Welcome to 1-2-3 Inner Game, your weekly hit of actionable strategies to achieve a high-performing, healthy, and thriving life.
Today's Highlights
Finding your "Why"
1-2-3 Inner-Game
9 harsh truths every entrepreneur needs to hear
Who I'd coach vs. who I'd pass on
The state of American politics
Some of the things I've read and listened to this week
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Hi,
As a coach, the coolest thing I’ve seen?
Helping people tap into their core motivation.
Spoiler: it’s not some huge lightbulb moment.
Most of the time, it’s a quiet shift—like a lens slowly adjusting, changing how they see the world bit by bit.
Finding your ‘why’ isn’t about crushing it at work or climbing the ladder.
It’s about figuring out what really fires you up.
What problems pull you in.
What makes work feel less like a grind and more like a mission.
When people lock in on their ‘why,’ you see it.
Their challenges don’t disappear, but they start attacking them with more resilience, more clarity.
Suddenly, they know where they’re going.
But here’s the catch—it’s not easy.
Getting there means questioning all the stories you’ve told yourself for years, facing some uncomfortable truths.
And that’s where I come in.
My job?
Give people room to think.
Ask the hard questions they’re avoiding, and shift their perspective.
Your ‘why’ doesn’t need to be groundbreaking.
You’re not trying to be the next Steve Jobs, or are you?
But once you figure out what fuels you, it quietly starts guiding everything you do—and suddenly, things click.
Here's some Inner Game wisdom to chew on this week
1 question from me
If you have one year to live, what changes would you make tomorrow?
2 insights from me
If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either.
Extraordinary results are determined by how narrow you can make your focus.
3 quotes
“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.”
- Margaret Atwood
"Almost everybody can stay excited for 2 or 3 months. A few people can stay excited for 2 or 3 years. But a winner will stay excited for 30 years or however long it takes to win."
- Art William
"It's hard to be present when you're in a rush, slow down"
- Dhiren Harchandani
9 Brutal Truths Every Entrepreneur Has to Face
Let’s talk real for a second. Everyone loves to glamorize the entrepreneurial grind, but the truth? It’s not all unicorns and exits. Here are 9 brutal truths that’ll punch you in the face on this journey:
1. Hire for mindset, not skills Skills can be taught. A solid mindset? That’s priceless.
2. Growth = Discomfort If you’re not getting uncomfortable, you’re not growing. Simple as that.
3. ‘No’ means try harder If you stop at “no,” you don’t want it bad enough. Keep pushing.
4. Burnout is real Sprint all you want, but this is a marathon. If you flame out early, it’s game over.
5. Failure is part of the game It’s not if you’ll fail, it’s when. What matters is how you bounce back.
6. Got an itch? Scratch it There’s never a “perfect” time. If something’s pulling at you, act now.
7. Networking is overrated It’s not about the number of people you know. It’s about who you actually connect with.
8. Your health is your No. 1 asset Ignore it, and you’ll watch everything else fall apart.
9. Self-doubt is normal
We all feel it. But if it stops you from moving forward, that’s on you.
What’s the hardest truth you’ve learned as an entrepreneur?
Who I'd Coach vs. Who I'd Pass on
Most people think coaching is about hacks and frameworks. But here’s the truth: you’re not betting on strategies, you’re betting on people. Their grit, mindset, and ability to grow. After years of coaching, I’ve learned who’s worth investing in—and who’s a hard pass.
WHO I'D BET ON
Hard-worker
No shortcuts here. If you’re ready to hustle, I’m ready to help you win.
Humble + Kind
Confidence without arrogance. Humility = learning, kindness = influence. These are the silent killers of success.
Obsessed
The good kind of obsessed. If you’re waking up at 4 AM thinking about how to level up, we’re gonna get along just fine.
WHO I'D SKIP
Lacks focus
If you’re all over the place, you’re getting nowhere. Focus is the cheat code to progress.
Rude
Look, if you can’t treat people right, no amount of talent is gonna save you.
Can’t see their own flaws
Growth starts with self-awareness. If you can’t see your weak spots, you’re doomed to repeat them.
Believes their own BS
If you’re busy drinking your own Kool-Aid, you’re gonna stay exactly where you are: stuck.
At the end of the day, coaching is like placing a bet. I’ll go all in on the right person, but I’m not wasting my time on people who can’t get out of their own way. That’s just bad ROI.
What's new with the Pod - Emergence Now
How to do your best and most meaningful work.
Trump and Cats in the same meme? Now we're mixing chaos with chaos
Like him or not, Trump’s got this wild ability to turn controversy into fuel.
He leans into the memes, uses humor, and suddenly, the conversation shifts.
Criticism? What criticism?
It’s all part of the show.
His base eats it up—they love the irony and absurdity.
Plus, it reinforces his favorite narrative: ‘The media’s out to get me,’ which only tightens his grip on his supporters.
The lesson?
Control the narrative.
Trump’s a master at flipping criticism into something that works for him.
By owning the joke, he takes the sting out of it.
Whether you’re a brand, a person, or a politician, the takeaway is the same: if you can embrace the controversy and redirect the conversation, you get to shape the story.
Some of the things I read and listened to this week
📖 After Shark Tank, Mark Cuban Just Wants to Break Shit—Especially the Prescription Drug Industry
📽️ Humankind: Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi helps woman in distress who was on the ledge of a bridge in Nashville. (More, w/video)
📽️ Beyond Inspiring - SpaceX's historic Polaris Dawn spacewalk - Full EVA broadcast
I'm rooting for you to continue crushing it! 💪🏼
Dhiren
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