How to Simplify Life Without Settling for Less
One thing I’ve learned about success—or rather, about the perseverance needed to succeed—is that you always have to iterate. It’s not enough to just do something for a week and hope for the best. You have to ask yourself: “Did this actually change anything?” Maybe you tried working a bit differently. Did it really make a difference in your work, in what you set up? Yes or no?
Let’s say you tried marketing a product. You spent $300 on ads. How many users did you actually convert? More importantly, how many of them stuck around and didn’t ask for a refund? What kind of users were the right ones? Was it the right acquisition channel? Maybe advertising is the way to go, but maybe you didn’t target the right audience. These are the kinds of questions you need to keep asking yourself.
Perseverance is your best ally, your closest friend. But it’s not just about pushing through blindly. It’s about reflecting: “Okay, I did a good job, I’m happy with myself.” But maybe it wasn’t the best way to do it. Maybe there was a better approach. Satisfaction is great, but the problem with being satisfied is that you might stop trying to go further. You think, “Well, that’s good, it’s perfect, now I can take it easy,” and then you stop moving forward.
You need to keep that drive, that urge to push yourself, to always want to do better. It can become an addiction—a good one. If you fall in love with your passion, with what you want to do, it’s powerful. Of course, you shouldn’t overdo it. Too much of anything is bad for you, and if you push too hard, you’ll end up disgusted or burnt out.
Addiction, in this sense, is a bit like a habit. If you do something all the time, it becomes second nature. If one day you don’t do it, it feels strange, because you’re so used to it. That’s how you build momentum. By repeating, by iterating, by changing things up, by looking at what went well and what didn’t, you get closer to the success you want.
It helps to do retrospectives at the end of your days. Ask yourself: Was today a good day? How could I have done things differently? Could I have changed something in my routine? Maybe tried a different acquisition channel? Maybe I was tired, not in great shape, didn’t sleep well—your lifestyle matters a lot.
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out.”
— Robert Collier
The key is to keep moving, keep questioning, and keep improving. Don’t settle for “good enough.” The best day to take action is today.
Key Takeaways
- Always iterate and question your process.
- Satisfaction is good, but don’t let it make you complacent.
- Build good habits and keep pushing yourself, but don’t overdo it.
- Reflect on your days and look for ways to improve.
Action Steps
- After each project or day, ask: What worked? What didn’t?
- Try small changes and see if they make a difference.
- Keep your passion alive, but remember to rest.
Reflection
- Am I satisfied, or am I settling?
- What’s one thing I could try differently tomorrow?
- How can I make improvement a habit, not a chore?
Pierre-Henry Soria
#Entrepreneurship #Perseverance #Perspective #Reflection #Self-Improvement #Simplicity #Tasks