Everyone’s chasing the perfect plan—read the books, follow the steps, do it “right.” But most of the success I’ve seen doesn’t come from plans. It comes from motion. From doing things that look random but actually stack up. From being just grounded enough to see reality, and just delusional enough to bend it.
1. The Past Is Overrated
People romanticize the past like it’s this treasure chest of wisdom. But honestly? Most of it is noise. I don’t need to rewatch the movie of my mistakes in 4K. I got the lesson the first time.
Yes, the past shaped me. Sure, there are things I can learn. But obsessing over what could’ve been is just a distraction. It’s like trying to drive forward while staring in the rearview mirror.
Bottom line: take the lesson, leave the baggage.
2. Be Brutally Honest About the Present
This is where most people fumble. They want to feel good about where they are instead of knowing where they are. Big difference.
Being realistic isn’t being negative. It’s just knowing the score. What skills do I actually have? What do I suck at? What am I pretending not to see?
When I’m clear on the present, I can actually move. Delusion about the now is a trap. Clarity is a launchpad.
3. The Future Is for (Productive) Delusion
This is the fun part. The future is where I let myself go off-script. No limits. No gatekeepers. Just reckless belief in things that might happen.
It’s not lying to myself—it’s strategic delusion. The kind that creates motion. That says, “I don’t know how this will work, but I’m going to act like it will.”
Some of the best things in life started out as dumb ideas I couldn’t stop thinking about. Delusion isn’t the problem. Inaction is.
4. Engineer Serendipity
This is the cheat code.
You don’t “get lucky” by sitting in your room waiting for fate to show up. You get lucky by doing stuff—tweeting, building, talking to people, sharing, shipping. You create surface area for luck to land.
I call it engineering serendipity: setting up your life so that good things have more chances to collide with you.
Go to the event. DM the person. Build the thing. Take the small swing. Not everything will hit—but something will, and that something changes everything.
5. The Formula (If There Is One)
Forget the past.
Get real about now.
Dream stupid big about what’s next.
And take enough shots that the universe can’t ignore you.
That’s not a blueprint. It’s more like a vibe. But it works.
You don’t need to predict the future. You just need to move toward it like it’s already yours. Be clear-eyed about where you are, wildly optimistic about where you’re going, and intentional about putting yourself in the path of good things. That’s how you win—by showing up enough times to get lucky on purpose.