How to Stand Out

3 Thoughts

I.

Greatness isn't a climb, it's a descent.

Into pain. Into suffering. Into the darkest parts of your soul. Where you finally face the person you've been avoiding and you're left with nothing but the truth. You go past the person you play at parties. Past the excuses that used to feel justified. Past every identity that kept you safe but small. And that's when you understand. Rock bottom isn’t failure.

It’s foundation. It’s a place where you’re forced to face yourself and burn away everything that isn't real. You can't get to heaven without first going through hell.

Face yourself. Truthfully. Courageously.

Completely. Only then can you rise.

II.

Inconsistent people watch consistent people change the world.

III.

Hot take: Self-love is overrated.

Sometimes the best motivation is refusing to accept where you are. When you're failing, they'll tell you to be gentle with yourself. To practice compassion. To write affirmations on your mirror. But maybe what you need isn't a hug. Maybe what you need is hunger. That voice telling you you're not good enough? Listen to it. Let it burn. Let it sting. Let it wake you up at 4am with something to prove.

The gap between who you are and who you could be should piss you off. That's how you know it matters. Use the dissatisfaction. Use the restlessness. Use that gnawing feeling that you're capable of more to push yourself. Stop trying to love yourself into greatness. Start using the discomfort as direction.

2 Quotes

I.

"Some people are so poor, all they have is money" - Bob Marley

II.

“The world is full of people suffering from the effects of their own unlived life. They become bitter, critical, or rigid, not because the world is cruel to them, but because they have betrayed their own inner possibilities. The artist who never makes art becomes cynical about those who do. The lover who never risks loving mocks romance. The thinker who never commits to a philosophy sneers at belief itself. And yet, all of them suffer, because deep down they know: the life they mock is the life they were meant to live.” - Carl Jung

1 Game-Changing Idea

There once was a father with three sons, all of whom worked at the same fur trading company. The first son earned $100 a week, the second $300, and the third $500. Curious about the pay gap, the father asked the company president why.

The president decided to show him.

He called in the first son and said, “There’s a ship called The Ontario. I hear it’s carrying furs. Check it out and report back.” The son made a call and returned in five minutes. “They have 1,500 seal furs,” he said.

The president thanked him and called in the second son. He gave the same instructions. An hour later, the son came back and said, “I went to the dock. They have 1,500 seal furs in excellent condition.”

Finally, the president called in the third son. The same instructions. Four hours later, the third son walked into the office and said, “I went to the dock. They have 1,500 seal furs, all in top condition, so I bought them at $5 each. I also found a buyer willing to pay $7, so I sold them. While I was there, I noticed they had 39 mink furs, which I know you like to handle personally. I’ve put a hold on them for an hour so you can inspect them. Is there anything else I can do?”

The president turned to the father and said, “That’s why.”

The first son did the bare minimum. The second did was was asked. But the third son? He gave the extra ounce.

What separates those who stand out isn’t just their talent or skill - it’s how much further they’re willing to go. The third brother could have made the same call as his siblings, but he didn’t. He stood out by doing more, by being unmistakable in his contribution.

What could this look like for you?

If you’re an artist, it might mean doing an extra revision even when you think your piece is done. If you’re an entrepreneur, it might mean doing research and preparing a pitch deck before meeting a client. If you’re a college student, it could be sending a handwritten thank-you note after an interview instead of an email.

Each extra ounce you give creates opportunities that wouldn’t have existed otherwise.

The question is simple: Will you stop at good enough, or will you push for just a little more? Will you do what’s expected, or will you be the one who goes the extra inch, the extra rep, the extra hour?

In the end, will you be remembered for simply showing up? Or for going above and beyond?

Until next week,
Jay “Be The Third Brother” Yang

Ps. This week’s idea was an excerpt from my book You Can Just Do Things. If you haven’t already, I’d be honored if you checked it out!

Pps. He’s not wrong.

Kind words for ‘You Can Just Do Things’

You can grab your copy here.

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