David Labs

Love entrepreneurs and unconventional businesses.
I preach life balance in all forms - whatever that means to you.
Slightly Canadian.

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@mrcabasvidani The power to work per your own values and beliefs is the most understated perk of being a solopreneur, or entrepreneur if any kind for that matter, by miles. It makes everything else more seamless, more coherent.

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@muncini Words from a man of experience

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

Starting your own brand is scary.

After I’ve started and failed, this is what I find even scarier : Half-assing it.

If you go, go all in. That way, if you fail, you won’t have regrets.
And if you do fail, you’ll have learned so much more.

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@AarxnShepherd I'd much rather have a smaller but very engaged and focused community than one million tiktok followers looking for more clickbait (but perfectly looped) content.

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

There is one key to being successful as an entrepreneur.

Something we used to hide, we used to avoid talking about.

Mental health.

There is no template for your mental health.

You are one of one, and nobody else can feel exactly what you feel. Not every emotion, every thought has a purpose : some just pop up at times more or less convenient.

While some people will try to relate based in their own experiences, similar conditions don't mean similar outcome. You have to trust yourself and know when to get help.

This is 2023

Is there still stigma? Probably. Is it as bad as previous generations made it? Not nearly.

We are part of an era where you are not only allowed, but encouraged to seek help if you need it.

It does not mean that you don't need courage. It does not make it meaningless. It just normalises it. It is now accepted that humans are... well, human.

This is your own process.

When I first seeked help, I told my wife I was getting help from a therapist. Nothing more.

It took months before I told strangers, because it didn't matter. I would never see them again. Judge away.

It took even longer before I told my brother.

But today, I don't mind saying it out loud. It's part of the process, it's part of my process.

It is not expected to be sunshine and rainbows everyday.

Starting a project, a business, or anything of the kind is challenging. It takes patience, courage, time and dedication. On some days, that is easy, natural and organic.

On other days, it is challenging and comes at the expense of you.

If you need help, go get it. Please.

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@stijnnoorman Yes

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@thedanbelyaev Client

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

I own my time, I make it count.

Coming from a profession where time at the office was praised, and was probably the most important metric, this resonates so much.

Drop useless reunions, don't take emergencies unless they really are, own your schedule.

I would never go back. I own my time. I make it count.

[Serkan Toplu @theserkantoplu]

@stijnnoorman You don't have to work 12 hours a day.

You need 4 hours of focused work.

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

I'm pretty sure you have the right skills but don't market them right.

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@mrcabasvidani I've found that having a semi-defined structure helps me be more present. If I've got a defined slot in my schedule, I find it easier to turn off the rest of focus 100%.

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@mrcabasvidani @stijnnoorman Accurately defined Indeed.

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@DCopyBoy Right on!

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

Serious question.

Those of you who haven't made the jump from employed to #freelance or #solopreneur, or don't have a side projet, what's holding you back?

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@mrcabasvidani @stijnnoorman Experimenting, perhaps failing, will teach you much more than anything you can read or listen to.

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@stijnnoorman I'm experimenting at the moment, and will most definitely implement the advice from this post. Thanks!

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@stijnnoorman There's huge value to see direct (though not necessarily instantaneous) results to your actions - And control is the enabling factor to that.

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

1 daily habit.

That's precisely how far away you are - and I am, for that matter - From achieving greatness.

4 steps.
1 commitment - To do them every day.

Here's how to build meaningful habits, leading to crushing your goals :

1) Design your dream life

- It should be a holistic view of your perfect life
- Needs to be in line with your values
- Does not have to be easily attainable

This is just to give you reference as to where you want to go - What aspects of your life would be improved versus today.

2) Set a meaningful habit that is moving you toward that vision

- Small (or not), daily habit that you would benefit from implementing
- Must be easy to measure, specific (i.e. not "I will be more kind to others.")
- Directly related to step 1

Your habit needs to be a stepping stone towards your dream life - it should be a direct path, no matter how long.

3) Build the system around your habit

- Set a moment for your habit (i.e. at 2PM, or directly after lunch)
- Make it obvious (i.e. Design an environment that forces you to go through with your habit)
- Create a ritual around it
- Make it easy (i.e. Leave your workout clothes - The clean ones, of course - in plain sight)

Then

Track it. Every. Single. Day.
Doesn't matter if you're doing a spreadsheet, using an app or writing it down in your journal. But don't skip the tracking part.

4) Assess your results

- Have you been slacking off? If so, your system is not working. Redesign it ASAP.
- Have you been getting poor results despite consistency? If so, your habit may not be in line with your goal.
- Have you been going long enough to see results? Perhaps you just need to stick with it a little longer :)

From there, all that is left to do is run the cycle again.

Habits are not made to be permanent - Because your life situation, and your goals are not ever evolving.

This little strategy is based on many books I have read throughout the years, namely Atomic Habits, Rich Dad Poor Dad, I Will Teach You To Be Rich and many more.
It is, however, my own take and a much condensed version, which works for me.

#entrepreneurs #habits #selfimprovement

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@FehzaanHaaris Forced slowdowns have always been gifts from life for me. Make the most of it!

Heal well ;)

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

We are afraid of great stories.

We fear that, by having events related in a compelling, bold manner, they will get

Disfigured
Wrongfully embellished.

Let me tell you : Storytelling is but a catalyst.
It does not take sides; it amplifies impact.
It does not alter truth; It changes perception.

I am no expert at it, but I’m striving to tell today's stories better than I did yesterday.
Here are master storytellers I learn from everyday
(And their TLDR, I guess🙃)

Jesse Eckel
@Jesseeckel

Stories about money, crypto, small businesses, and strides of luck and misfortune. Jesse has a way of telling intricate stories simply, in the most organic manner.

He has inspired thousands during the heights of crypto, and risen turmoil when things came crashing down. His narrative, however, stayed that of one who loves great adventures; his formula, simply matured with iterations.

I very much look up to Jesse for the way he can condense hundreds of hours of research in a minute; yet he can make a one-minute twist of fate a 20 minute story.

Max Maher
@Maxwell_Maher

From macro-level economic concepts to the tiniest one-person success stories, Max is a true fanatic of business in the truest, largest sense.
And of hair care, apparently.

What I admire most about Max is that he self-admittedly is no natural-born storyteller; he instead cultivated the art of depicting captivating scenarios and storylines.
Some of his videos I consider to be the true definition of labour of love. Carefully crafted, with no obligation.

Storytelling was not a gift I received at birth, yet I hope to one day be able to tell stories as powerful as his.

Dan Ko
@thedankoe

Some stories are self-explanatory; some are tightly intertwined with timeless, abstract concepts. Needless to say, this list would have been incomplete without Dan Koe.

Dan manages to stir the tangible and the intangible into coherent continuations of one another; skillfully sewing together our inner lives with the perceptible impact they have on our world.

His style allows him to flow from concept to concept seamlessly; his selection of topics, many of which you might think dead if you evaluate popularity based on social media content volume, truly put him in a category he built for himself.

So tell me.

Which storytelling had the most impact on your life?

If you made it this far, please consider following.

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@zenoconscious I am here to spread the power of life balance through solo business.

Also, I'm very much working on my writing skills; creating more engaging and thought through content.

Stay committed, let's see where this journey takes us :)

[David Labs @TheDavidLabs]

@AdheebHameed Heya,

I'm a business consultant who's worked with 50+ businesses, helping them through tough times.

I'm now happy to share what I've learned, by building a personal brand and business and life balance.

People first. Business always follows.