Hey there!

We’re starting up a few more accountability groups for July. This should open up things to a broader set of people. We’ll have:
- Exercise
- Sleep
- Digital Minimalism
- Steps
- Side Project Time Tracking

Feel free to reach out if you might be interested in any of these! (You can reply to this email also).

In further news, Michael will be going back to the Netherlands this week.

Juan has concluded his social experiment. Not because he wants to, but because he is doing Marketing again for a client and has no time. He is currently also focusing on building a website with login authentication for all Accountability Club members. He’s a busy man.

SAVING

Thoughts about the FIRE Movement

Have you heard about the FIRE movement? It stands for Financially Independent Retire Early. This approach is about retiring much earlier than usual by saving a significant portion of your income and investing it wisely. Imagine stepping away from your job in your 40s, or even 30s, rather than waiting until your 60s.

Overview: Members of the FIRE community focus on reaching their “FI number,” which is the amount they need to live comfortably without needing further income. This concept has not only fascinated my friends and me during our college days but has also significantly influenced our financial outlook.

Smart Spending

The key to FIRE isn't just about earning more—it's about spending smartly. Instead of indulging in every luxury, those in the FIRE community prioritize spending on things that genuinely make them happy. This could be anything from travel to tech, as long as it brings real value to their lives.

Life Post-FI

Achieving your FI number doesn’t mean you stop being productive. Many take some time off to explore their passions or travel after hitting their goal. However, it's common for people to start new ventures that align more closely with their interests, whether that’s crafting, coding, or starting a small business, all without the stress of financial pressure.

Reflections on Value

FIRE prompts us to consider what truly adds value to our lives. It’s not about waiting to live your dreams but rather integrating them into your life now, financially independent or not.

Consider these:

• What purchases really count for you? For me, it's all about experiences, especially travel.

• What doesn’t bring you joy? I’ve realized high-end dining or an expensive car doesn’t enhance my happiness.

• What would you do if your financial situation were secure? I’d dive deeper into hobbies like language learning, math teaching and explore more of the world.

Join the Discussion: You can actually leave comments on these articles. What are your views on FIRE? And how about you share your answers to those last questions? Drop a comment 😁!

"Money is merely a tool to get you what you want. It's not the thing to be pursued in and of itself." - Mark Manson

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— Michael

LIFE

Why You Need To Starve Yourself From External Creativity

I think most people are asleep in their own heads. And they do not realize it. Like their mind took a lunch break and never came back. Do you ever get the feeling that life is just passing you by? Everything is on autopilot?

I heard a quote that woke me up from this state. They said:

“You need to starve yourself from external creativity”.

🤔 The Current Problem

We are so accustomed to unlocking our phones whenever we are bored. We never allow boredom to take over. If you are alone for 3 seconds, you will get your phone out and start scrolling. You might be doing this on autopilot and it is depriving you of your creative potential.

When we unlock our phones, we are seeking entertainment in the form of creativity. We are not stimulated by repetitive stuff, we want novelty. But when we depend on the creativity of others, we deprive ourselves of our own creativity.

Creativity comes from the word “create”. We love to watch others create, but so few of us make creations of our own. It’s like some weird form of being a cuck in life.

What if, when boredom strikes, we resist the urge to be entertained? What thoughts might emerge? Perhaps those long neglected or avoided?

🤫 The Potential Solution: Embrace Silence

The act of stopping all external stimulation and sitting in silence is called a silence retreat. You can do this at home and it is recommended to do this for at least 3 days. This is something that many great creative people did, like Steve Jobs.

Initially, your mind may fixate on trivialities—memes, TV shows, gossip. But without the usual outlets, these thoughts linger unresolved. This craving for mental stimulation mirrors the physical cravings experienced when one cuts sugar from their diet.

As you persist through the discomfort, profound questions may arise: "What am I doing with my life?" or "Am I making the best choices for my goals?" Write down all of them. These are challenging questions we typically avoid, but in silence, you're compelled to confront them. This may explain why so many people feel like they have no purpose. Have you forced yourself to ponder these kinds of thoughts instead of distracting yourself all the time?

By the end of the silent retreat, the boredom and suffering you went through should have generated a newfound existential motivation and a reshuffled list of priorities. You could call this your current calling in life. Pursue it relentlessly and avoid falling again into the content consumption cycle.

🧑‍🎨 The Takeaway

Your mind is not designed to be constantly entertained. Entertainment is an opportunity to take a break from life’s creativity. Not replace it.

No wonder most of us are not where we want to be in life. Whenever your brain is bored, instead of stimulating a new creative thought, you seek creative thoughts from others. You can learn a lot from other people’s art, but nobody can paint your life’s masterpiece.

"An unexamined life is not worth living" - Plato

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— Juan

TAKING ACTION

Sign up to our Accountability Clubs

Want a community to keep you accountable? Willing to put your money where your mouth is? 😂

How it works:
💸 Everyone makes the same deposit at the beginning of the month.
✅ Every day you succeed, you get paid back a small amount from your deposit PLUS the money from others who failed that day.
❌ Every day you fail, your money for that day goes to people who succeed.
🗓️ It is 5 times a week. Month-to-month contract. You can join or leave at the beginning of each month.

July Clubs you can join:
🏋️ Exercise 5 times a week.
⏰ Wake up early during weekdays.
📵 Digital minimalism during weekdays.
🚶‍♂️ Steps 5 times a week.
⏱️ Project Time Tracking.
🏫 School Time Tracking.
📝 Signup to join for July

Highlights from Exercise Club:

Check out the reel we posted on our Instagram page