the 3 step system to achieve anything you want in life...

ask yourself these 3 questions, my dear friend.

how do you achieve anything you want?

how do you create your dream life?

how do you create the perfect day, you live, everyday?

Well, firstly, you’re not going to watch “Manifestation” coaches on Instagram.

I’ll show you the better way… a proven way…

a way taught to me by a Billionaire
a way he used to exit multiple businesses for multiples of millions

Last week, I had the utter joy of chatting to David Cleevely on el pod poddy.

Rory Sutherland told me I absolutely HAVE to interview David.

David’s career sparkles.

David’s book Serendipity It Doesn’t Happen By Accident is INSANE

David taught me his 3 Step Simple System to ACHIEVE any goal.

But, first, why I am allergic to Instagram Manifestation Coaches

Some Instagram Manifestation Coaches are full of ABSOLUTE BOLLOCKS.

We must be vee-rrryyy careful of them. Why do we believe everything the say?

Good Lookin’ + Big Following = Authority Bias.

1. Good Lookin’ Bias

Most manifestation coaches are drop-dead gawwww-jus Hunks and Hunnies. Absolute stunners. Being ridiculously good looking is a bias. Like it or not, being good looking (and tall ((no wonder I struggle to get people to listen to me)) increases our chances of believing people.

2. Good Lookin’ Bias Leads to Big Following

Because they’re ridiculously good looking. And, because they upload pictures of their 6 packs and bikinis in Ibiza. They, subsequently, build huge followings.

3. Good Lookin’ Bias + Big Following = Authority Bias

Good Looking + big following merges into Authority bias.

“Authority bias is the tendency to attribute greater accuracy to the opinion of an authority figure (unrelated to its content) and be more influenced by that opinion.^[1] An individual is more influenced by the opinion of this authority figure, believing their views to be more credible, and hence place greater emphasis on the authority figure's viewpoint and are more likely to obey them.” (stolen from Wikipedia)

Taking manifestation lessons off Yogi Yodas or Hyrox Helmets or Gawjus Gurus who grew up on the Kings Road and overcame a PG13 drug and Oreo addiction is DANGEROUS.

Like getting a donkey to teach you rugby.

Fun, but pointless.

Look… I’m like every other human on this planet… Nothing sets my soul on fire like drinking Cacao around a campfire, surrounded by Wonder-less Wanderers writing Listless-To Do Lists.

Did someone say Sound Baths in a Shepherd Hut in Cornwall?

….Errrr…. Yes… please… where do I sign?

Be very careful of listening gospel to Ridiculously Good Looking people with huge followings.

Here’s the other way. The proven way. The Billionaires way. The 3 Step Simple System to achieve anything you want in life.

Step One: Write a Story of Your Future Self in 5 Years

Okay. Okay… this is where I DO, kindaaaaaaaa, agree with most Manifestation coaches.

Write a Story of where you want to be in 5 years.

The Story part is crucial.

Not a list of goals. Not Objectives. Not moon shot numbers. Not a list of KPI’s. Not a Vision Board. A story.

As Will Storr says humans are “homo-nagans” = the story telling being.

We’re read stories as kids when we go to sleep. Hollywood is a Billion dollar story telling industry. Stories led to co-operation led to progress. Humanity is built on stories.

Writing your story is important. But you MUST write in prose.

1. Write in prose (i.e. like an essay)… this forces you to think deeper and harder and makes the story more concrete in your mind.

2. Write in specifics… Your story must be specific. Where are you? What does it look like? What does it smell like? What does it feel like? What do you eat for breakfast?

Step Two: Wisdom Is Prevention (….THE MOST IMPORTANT bit)

This is where most manifestation coaches get it wrong… probably cuz they’re milking an udder of a vegan cow called D'Artagnan.

David was at a big strategy meeting with some Big Pharma tech business donnies. They all went off to a room to write their “Story of The Future”

They all came back into the room and presented their story.

David was shocked. Flabbergasted. Dumbfounded.

… EVERYONE forgot THE most important
… EVERYONE forgot this ONE question

“What could go wrong?”

Let’s introduce two rules.

1. Charlie Munger (Warren Buffets Sideman) Inversion Rule

Charlie Munger's inversion rule is a powerful mental model that encourages you to consider a problem by asking the opposite of the usual "how to succeed" question: "How can I fail?"

By identifying all the ways something could go wrong—through identifying mental errors or undesirable outcomes—you can then actively avoid those pitfalls, thereby increasing your chances of success.

2. “Wisdom Is Prevention” Steve Jobs

Steve Jobs employed a similar strategy. Wisdom is Prevention.

To be “successfull” just avoid mistakes.
To be smart, just avoid dumb.

Wisdom Is Prevention.

David said, the question, “What could go wrong?” is the most important way to manifest the future.

I’ve just done this exercise for HUNGRY and it’s given me lucid clarity on where we’re going.

Step Three: “Wisdom is Prevention” + Artificial Intelligence

As a next step, David recommended putting your “Future Five Year Story” through Chat GPT or Claude AI.

Prompt the AI with the same question “What Could Go Wrong?” “What Obstacles are in the way?”

Let the AI unearth things you couldn’t or didn’t initially see. Like the below:

-what could go wrong?

-what three things will break this business?

-what are three monsters hiding in the future we’re not thinking about?

Write them down. Find ways to avoid these mistakes.

David’s process is very simple. The nuance is

1. Story in Prose. Prose. Prose.

2. Ask the hard question: what could go wrong?

Some other musings on manifestation

I am nowhere near where I want to be or can be.

But I’ve turned podcasting into my full time job and a decent 6 figure business.

I am doing exactly what I set out to do, 5 years ago.

Here’s some other personal thoughts on creating your future.

1. “As you start to walk on the way, the way appears” - Rumi

You can plan or plot or pontificate until the Cows start shagging during your Cornish meditation sound bath … Kumbaya, Guru, Kumbaya.

But, ultimately, you have to TAKE IMPERFECT ACTION.

Imperfect Action = Better Action = perfect Action.

When you walk, the way appears.

2. “Map your direction so you can swerve in the lanes” - Matthew McConaughey

With any manifestation plan or goal getting activity.

Give yourself some room to flex, to go off piste a little.

I live by a philosophy of:

Marco = focused.
Micro = scatty.

Day to day. Week to week. I’m all over the shop scatty.

Year to Year. I’m laser focused and dialled in.

Swerve in the lanes… you gotta have some fun and discover ideas.

3. Autobiographies/ Biographies of Successful People > Yogi Yodas on Instagram

Instead of listening to Instagram Manifestation Gurus.

Implore you to reading autobiographies of successful people in the past.

A much better way to navigate you now and your future.

Have a banging weekend chiefs!!

Popey xx

Still Hungry? Course you are…

Please feel free to gorge on the most downloaded podcast episodes of all time (these are CERTY: BANGERS)

1. Rory Sutherland: Why Challenger Brands Must Never Follow Logic to Truly Disrupt Categories 

2. Waitrose CEO: How Challenger Food & Drink Brands Can Win and Build Profitable Partnerships with Waitrose - James Baile

3. Spencer Matthews: How Spencer Matthews Built Unshakeable Resilience and Raised + £10m to Launch Clean Co. in Sainsbury's, Tesco and the U.S.A. 

4. How Grenade Exited to Mondelez for £200 Million and Lessons in Unapologetic Authenticity- Juliett Baratt

5. Tyrells Tycoon: How William Chase built and sold Tyrells for £50 million and sold Chase Distillery to DIAGEO 

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