Chapter 1: Embracing Change

“Scott, what were you thinking? You left a secure job! Have you seen the competition in writing? This is impossible!”

These thoughts swirled in my mind like a storm. I was overwhelmed—completely unprepared for the journey ahead.

In simple terms, I was freaking out.

A Moment of Panic

This panic attack occurred just two weeks ago. A month earlier, I had made the bold decision to pursue writing full-time.

After the initial shock, I took a step back to analyze what had triggered such an emotional wave. I know I have the skills—I secured a $2,000/month freelance contract in just a week—so what triggered my anxiety?

For one, posting on LinkedIn stirred a sense of existential dread. Another factor was the stress of collaborating with accountants. An email from my team left me feeling like I wanted to bang my head against the wall—“Just give me a clear answer!”

Sleepless nights followed, but then something shifted in my mindset.

I switched on the “Giving” mindset. Suddenly, everything felt vibrant and positive. My perspective changed; I began to see the multitude of people I could assist. Being self-employed became exciting!

If you’ve recently made a leap into the unknown and are feeling similarly anxious, here are five strategies to help you shift from scarcity to a “f*ck yeah!” attitude.

#1: Create Your “Wall of Joy”

Jerine and Eve inspired me with a simple interaction:

I decided to build my own version of a “Wall of Joy” on Notion, filled with uplifting messages, thoughtful emails, and encouraging comments I've received over the past three years. Now, when I'm feeling down, I revisit it. It’s like receiving a warm hug from countless supporters, reminding me that I’m not alone.

#2: Focus on Your “One Thing”

When juggling multiple responsibilities, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. In these moments, I return to my grounding question: “What’s the ONE Thing I can do, such that by doing it, everything else will be easier or unnecessary?” — Gary Keller, Author of The ONE Thing.

For instance, my financial target this year is to earn £10K/month from freelance writing. Thus, my “ONE thing” is to send out more proposals—10 proposals typically lead to one new client.

James Clear emphasizes that maintaining focus is essential, quoting Patrick McKenzie, “Our secret weapon is patient execution of what everyone knows they should be doing…”

To maximize productivity, Josh Kaufman suggests the 3–10–20 method: complete three major tasks and ten minor tasks each day.

#3: Acknowledge Your Progress

I try to avoid dwelling on the past, but reflecting on how far I’ve come can be beneficial. A recent LinkedIn post highlighted my journey: “Two and a bit years later, I’ve replaced my 9–5 with freelancing, online courses, blogging, and affiliate income.”

I’ve had tremendous support along the way—from my girlfriend’s private messages to thoughtful emails from friends. Reminding myself of my journey can reinvigorate my motivation and inspire others to pursue their paths.

#4: Keep Your Goals Visible

Many people write down their goals during moments of inspiration but fail to create actionable plans. They drift into autopilot.

“I need to see my goals every day,” Shaan Puri explains, using reminders in Slack to keep track of his objectives. Personally, I prefer the traditional method of writing my 12-month goals on a whiteboard at the foot of my bed. My goals are also visible on my Momentum dashboard, a Chrome extension that has significantly boosted my productivity.

#5: Implement Vision Boards

During a lively discussion on My First Million, Shaan mentioned how visualizing goals can be more motivating than mere text. This led to a conversation about vision boards.

Vision boards tap directly into emotions. Instead of fixating on monetary targets, find images representing your aspirations. My desktop background serves as a vision board, showcasing inspiring figures and dream home designs, which I see every time I log in.