Fred

Learning in public: Notes on performance and behavioural science. Written in nature. Selling nothing. Subscribe on YouTube & Substack.

[Fred @XWithFred]

Are you a young guy trying to start an online business?

Seen the flashy TikToks, courses, and gurus but nothing sticks?

It’s an endless cycle, right?

I’ve been there.

Here are 5 mindset shifts that helped me escape:

[Fred @XWithFred]

Automate the mundane to create new space for the creative, the difficult and the dynamic.

Counterintuitive some may say, others will call it inefficient.

but when everyone’s going left…
it may be best to go right.

Good night!

[Fred @XWithFred]

The smartest scientists, entrepreneurs & leaders have mastered critical thinking.

A skill which we are seeing the erosion of unfold in-front of our very eyes as AI does it for us.

So I created a simple rule set to stay sharp while using AI efficiently 👇

[Fred @XWithFred]

Keep doing myself:

> Writing essays / newsletters

> Speaking, communicating, messaging

> Taking hand written notes

> Journalling

> Flashcards

[Fred @XWithFred]

— that was: Field Notes #3 → Daily insights from my studies on behavioural science and performance psych, learning in public.

[Fred @XWithFred]

This ad works pretty well huh?

and it’s not like the sexiest car about is being promoted.

So why does it work?

We're tribal beings who unconsciously mirror what others do, especially when uncertain.

But social proof only works when it's specific and relatable...

[Fred @XWithFred]

"Everyone's doing it" is weak.

"People like you chose this" is powerful.

VW hit their ideal customer close to home here, for this exact reason.

(It’s funny too, which helps)

[Fred @XWithFred]

"This shot is just one event - it's not my last, and it doesn't carry cosmic consequences"

Elite athletes know this, but it's not just about sport…

That presentation, that difficult conversationt...

they all go a little better when we're engaged but not strangling the moment

[Fred @XWithFred]

Our best performance happens in a gap that lies between effort and force.

Find this space by removing the scarcity mindset.

Instead of: "I have to make this shot NOW" (do or die pressure)

Try...

[Fred @XWithFred]

I’m slowly unlearning everything I’ve had programed into myself about rigid routines, perfect habits and optimizing everything.

I’m replacing these programes with ones that favour flow, creativity and enjoyment. I think that’s where our most valuable work lies.

Time will tell.

[Fred @XWithFred]

The same happens with life. Over-optimization destroys that effortless state where you're fully absorbed and performing naturally.

Experiment tracking fewer habits (focus on the 20-30% that drive 80% of the benefits) & building in more time for flow / spontaneity in life.

[Fred @XWithFred]

When you're constantly tracking, measuring, and optimizing every behavior, you disconnect from the natural rhythm that actually makes you feel alive.

Timothy Gallwey writes about this in The Inner Game of Tennis: obsessing over technique kills intuitive ability...

[Fred @XWithFred]

Ironically - it's those on the internet selling us freedom that strip right away from us

It's not their fault, it's a result of our internal reaction. We fail to reflect upon whether the dream their selling is our truly our own version of success or not...

Cut the noise

[Fred @XWithFred]

One of my biggest struggles has always been trying to have everything figured out...

An entire path, planned to perfection waiting for execution.

Especially tough as an 18 year old.

But recently I've learned two things:

For starters:

Sh*t apparently doesn't ever go to plan (duh)...

So?

the whole over-planning thing seems a bit silly.

Secondly, by overplanning you close yourself to potential opportunities.

By being dead-set on things unfolding in a specific way, you filter our anything that seems irrelevant.

Although you may feel this makes you aligned, I believe there's a fine line between that and being close minded.

The solution I've settled on (for myself)?

Be directionally correct.

Learn what you like (and dislike)
Know what you value.
Have rough goals.
Have a vision.

But remain open to all opportunities...

merely aligning your decisions in the present with your answers to the above.

[Fred @XWithFred]

It's been almost a week since I started my backpacking trip of Australia & Asia.

Here are 3 key lessons I've learnt as an 18 year old building a business & travelling:

#1 We need less than we think

I left home for what will be 4 months with just a 50L backpack.

Of course I had to be pretty frugal with what I took.

I've yet to find myself in a position where I truly need something I don't have.

Plain clothes, toiletries, medications, technology for work...

The rest is clutter, and so I'm encouraged to do a declutter when I return home.

#2 Laundry

Was about time that I did my own washing.

Life skill acquired.

#3 Health is wealth (and it's simple)

I've experienced a range of comfort levels so far:

From 10 hour sleeper busses with zero leg room to a double bed in an airBnB...

From thunder storms & maccies to sunshine & fresh sushi.

(yes, things really change day to day when on the move, apparently)

The days where I've:

- Ran
- Slept well
- Got sunlight
- Ate real food

are the days I've felt the best in a long time.

My ability to avoid bad habits, work deeply, be present & grateful...

all increase when these 4 factors are on point.

& so to me health is simple, don't overcomplicate it.

#4 BONUS (caveat)

With that said, I believe your emotional state follows you.

The sun, the beach & great food may improve your baseline energy levels...

But to really be where you want to be mentally, it starts wherever you are now.

Going abroad won't fix the problems that you haven't began to face in your hometown.

--

That's it - cheers!

Btw, I'm writing a bi-weekly diary of reflections from travel & business, which you can find in my bio.

[Fred @XWithFred]

I’ve been over-thinking a lot recently.

It’s easy to respond to that by distracting ourselves.

We find a break from our thoughts through consumption.

As we soon learn, this is merely temporary.

It really fries our nervous system further, and so the cycle becomes viscous.

I’m sure you’re familiar.

& so,

As I hand-write this in my notebook this morning, sipping my espresso…

I reflect on the need to give myself a break.

Not just from work.

But rather from stimulation.

A break from contrasting ideas about what I should & shouldn't be doing.

A break from disrupting my thoughts before they’ve finished forming.

The goal?

Get my physical & mental energy back

The lesson?

Sometimes we need to strip things back to basics.

- More nature.
- More silence.
- More connection.

If you feel similar, join me on this journey…

It’s one of creativity with limited consumption.

It’s one of entrepreneurship & self discovery.

That was day 2 of the Venture Diaries.

You can read it on email too.

Link in bio.

Take care folks.

[Fred @XWithFred]

This morning, I had an epiphany.

It’s no secret that my writing practice has been hugely inconsistent, what was more ambiguous was why that is.

That’s where my focus for the next 30 days (at least) was born:

Reducing input.

It’s counter-intuitive, right?

You’d think I’m short of ideas, and that’s why I haven’t been producing.

But I’ve realized that consumption is the killer of creativity.

We pay so much attention to the ideas of others that we have little chance to formulate our own.

We should spend more time deconstructing our own success, rather than that of others.

We should replicate conditions that make us thrive, not those that our favourite influencers thrive in.

We can optimise our daily life through trial & error, not so much through blindly employing the routines we see online.

I’ve realised that I (and you probably) have all the answers I need to get to the next step.

I know what to do.

I need to block out the noise & completely hone in on producing from my internal environment & my personal journey.

With that in mind,

The “Venture Diaries” is born.

Raw reflections on self discovery, entrepreneurship, adventure & self development (as an 18 yo)

This very post is a product of 3 page brain blurt this morning.

I then pick out an idea and turn it into a daily reflection.

This will be the routine that forces me to produce outputs rather than accept input.

As you can tell, I don’t care about:

A strong hook
A sexy layout

Just original thoughts, personal anecdotes and of course the potential to improve my thought organization.

It will act as a channel for my creativity, and a place for you to learn from my journey.

But please, take it all with a grain of salt, and always do what works for you.

I look forward to what lies ahead.

Ps. You can get these emailed to you every morning.

They’ll be short & sharp.

Link in bio.

Take care,
Fred.

(That was Venture Diaries #1)

[Fred @XWithFred]

Here’s how to use a lead magnet to actually get clients:

- Have an automated 5x value packed email sequence ready to go after they sign up
- 4x emails are pure value with a brief CTA of your offer at the end
- The 3rd email in the sequence is purely about your offer

IMPORTANT:

The CTA should be directing them to your lowest hanging fruit.

Whether it’s low ticket, or even free.

We are simply showing them the value you provide in merely an email…

SO that they’re tempted to see what the next level of value you have to offer is.

Move people up the ladder.