Do this one thing and you’ll have a sucky life-guaranteed.

by Derek Potocki on 05/08/2011 · 39 comments

If you want to keep failing in life do this one thing:

Resist unfamiliar.

I recommend 5 non-actions you can take today to continue the same ol’ lifestyle:

1. Don’t try new things

Always stay in familiar territory. Do stuff the way you have always done it. Don’t experiment. Don’t take risks. Do not even think about trying a new approach or a new solution. Do not learn anything new. Do not start a new business.

2. Don’t talk to strangers

Don’t talk to people you don’t know. They are dangerous. They might not find you interesting and the world will end. They might reject you and you will feel sorry, that you even spoke in the first place. Always, and I mean ALWAYS stay with the same crowd.

3. Don’t make new contacts

Continue believing, that people you already know are enough. Keep the same clients, the same friends and the same employer for life. Comment only on the same 5 blogs over and over.

4. Be yourself, instead who you want to be

Above all, be yourself. That’s the way you are and that’s the way you run your business. That’s your way. Don’t change it. It’s all familiar and cozy. And why to work on a new behavior anyway? That might make me un-myself.

5. Don’t create anything new

Continue believing that the world is perfect the way it is, that everything has been invented. That your contribution doesn’t matter. Wait for others to invent and create things for you. Don’t write books. Just read them. Keep believing that everything has been said and done.

Don’t start a new blog.

6. Don’t comment on other people’s blogs

Don’t, under no circumstance, comment on other’s blogs. You will risk looking stupid or sound un-expert like.

7. Do only what you love.

Completely reject this law of nature: “Nature abhors vacuums and moves to fill them. Create the vacuum by refusing to do what you love. Nature will give you a new love and move you to the next level”.~from Robert Kiyosaki

7 & 1/2. Do not set new, exciting goals!

You’ve already achieved everything to be achieved. You’ve already experienced everything to be experienced. Just keep believing that there is nothing more for you. This is it, there is nothing else.

Please Tweet and Share and comment on my post. Get my free e-book “Start Late Achieve Your Goals Anyway, and live without regrets”.

Love,

Sailing boat image by mishie.

{ 39 comments… read them below or add one }

udarasdream May 8, 2011 at 10:54 PM

Oh but my comfort zone is oh so…comfortable j/k. I just discovered your blog and I’ve been going through your previous posts like water-love it.

Derek Potocki | Smart Goals May 9, 2011 at 5:26 AM

@udarasdream Hi Udarasdream, thank you for your comment. I’m glad you you love my posts.
From my experience I can tell you that I am a creature of habit. It’s not even funny how I am addicted to my habits. It takes super awareness to daily break my habits and do something different.
Rock on,
Derek

bigfishtopdogs Twitter: bigfishtopdogs May 9, 2011 at 9:20 PM

Hey Derek –

You could have stopped writing this post after putting the period at the end of the first sentence — and it still would have been brilliant. That and your title? Say no more!

But I’m glad you didn’t. Stop writing that is. I loved this post!

You’ve got some great lines here. The world might end if you’re not interesting. Comment on the same 5 blogs. Haha. You get us all laughing and saying to ourselves, “Well yeah I really do know that”, THEN you throw a zinger: Be yourself, instead who you want to be.

And don’t create anything new? Thank you for writing this. Everything you wrote in #5 is spot on. You know what I love about how you wrote this post? By making these into non-actions you actually show how unbelievably stupid we can be in our preconceived notions. How ridiculous we can sound with our excuses. And just how easy it really is to create a great life.

Bravo!

~Theresa

Derek Potocki | Smart Goals May 9, 2011 at 10:00 PM

@bigfishtopdogs Hi Theresa,

Thank you for your comment. Actually I should have just done the headline and end the post after the first sentence. It almost feels better that way.

Hey, your comment alone is like another great post.
I wish I could have some of your aptitude for writing.

Number 5 is my favorite too, and the most powerful. I’ve been observing this one thing about our world: Divided into writers and readers. Content creators and content consumers.

And guess which group always ventures into unknown and sweats more from excitement?

Creating great life is as simple as reversing everything I said, of course:)

Derek

DanielMWood May 10, 2011 at 2:59 AM

Well how about I counter act numer 6 right now!People need to get out of there comfort zones and do new things, otherwise it is a bit like Einsteins definition of madness “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results”. I love that quote.I just commented on a post by Marcia Hoeck http://mybreakthroughbusiness.com/how-to-build-a-successful-business-by-having-a-powerful-business-mindset-the-right-positioning-effective-team-management-strategies-and-efficient-work-systems/comment-page-1/#comment-365 mentioning how great the abundance mentality of the internet is.It is kind of related to your examples.

Derek Potocki | Smart Goals May 10, 2011 at 4:14 AM

@DanielMWood Thank you Daniel. Yes, that Einstein’s quote is very energizing and very powerful. One of my favorites to tell you the truth. I’m heading over to your link. Abundance mentality on the Internet sounds intriguing. Thank you for the link.
Derek

DanielMWood May 10, 2011 at 4:25 AM

@Derek Potocki | Smart Goals No Problem Derek.I am not sure the comment has come up yet though, it was held for moderation so we will see when it gets published.

Derek Potocki | Smart Goals May 10, 2011 at 4:39 AM

@DanielMWood Yeah, I can’t find it yet, but thanks to you II found Marcia’s blog and commented on her ShamWow post. Little jewel, that post;)

mylifestylemax May 10, 2011 at 9:21 PM

Ha ha, that is my problem..I’m always talking to strangers, and it’s get me in the worst to trouble. Good solid list here. It can be hard to do what you love when there are so many what if’s. Brian Johnson, talks about swapping our devils advocate with our angels

advocate when faced with what if’s

Derek Potocki @ Smart Goals Twitter: Goalsblogger May 10, 2011 at 11:09 PM: OK, Don’t talk to strangers, except Stacey;)
How are you doing?
Yeah, nothing is perfect, including the cliche :doing what you love, and following your passion. I believe in multiple passions.
Even Vipassana is not perfect. Oops, just peeked at your site;)
Derek Potocki @ Smart Goals recently posted..Do this one thing and you’ll have a sucky life-guaranteed

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Annie Lin Twitter: AnnieLinNY May 10, 2011 at 11:10 PM

YES! YES! YES! You know, this week I blog about doing what you love but I can’t say enough about branching out into the unfamiliar, too. It’s a balance and you can’t have one and not the other. Thanks for reminding me of this. What was the last thing you did that made you uncomfortable? I started tango lessons–it was a bit out of my comfort zone at first and now I am looooving it!
Annie Lin recently posted..You’re On the Right Track- Baby- You Were Born This Way

Derek Potocki Twitter: Goalsblogger May 10, 2011 at 11:22 PM

Annie,
Really, I’ve been dancing argentine tango for 5 years. Just got back from Buenos Aires. You got to go. The level of instruction in BA is much higher than in US.
Btw: Tango will teach you humility, because it is often frustrating. And you will never know enough. But that’s what I love about it;)
Thank you for your comment.
Ps: I try to do uncomfortable stuff daily. Today I just started a new blog, and it’s hard learning a new theme and stuff.
Derek
Derek Potocki recently posted..Do this one thing and you’ll have a sucky life-guaranteed

Stacey Herbert May 12, 2011 at 6:59 AM

You dance the Argentine Tango Derek! ….err…pictures please
I should have been in BA in October, but life exploded and all I saw was the airport. Ah well, there’s always next time
Stacey Herbert recently posted..Silence- The Breakfast Of Champions

Derek Potocki Twitter: Goalsblogger May 12, 2011 at 8:56 PM

Stacey,
There is always next time:) Life explosions, oohoo!
Short vid from my last tango trip to Bs As:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nsNOmXVAzY
I’m trying, I’m trying:) Go Bs As!
Derek Potocki recently posted..Do this one thing and you’ll have a sucky life-guaranteed

Stacey Herbert May 13, 2011 at 8:33 PM: so glad I came back for a quick look,, thanks for sharing. Way cool..your turn next Annie,
Stacey Herbert recently posted..Silence- The Breakfast Of Champions

Courtney Cantrell Twitter: courtcan May 11, 2011 at 5:29 PM

Fantastic post, Derek. I love reverse psychology. ; ) I have to disagree with you on #7, though. I spent years not doing what I love (writing), and the result was depression, rage, and a broken spirit. Since I started writing fulltime, I’ve discovered a life more fulfilling and rewarding than anything I could’ve imagined. (And it also helped me try something new — i.e. publish a book.)
Courtney Cantrell recently posted..When The Salmon Speaks- Do You Listen

Derek Potocki Twitter: Goalsblogger May 11, 2011 at 5:56 PM

Hi Courtney,
Welcome to my site. Thank you for your comment. Congratulations on your exciting life changes and a book (what’s the subject-you should have promoted it here).
But sometimes we need to stop doing what we love to make room for a new love. It goes contrary to popular advice, but I’m big on killing comfort zones, including your own passions:)
I’m glad your spirit is in one piece now.
Kick ass, write like Van Gogh painted:)
Derek
Derek Potocki recently posted..Do this one thing and you’ll have a sucky life-guaranteed

Courtney Cantrell Twitter: courtcan May 11, 2011 at 9:49 PM

Thanks for the welcome and encouragement, Derek! : ) And yes, I see now what you mean. I stopped doing what I love, mainly because I had severe boundary issues and was trying to please other people. But you’re talking about killing a comfort zone in order to make room for something greater. I can always, *always* go along with that! : )
Courtney Cantrell recently posted..My Terrible- Horrible- No Good- Very Bad Day

Derek Potocki Twitter: Goalsblogger May 11, 2011 at 11:21 PM

Hi Courtney,
Yeah. I like how you said that: …killing a comfort zone in order to make room for something greater…
Thank you for stopping by.
Derek
Derek Potocki recently posted..Do this one thing and you’ll have a sucky life-guaranteed

Courtney Cantrell Twitter: courtcan May 13, 2011 at 12:18 PM

Derek, it seems to be a theme on several blogs I’ve commented on this week: Stop and evaluate where you’re going, and adjust your course if you’ve going in the wrong direction. Sometimes, the *right* direction means getting off the path entirely. : )
Courtney Cantrell recently posted..33 Questions for My Readers

Derek Potocki Twitter: Goalsblogger May 14, 2011 at 12:32 PM: Yes Courtney,
Constant, never ending evaluation. “Conscious choiceology”-the new science of powerful existence, that’s what I’m talking about:)
Derek
Derek Potocki recently posted..Do this one thing and you’ll have a sucky life-guaranteed

ruzanne May 13, 2011 at 2:38 AM

Hey Derek! I sure don’t want a sucky life and so I’m talking to you now, a total stranger. Oh, not totally because we have Barbara as a common friend. A really lovely spirit, she is. And yeah, I do know Daniel as well. Cool guy. So that crashes out No. 2? and 3?

So far, I don’t have a problem with the rest of your points of what makes life miserable. Although this “creating something” and “doing something new” has rendered me unwell these past two weeks. Talk about writing an ebook! Ugh.

Oh, btw. Just got your ebook. Will leave my arduous pursuit of making mine now and read yours. Now it will be a weekend of learning, discovery, awesomeness! LOL! Hope to be friends with you, stranger!
ruzanne recently posted..All About This Journey

Derek Potocki Twitter: Goalsblogger May 13, 2011 at 6:53 AM

Hi Ruzanne,
No we are not strangers, are we? And all it took is your action.
Pleased to meet you. Just checked your site. So you are a VA and have VAs for hire?
Enjoy my ebook. I hope it will rock your life;)
See you around Ruzanne. Good luck with your ebook.
Derek
Derek Potocki recently posted..Do this one thing and you’ll have a sucky life-guaranteed

ruzanne May 15, 2011 at 10:57 PM: Halfway now, Derek. Halfway and so far, I was heavy-metal rocked by what I’ve come across. Man, you’re a powerful thing, aren’t you! Will get back here when I’m done
ruzanne recently posted..All About This Journey

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Rob Twitter: todayhaspower May 13, 2011 at 4:56 PM

Hey Derek,
Speak the truth Brother!
Every one of these ideas points directly to our comfort zones.
What if we did ‘what if’ and explored the possibilities?

John Greenleaf Whittier seems apropos:
For all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these “it might have been.”

Derek, just wondering, was there a specific action that began this process for you? Or just experiential living and learning (reading)?
You’re the best. Keep rockin’ it.

Derek Potocki Twitter: Goalsblogger May 14, 2011 at 12:42 PM: Hi Rob,
Thank you for your turbo-powerful comment!
“What if” followed by action, great idea.
With me it was more of a process of discovery and it’s in constant flux of course. It’s a Journey. I will never claim I have achieved success, because there is always more to discover.
But one quote last summer had an impact on me more than anything else:
“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” Jim Rohn. I think that was about the time when I started Goalsblogger.
Love your comments,
See you around Rob
Looking forward to your e-book:)
Derek Potocki recently posted..Do this one thing and you’ll have a sucky life-guaranteed

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Hajra Twitter: hajraks May 18, 2011 at 8:00 AM

Ok, you win the competition for amazing headlines. Now, for the sucky life, I wouldn’t want one. No. 6 is my favorite. No way people are going to know about your not-so-sucky blog unless you are going to attack the blog world like crazy.
Find out what people are saying and have your say too!
Have a great day!
Hajra recently posted..Reasons I am Breaking Up With Your Blog!

Derek Potocki Twitter: Goalsblogger May 18, 2011 at 12:39 PM

Hi Hajra,
Warm welcome.
I like your phrase: “Attack the blog world like crazy”.
Today actually I had this thought, that it can be boring sometimes to always listen our own thoughts exclusively. And self-limiting too.
Blog commenting is also a great social skill training dojo.
To many benefits. The only bad thing: time consuming, but nothing is perfect;)
Derek Potocki recently posted..Disease In Personal Development Blogs

Justin | Mazzastick Twitter: Mazzastick May 18, 2011 at 2:37 PM

Derek,
Love the sarcasm here. It’s so true though, keep doing the same things and get the same results.

I like to take time out especially at night when the energy is quiet. I do some brainstorming so to speak and let new ideas to implement flow to me.

Derek Potocki Twitter: Goalsblogger May 18, 2011 at 7:46 PM: Hi Justin,
Just checked your blog and read the story behind Mazzastick. Pretty cool in my opinion.
Thank you for comment and welcome to my kingdom!
Do you really think, I was being sarcastic:)??
It’s all about new ideas, traditions are ideas imposed on us by dead people. Oops, I’m getting too political. Cut, cut!
Thanks again,
Derek
Derek Potocki recently posted..Disease In Personal Development Blogs

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Dean Carlton Twitter: DinoCarlton May 20, 2011 at 11:32 AM

“Don’t drink beer or go to parties” and “Don’t spend time with family and friends.”

Instead, spend all you time working for the man, do it for 40 years until you are knackered, retire on a crappy (or stolen by the bankers) pension for a few years, before you finally give up the ghost and croak like most of the population.

Well – its 5.30pm here, I’m off for a beer in the sun – time to build me a GOALS ACHIEVING LIFESTYLE!
Dean Carlton recently posted..Is your consultant providing value – or an albatross

Derek Potocki Twitter: Goalsblogger May 20, 2011 at 8:26 PM

Hey,
Good observation, the goal is to become “the man” instead of working for “the man”.
Drink one for me:)
Derek
Derek Potocki recently posted..Disease In Personal Development Blogs

Samantha Bangayan Twitter: samanthaluy May 25, 2011 at 3:08 PM

Yes, yes and yes!! It’s exactly in turning away from these non-actions that I was able to work up the guts to make such awesome changes in my life and end up all the way in the Central Andes! =)

Number 4 and 7 are relatively new concepts to me though. People always tell us to “be ourselves” and “do what you love,” so it’s hard to remember that we can go beyond that and we *need* to go beyond for growth and positive change! =)

Thanks so much for reaching out, Derek, and for having me think about this. We really are kindred spirits! =)
Samantha Bangayan recently posted..Want to Know Your Future

Derek Potocki Twitter: Goalsblogger May 25, 2011 at 5:03 PM

Hi Samantha,
You are smart. You picked up on 4 and 7 being different. And they are. As you said: They stretch us and take things “beyond”.
I’m one of the people that believe that creating myself is more valuable than being myself, and often have a good share of arguments about it. Oh…well, let it be:)
We are kindred spirits:)
Derek
Derek Potocki recently posted..Be Careful

Samantha Bangayan Twitter: samanthaluy May 26, 2011 at 1:19 AM

Great concept, Derek — creating v. just being. =) I’m going to have to direct people to your page, so you can lead them through a discussion of this! =)
Samantha Bangayan recently posted..Want to Know Your Future

Derek Potocki Twitter: Goalsblogger May 30, 2011 at 5:56 PM: Thank you Samantha,
Creating vs just being concept can truly revolutionize one’s life in an instant.
Rock on,
Derek
Derek Potocki recently posted..Be Careful

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Antonia July 3, 2011 at 8:00 PM

Fear hinders our potential to growth and makes us stay in our comfort zone. Yes, I agree with you the above enumeration can make one’s life suck forever because of the normal routine he/she will deal with from time to time. We must at least have that fighting spirit to change our lives for the better.
Antonia recently posted..Signal Recognitions Systems and Their Importance

Derek Potocki Twitter: Goalsblogger July 29, 2011 at 11:27 PM: Hi Antonia,
Sorry I missed your comment for like 3 weeks. I’ve busy working on my goals:)
Fighting spirit, yes or just curiosity, zest for life or whatever we want to call it. In short: going for unfamiliar.
Rock on.
Derek
Derek Potocki recently posted..Knowing without doing is not knowing

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Joshua July 18, 2011 at 2:36 AM

Following your tips someone will surely go to the extreme point of this world (No doubt, he will be a dead man). I must say a lovely approach from your side. This blog is for those who are still in a doubt whether to let themselves be opened or not. I’ll definitely look forward to your book.
Joshua recently posted..Becoming a Plumber