After 15 years and countless "Bitcoin is dead" headlines, it's still processing transactions every 10 minutes with near-perfect uptime.

That’s when it clicked. This isn't just another investment. It's a completely new form of money, built from the ground up to be resilient.

You might be thinking, "Haven't I already missed the boat?"

Less than 7% of the world owns any Bitcoin.The internet took over 30 years to reach mass adoption, and Bitcoin is only 16 years old.

If you’re still skeptical, that’s great. This journey is about seeing what I saw, understanding what's truly happening. And I want to share that with you.

Coming up next: If Bitcoin isn't just "digital gold" or a payment system, what is it? I'll break down the crucial elements that truly changed my perspective.

Share Opt Out

If you want to support the newsletter, consider buying me a coffee and sharing to your friends.

We set a goal - a destination where we believe we’ll finally be able to take a full breath, relax, and enjoy the life we’ve worked so hard to create.

We tell ourselves we can put off happiness until we reach a certain milestone.

We picture this future version of ourselves, making a certain income, a specific job title, or a particular lifestyle, and we think, "That's when I'll be happy."

But this way of thinking is a trap.

We end up treating our present life as just a waiting room for the real event.

We trade things that are hard to measure, like our daily peace of mind, for things that are easy to count, like the number of dollars in our bank account or the growth of our business.

It’s a strange bargain to sacrifice our quality of life today in the hope of buying it back tomorrow.

The problem is, the finish line keeps moving.

There are those who don't know how to improve their lives and those who don't know when to stop improving.

We get so caught up in need of becoming better that we forget to simply be.

If you’ve ever felt this tension - this difficult balance between being satisfied with what you have and striving for what you want, then you are not alone.

This is the fundamental challenge for anyone on a path of growth.

It's not a personal failure; it's part of the process for every single person who wants to live a full life but also wants to enjoy the journey.

So, what can we do? How do we stay ambitious without deferring all of our joy to a future that may never arrive?

The solution might be simpler than we think: learn to collect moments of peace right where you are.

One powerful practice is to intentionally pause a few times a day for just 15 or 30 seconds.

The goal is to stop, take a breath, and let your mind rest where your feet are.

You can use a simple reminder. Personally, I have a note on your desk at home. You could even set an alarm on your phone. The goal here it to trigger this moment of presence.

In that brief pause, you can think about how the life you have now was once just a distant dream.

You can appreciate the progress you've made instead of focusing only on the mountain left to climb.

These small moments of gratitude act as an anchor, grounding you in the present and reminding you that a good life isn’t something you arrive at, but something you inhabit, moment by moment.

You must begin enjoying life right now, because now is the only time you ever truly have.

Closing Thought: Be Present

A great life is not a destination to be reached, but a texture to be felt in the here and now.

Just last week, my wife and I experienced one of those moments that really highlights what's missing from "normal" life.

We met up with a family of five we'd spent two incredible months travelling with last year through remote Western Australia.

We're talking about a serious stretch of road called the Gibb River Road.

A journey known for breaking both vehicles and spirits. But instead, it built bonds. Well, actually, it nearly broke me, s a conv’s a conversation for another time.

We had kept in touch with the occasional message, a quick call here and there.

Then, serendipity struck.

We were in Perth visiting family, and they just happened to be caravanning through. We seized the moment, dedicating a whole day to catching up. Lunch at a brewery, then off to allow the kids to tear around a park, then off to another spot for dinner and even more playtime.

Even then, as we said goodbye, the plan was already solidifying: we'd catch up and be neighbours again once we were back on the other side of the country.

And here we are. This past week, we pulled our rig into the same campsite, and within an hour, it was like they'd never left.

The kids were instantly out, bikes zooming, collecting sticks for a fire, a whirlwind of shared energy.

For us parents, it wasn't just a friendly reunion but like reconnecting with long-lost family. We hugged and caught up like we were lifelong friends.

That night was effortless. We shared a fire, dinner, and laughter. No invites needed, no awkward instigating; it just flowed. The kids acted like actual siblings.

This isn't a unique experience for us on the road. It's a common thread, a natural rhythm of giving and receiving, of shared vulnerability and spontaneous connection. But stepping back into "normal" life, it's a stark contrast…

Subscribe now

The Problem: Connected Yet Alone

This is where the paradox really hits.

We come off the road, where spontaneous hugs and shared campfires are the norm, and find ourselves in neighbourhoods where fences go back up and doors close.

Our calendars are jammed, our heads are often buried in devices, and those easy, organic interactions become rare gems.

Think about it: we live in a time with the most platforms designed for "connection." Facebook, Instagram, TikTok – an endless scroll of likes, comments, and carefully curated lives.

Yet, despite all these digital links, we often feel the most disconnected we've ever been. It's the ultimate paradox of modern life: connected yet profoundly alone.

It's like our natural opportunities to talk to people and meet new people are quietly vanishing. Take the gym, for example. I recently heard Arnold Schwarzenegger talk about the vibe in old gyms – places where people went to hang out, to talk, to bond, to spot each other and shoot the breeze.

It was a community.

Now? Most people walk in with their headphones firmly in place, often scared to even make eye contact, let alone strike up a conversation.

These once-natural hubs for connection have become isolating islands of individual effort.

We're not just putting up physical fences around our homes; we're raising emotional and virtual walls too.

It's almost as if we've forgotten how to simply be with each other, how to share the good and the bad without a formal invitation or a scheduled event.

This isn't just about feeling lonely; it's about a fundamental human need for belonging going unmet.

What We Can Do: Reclaiming Real Connection

It's easy to feel disheartened by this growing disconnect, especially if you're still navigating the daily grind with its demands and distractions.

But here's the thing: while the road might offer an ideal environment for connection, you don't have to pack up your life to find it.

Opting out of isolation and opting into genuine community is an intentional choice, and it's absolutely possible right where you are. It might take a bit more conscious effort, but the rewards are profound.

Here are a few ways to start lowering those walls and inviting more authentic connection into your life:

• Embrace Micro-Moments of Connection: You don't need to schedule a three-course dinner. Start small. A genuine smile and eye contact with the person making your coffee, the cashier at the supermarket, or a neighbour walking their dog can spark a tiny, human moment. Try asking a casual, open-ended question instead of just a transactional "thanks."

• Ditch the Headphones (Sometimes): I get it, sometimes you just want to zone out. But intentionally leave them at home during a gym session, or take them off during a walk around your neighbourhood. This simple act sends a signal that you're open to the world around you, not closed off. You might be surprised who strikes up a conversation or who you feel comfortable approaching.

• Be the "OptOut Neighbour": What if we approached our local streets with the same openness we find on the road? Could you offer to help a neighbour with something small? Share a home cooked meal? Or just stop for a quick chat when you see them instead of rushing past? Even a simple, consistent wave can chip away at those fences.

• Seek Out Shared Spaces (Analog Style): Think beyond your home and office. Are there local community catch ups, a true neighbourhood cafe, a volunteer group, or a small, independent shop where people linger and chat? Becoming a regular at these places creates a foundation for familiar faces and organic interactions. Look for groups that align with your interests – whether it's a book club, a kids nature play group, or a local sporting team.

• Lead with Gentle Vulnerability: Often, we wait for others to make the first move, but that can lead to a stalemate. Try sharing a small, low-stakes observation or thought about your day. "It's been such a wild week," or "How good is a coffee." as you walk past someone with a coffee cup. These little openings invite engagement without demanding it.

Share

Closing Thought: The Human Need

Ultimately, connection isn't a luxury; it's a fundamental human need.

It's woven into our well-being, our joy, and our sense of purpose.

While the modern world often pushes us towards isolation, choosing to actively build and seek out genuine community – even in the midst of the daily grind – is one of the most powerful ways to craft a life that feels truly intentional, aligned, and meaningful.

Where do you find your moments of true connection amidst the daily grind? What's one small step you could take this week to lower a wall and invite connection?

Ive heard that your 30s can be a strange, transformative time. The rules you followed in your 20s? Well they start to feel a bit… off.

The old markers of success? Not quite hitting the same.

This isn’t a breakdown. It’s a breakthrogh.

Here’s a tongue-in-cheek, dead-serious starter kit for anyone opting out of the normal grind life - whether you are in your 30s or not.

1. A calendar with space in it (on purpose)

You used to glorify “busy.” Now you crave breathing room. Margin isn’t laziness, it’s oxygen.

Do yourself a favour and block out time in your calendar for “free time”.

2. A hobby that doesn’t earn money

You let yourself do something just because it’s fun. No monetisation strategy, no ROI. Just joy.

3. A journal that captures your life - not someone else’s goals

You stopped copying routines from billionaire YouTubers and started asking what you actually want.

Check out the trick to journaling on how to journal easily.

4. A phone with notifications turned off (mostly)

You don’t need to be reachable 24/7. Most of it can wait.

The world will continue on just fine without constant updates.

5. Work you don’t hate, or a plan to get there

You’re either doing meaningful work or actively creating an exit ramp.

That alone puts you in rare company.

6. Two or three ride-or-die friends who ask “how’s your energy?” instead of “how’s work?”

Because the point isn’t status, it’s soul.

7. A clear sense of what “enough” looks like

You’ve stopped chasing more for the sake of it. Now you chase time, peace, impact.

8. A to-do list that includes things like “walk”, “read”, “nap”, or “call mum”

Turns out, these are the actual needle-movers in life.

Your 30s are when the illusions start to fall away and if you’re paying attention, you start to realise you can opt out.

You can unsubscribe from the norm.

You can question the script.

You can build something better.

One decision, one boundary, one unglamorous but powerful “no thanks” at a time.

What would be on your own Opt Out Starter Kit?

Leave a comment and share one thing you’ve added — or removed — in the name of a better life.

Leave a comment

One-liner takeaway:

The real 30s starter kit? Unsubscribing from the grind and choosing what matters — even when it’s not what’s popular.

Last week, I wrote about how we often wait for permission that never comes. And how most doors in life aren’t actually locked.

But even when we know that, it’s still easy to stall. We want to be sure. We want to get it right. And when the stakes feel high or there’s no obvious “right answer”, we can get caught in analysis paralysis.

This week, I want to share two decision-making tools I’ve been using to move forward with more clarity and confidence.

They come from The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco, and they’ve helped me stop spinning and start moving.

1. Worst Case Consequence Analysis (WCCA)

What it is:
A fast, practical way to defuse fear and build perspective.

How it works:

• Ask: What’s the worst-case scenario if I do this?

• Then ask: Can I live with that?

• Follow up: What’s the most likely scenario?

• And finally: What’s the best-case scenario?

This tool is all about grounding your fears in reality and stopping vague anxiety from running the show.

Example:
Earlier this year, I was hesitating to launch this newsletter. Not because I didn’t want to write, but because I was nervous about how it might be received.

So I ran a quick WCCA:

• Worst case: A few people unsubscribe. Some people don’t get it. I feel exposed or self-conscious.

• Can I handle that? Definitely. Minor discomfort at worst.

• Most likely scenario: A few people read, some resonate, and it starts small.

• Best case: I build real connection, sharpen my ideas, and this becomes something meaningful for both me and the readers.

Once I saw it that clearly, it was a no-brainer to hit publish.

2. Weighted Average Decision Matrix (WADM)

What it is:
A structured tool for making clear comparisons between multiple options.

How it works:

• Write down your choices (across the top).

• List what matters most to you (down the side) — things like flexibility, income, purpose, location, etc.

• Score each option from 1 to 10 on each factor.

• Assign a weight to each factor based on how important it is to you.

• Multiply and total the scores. The highest score shows the best overall fit.

This tool is great when you’re comparing good-but-different options and want to avoid going in circles.

Example:
A friend was torn between three job offers. Each had something going for it. One paid the most, one was aligned with their values, and one had amazing flexibility.

They built a quick matrix:

By multiplying and adding the scores, Job C clearly came out on top, even though it paid the least. That clarity helped them commit with confidence.

Give it a go

Think about a decision that’s been weighing on you. Big or small, it doesn’t matter.

Try using WCCA or WADM (or both) to break it down and get some perspective.

Then hit reply or leave a comment. I’d love to hear what you discover.

Leave a comment

One-liner takeaway: You make better decisions when you stop guessing and start measuring.

Until next time,
Kyfer

P.S. If you want a simple template for either of these tools, let me know and I’ll send one your way.

Subscribe now

Ever find yourself waiting? Waiting for the right moment, the perfect plan, or maybe even for someone to give you the nod, that little green light that says, "Okay, you can go now"?

It’s a funny thing, this habit of seeking permission. I think it’s drilled into us from way back. At school, you raise your hand. At your first job, you check with the boss.

It becomes this invisible script we follow, often without even realising it.

We learn to look outside ourselves for validation before we make a move.

I had a bit of a lightbulb moment about this not too long ago, though it’s been brewing for a while.

It’s the rather stark realisation that, for the most part, no one is coming to save you.

No one is going to magically appear with a perfectly tailored instruction manual for the life you want or the thing you want to do. If you want something, you generally need to ask for it, or more often, just go get it. Or do it.

My family and I spent some time caravanning around Australia. It was one of those "someday" dreams. And honestly, if we'd waited for all the stars to align perfectly, for external "permission," or for me to stop waiting for the absolute "right time"... well, we’d probably still be waiting. It would likely have remained a "someday" that never arrived.

Taking that leap, and looking back at other moments in life, has really cemented this for me: no matter what situation you find yourself in, you usually have more power to change it than you think - especially if it's a situation you don't like.

What I’m learning, slowly but surely, is that the only person truly holding you back is often yourself.

It’s so easy to get caught in the loop of overthinking, planning every conceivable detail until the opportunity passes you by - I call this analysis paralysis.

But the real movement, the real learning, happens when you just... start.

Get moving, and figure things out along the way.

It’s not always easy, of course. That little voice that craves certainty or approval can be pretty loud. So, something I’m consciously trying is to back myself more on decisions I might have previously sought a dozen opinions on.

When I'm at that crossroads, especially with work-related things where I might have once looked for that "sign off," I try to run a quick internal check: "Okay, what's the absolute worst-case scenario here?" And then: "Does the potential upside, the benefit of doing this, heavily outweigh that risk?" More often than not, the worst-case scenario is manageable, and the potential benefit is worth the leap, however small. It’s like building a new muscle.

And why does any of this matter? Why share it? Because this isn't about encouraging everyone to become a rebel or to go around being a troublemaker. It’s about agency. It’s about knowing, truly knowing deep down, that you have the power to choose.

You have the inherent freedom to act.

The most fulfilled and impactful people I’ve observed don't seem to wait for permission. They try stuff. They experiment. When they get advice from someone, they don’t just swallow it whole; they adapt it to their unique situation, mixing and matching different approaches.

Think about it: when someone gives you advice, it’s not a command. It's simply one option, one perspective.

When you read a book full of ideas, those aren't immutable laws. They're possibilities.

When you see someone else succeed with a particular method, that’s not a map you have to follow step-by-step. It's just proof that one way worked for them.

Your life, your work, your projects – they all get a lot easier and more aligned with who you are when you realise that nobody is really standing in your way. Most of the doors aren't even locked. You can just walk right through.

The barriers we perceive are so often self-created, built by that old habit of waiting for an unnecessary green light.

So, maybe this week, notice where you might be waiting for permission you don’t actually need. What’s one small step you could take, just by deciding to?

Until next time,

Kyfer

One-liner takeaway: You can just do things—most doors aren't locked.

If you want to support the newsletter, consider buying me a coffee a month.

If you enjoyed this read, the best compliment I could receive is if you shared it with one person or restacked it.

Subscribe now

I’ve tried to build a journaling habit more times than I can count.

It always started the same way: a new notebook, a nice pen, a stack of “powerful prompts” saved to my Notes app, and the best of intentions. I’d write for a few days, maybe a week, and then life would get in the way. I’d miss a few entries, lose the momentum, and eventually shelve the whole thing.

The problem? I kept designing a habit for the ideal version of myself — not the real one.

The ideal me had time, energy, and a clear mind at the end of the day. The real me? Three kids, full calendar, brain like a browser with 47 tabs open.

Then I came across something simple from Sahil Bloom that finally stuck. A framework that actually works (for me anyway).

The 1-1-1 Method.

It’s as straightforward as it sounds.

Each evening (or whenever I can), I jot down three things:

• 1 win from the day

• 1 tension or stress that’s on my mind

• 1 thing I’m grateful for

That’s it.

No big essay. No pressure to be profound. Just a quick pause to reflect and It takes maybe 3–5 minutes. But the shift it creates? Surprisingly big.

The “win” reminds me I’m making progress, even if the day felt messy.

The “tension” clears space in my head.

The “gratitude” helps me zoom out and see the bigger picture.

More importantly, it’s easy enough that I actually do it.

No fancy ritual. No elaborate system. Just a notebook and a few quiet minutes.

And in the middle of a full life, you forget how much you need it.

If you’ve ever felt like journalling should work for you — but it never quite clicked — maybe this version will.

Let me know if you give it a try.

Before you go, Ive got a favour to ask - Which of the following do you like the best for the ‘feel’ of the newsletter? And yes, its got a new name (again).

Until next time,

Kyfer

If you enjoyed this read, the best compliment I could receive is if you shared it with one person or restacked it.

Share

Over the past year, I've found myself diving into videos and podcasts about the brain.

Neuroscientists, psychologists, the whole lot.

I was mostly chasing answers to a few questions:

1. why I default to certain habits,

2. how come I fall into or out of focus and

3. what's actually going on when I can't seem to think clearly.

Turns out, understanding how my mind works has helped me understand how I work, or at least for me its an ongoing process.

One of the biggest lessons has been getting honest about capacity.

It's easy to slip into that mindset of "I just need to push a bit harder and I'll get it done."

But I've noticed that when I'm hunched at my desk, shoulders tight and jaw clenched, I'm already well past the point of being productive.

These days, I try to take that as a signal.

I need water, a walk, or to stop pretending I can push through.

Of course, that's not always easy, especially when there are deadlines.

Lately, I've been trying to embrace a bit of a 'life edit'. Slowing down, making space, and catching up on the little jobs that fall through the cracks when things are busy. It's a more gentle pace, and honestly, it's a relief.

But there's a trade-off - when things feel a bit too calm, I can lose momentum.

Then, when work gets busy again, I have to work hard to make sure I'm not glued to the desk or thinking about work all day.

I'm starting to think this is just part of being human. If hours worth of podcasts have taught me anything, it's that our brains are trying their best, but they're easily knocked off course by exhaustion, too much input, distraction, or stress.

So, I've found a few small rules that help me stay steady. They're nothing groundbreaking, but they work for me:

Start small to get going

Doing the easiest thing first. Sending that one email, putting on a load of washing, and making the appointment I've been avoiding always gives me some momentum. Once I've started, I'm more likely to keep going.

Use your best hours well

I've learned that my mind is sharpest in the morning. From about 7am until midday, that's when I do my best creative thinking. So I try to write or do focused work in that window, and push meetings and admin to the afternoon when possible.

Sweat helps clear the fog

A walk is good. But a proper workout, the kind that gets my heart pumping and forces me to concentrate (Think high-intensity interval training), does wonders for my brain. Just 15 minutes can reset the whole day.

Now, I have to be honest here - I haven't really got this one under control but I'm aware and working on it.

Embrace time to do nothing

Whether it's an hour here or a few hours there, I try to embrace the random moments that pop up where I can just do nothing. These are few and far between with three kids but letting them play while I sit and watch is sometimes good enough.

Go offline when you're stuck

When things feel tangled, I turn to paper. A notebook and journalling have to be some of the most impactful things I've done to help with my scattered mind. it's about giving my brain space to breathe.

That's the season I'm in. Trying to work with myself, not against. Letting things move a little slower when they need to. And trusting that flow comes back when the conditions are right.

Until next time,

Kyfer

Subscribe now

What does financial freedom actually mean?

That question’s been sitting with me. And over the past few weeks, I’ve been working through it.

I’m not writing this from the finish line.

I’m in it right now.

Sorting out what I want, what matters, and what needs to change.

But I’ll tell you this - getting clearer on my version of freedom has shifted something positive in me.

Here’s what’s helped.

Step 1: Define What Freedom Means to You

Forget the generic goals.

This is personal.

For me, freedom looks like:

• Being present with my kids.

• Having time for deep, meaningful work (without the pressure of monetising every moment).

• Choosing where and how I work, not being dictated by it.

Yours might look different. That’s the point.

Write it down. Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for true.

Step 2: Calculate Your “Freedom Number”

Once you know what the life looks like, figure out the price tag.

Not in some massive, millionaire kind of way. Just in terms of:

• What would it take each month to fund that life?

• What’s your personal “enough”?

For some, it’s $5,000/month. For others, $10,000.

Pick a number. You can adjust later.

Subscribe now

Step 3: Use the GPS Framework

This idea from Ali Abdaal really clicked for me:

• Goal – What’s the target?

• Plan – What path will get you there?

• System – What habits will keep you moving?

When I mapped this out, I realised my current plan wasn’t built to reach my goal. It was built to maintain comfort.

Comfort isn’t bad. But it’s not freedom either.

Step 4: Bridge the Knowledge Gap

This was a big one.

I used to think I just needed to “work harder” or “do more.”

Truth is, I needed to learn differently.

There was a gap between what I knew and what I needed to know to create the life I want.

So I’ve been diving into recently:

• The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco - Great book to read if you want to change your mindset to support this financial freedom journey!

• Million Dollar Weekend by Noah Kagan - Yet to finish, but lots of actionable advice.

• Podcasts with builders, creators, contrarians - So many to list. Let me know if you are interested in some.

It’s not about passive consumption. It’s targeted learning. Like studying for a test with high stakes.

Because this is one.

Step 5: Optimise Like You Mean It

This is the unsexy part.

But it’s where freedom is earned.

• Waking up earlier to train.

• Using downtime to learn, not scroll.

• Blocking time to build instead of reacting.

• Surrounding yourself with people who push you forward.

These small shifts compound.

They don’t feel flashy. But they build momentum, and with momentum comes clarity.

Where I’m At Now

I don’t have it all figured out.

But I have a direction.

I’ve mapped the gap and I’m starting to move - consistently, and with intention.

And that’s a kind of freedom in itself.

If you’re in a similar spot - questioning, searching, mapping your own version of “enough” - you’re not alone.

This newsletter is part of me sharing the process while I live it. If it helps you, even a little, I’ll call that a win.

More soon.

— Kyfer

Subscribe now

P.S Here is the first attempt of using ChatGPT to create an image.

Im not sure why I am sad but here is the exact prompt I used

Create a Pixar-like character of me (using the photo ive uploaded) pondering about financial freedom. Don’t include the bag in the picture.

This week, while holidaying in Tasmania with the family, I had one of those moments. The kind where life slows down just enough that your mind starts to wander in the spacious, meaningful kind of way.

Down here we have been staying with a family who we met while caravanning. They have four kids of their own and between us we have seven little ones running around having the time of their lives. To make things even better, we have swapped our caravans for a life of luxury living out of Airbnb’s - did someone say “flushing toilets and king beds”!?

We had just finished a big day of adventuring. The kids were worn out (in the best way) and resting outside.

I was out the back enjoying a late-arvo coffee. The sun was dipping low and the world felt still. As I sipped away in this tiny coastal town, the thought hit me:

I want financial freedom.

But almost immediately after, another question followed:

Wait… what even is financial freedom?

I used to think it was a number. A specific figure in a bank account or a passive income stream that meant you never had to work again. That definition used to drive me - until it didn’t.

Because here’s the thing: I know people who’ve hit their “number.” They have the house, the investments, the flexibility. However, some of them still feel anxious. Trapped. Busy. Burnt out. The money didn’t unlock peace; it seemed to have shifted the pressure to new places.

So maybe financial freedom isn’t about the money. Or at least, not just the money. Perhaps it’s more about what the money permits you to do. Or be.

Sitting there in Tasmania, over a few nights' worth of journaling, I scribbled a few things down. For me, financial freedom started to look like:

• Choosing work because it excites me, not because I have to.

• Having slow mornings where I’m not rushing anyone out the door.

• Saying no without guilt.

• Starting projects from curiosity, not pressure.

• Being more present, more often.

• Adventuring wherever we want, whenever we want.

It felt less like a finish line and more like a way of living. I can't quite explain it, but I feel like it would be a quiet confidence that you’re living without worry.

A life where your money isn’t managing you - instead, you’re using it to shape a life that feels good on the inside, not just the outside.

I don’t have a tidy answer - no 10-step framework. Just a gut feeling that maybe the real goal isn’t a number: it’s agency. The ability to choose how you spend your time, your energy, your days.

So here’s my question to you:

What does financial freedom mean to you?

Not the polished version - the real one.

Hit reply if you feel like sharing. Or just let it simmer in the back of your mind next time you’re on a beach, on a hike, or just sitting still for a minute. Sometimes the answers sneak up on us when we’re not trying too hard.

Thank you for reading.

- Kyfer