Self-improvement
Personal Development
Storytelling
Lifestyle
Addiction
Hobbies
Addiction Recovery
Fishing
I used to have one severe addiction:
Planning.
My brain loved the cheap dopamine of gathering books to read, tasks to complete, and videos to watch.
But when it came to taking action, the euphoric rush faded.
What ended my addiction?
This story of two men learning to fish:
Planning.
My brain loved the cheap dopamine of gathering books to read, tasks to complete, and videos to watch.
But when it came to taking action, the euphoric rush faded.
What ended my addiction?
This story of two men learning to fish:
The first fisherman heads straight to the marina to buy the best fishing boat money can buy.
He specs out a custom, carbon fiber rod.
And he spends time reading up on everything there is know about fishing.
He specs out a custom, carbon fiber rod.
And he spends time reading up on everything there is know about fishing.
Different casting techniques, baiting techniques, reeling techniques.
You name it, he's bought the book on it.
And of course, he's watching the fishing channel every night for hours, learning from the best of the best.
A few months later, he finally feels ready to fish.
You name it, he's bought the book on it.
And of course, he's watching the fishing channel every night for hours, learning from the best of the best.
A few months later, he finally feels ready to fish.
The next day, he heads out on the lake in his new boat with his fancy rod and wealth of fishing "experience" built up over the last few months.
But six hours in, nothing. Not even a nibble.
What happened?
But six hours in, nothing. Not even a nibble.
What happened?
Turns out, the second fisherman had already sucked the lake dry.
On day one, the second fisherman grabbed a shitty rod, sliced up a hot dog, and went out to the lake.
The first day, nothing.
Second day, nothing.
Third day, nothing.
One week. Nothing.
The first day, nothing.
Second day, nothing.
Third day, nothing.
One week. Nothing.
But on the eighth day? His first nibble.
And every day after, he honed his technique.
He found a baiting technique that worked a bit better.
Or a new spot with a few more fish.
And after three weeks of iteration, he found the winning combination.
And every day after, he honed his technique.
He found a baiting technique that worked a bit better.
Or a new spot with a few more fish.
And after three weeks of iteration, he found the winning combination.
Before long, he was hauling in hundreds of fish every day.
To keep up with his daily haul, he hired a small team to help him.
And from there, he opened a restaurant with fat margins to sell his fresh fish.
And after that, he opened a fishing school to teach others his craft.
To keep up with his daily haul, he hired a small team to help him.
And from there, he opened a restaurant with fat margins to sell his fresh fish.
And after that, he opened a fishing school to teach others his craft.
He did all of this while the first fisherman sat around gathering gear.
Sure, the first fisherman felt productive. He was "learning" after all, right?
But there was one difference: feedback.
Sure, the first fisherman felt productive. He was "learning" after all, right?
But there was one difference: feedback.
Every day the second fisherman had an idea of something that might work better.
And he went right to the market to validate his assumption.
If it worked, his strategy improved.
And if it failed, he learned something new.
And he went right to the market to validate his assumption.
If it worked, his strategy improved.
And if it failed, he learned something new.
The moral of this story?
Get to action as quickly as possible.
When you find yourself gathering gear, grab a shitty rod and start fishing.
Get to action as quickly as possible.
When you find yourself gathering gear, grab a shitty rod and start fishing.
Every week I share frameworks like this + good questions to reflect on + good content to consume.
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