If this isn't nice, what is?

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Hi friends,

There’s a piece of advice from Kurt Vonnegut that’s been on my mind lately. He used to say his Uncle Alex had this habit—whenever something good happened, no matter how small, Uncle Alex would pause, smile, and say:

It’s one of those simple, almost too-obvious things that’s easy to ignore. But lately, I’ve been thinking about how powerful that practice really is.

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A Year Ago, I Was Miserable

This time last year, I was sitting in English class, feeling absolutely miserable.

Every day felt the same: sit in class, complete busywork I didn’t care about, and daydream about being literally anywhere else. The bell would ring, and I’d shuffle to another brick box to repeat the cycle.

I wanted freedom—to live a life that felt bigger, to take control of my time, and to finally escape.

Fast forward to today, and everything is different.

My business is thriving. I’m the strongest, fittest, and most energetic I’ve ever been. And my mind is constantly blown with all the cool people and opportunities that come my way because of the ideas I share online.

But the most exciting change isn’t anything external—it’s internal. For the first time, I feel proud of who I’m becoming.

Back then, I’d scroll Instagram or YouTube and feel insecure seeing others live the life I wanted. Now, the life I’m living is the one I used to dream about.

It’s crazy to think how much can change in a year with focused effort.

If I’m being honest, it still feels a little weird to share all this. Part of me worries it sounds like bragging. But then I remember something I told a friend recently:

Sitting in a high school classroom watching other people live the life I wanted made me slightly envious, but it also inspired me. It gave me proof that if they could do it, so could I.

That’s why I’m sharing this now. If you’re reading this and you feel stuck—if you’re longing for something more—let me be the reminder that one year of focused effort can change everything.

Your Challenge This Week

Take a moment to think about where you are now.

What’s something in your life today that your past self would’ve dreamed of?

Pause. Smile. And say to yourself: “If this isn’t nice, I don’t know what is.”

Grateful for this moment,

Jay

Top Tweets of The Week

Great article on this: There’s No Speed Limit

“Discipline is choosing between what you want now and what you want most”

Don’t ask for advice on your ideas, ask for feedback on your attempts.

Had a call with Ryan Holiday’s head of content this week. One line he said that I can’t get out of my head: “One of Ryan’s greatest skills is his ability to bend public perception both of himself and the products he markets.”

🫳🎤

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