Week Five: Stop Worshipping Struggle—Go Pro by Letting Go

If you have more than three priorities, you have none.

Somewhere along the way, we started worshipping struggle. We glorified suffering as proof of hard work. But suffering is not a success metric.

The world does not reward martyrs—it rewards leaders who prioritize what matters.

So, what’s it going to be?

• The burnt-out workhorse, grinding into the ground?

• Or the strategic professional, cutting what’s unnecessary and thriving?

This week, we take a hard look at what real pros do differently.

Recap: The Foundation So Far

In the last four weeks, we’ve built a powerful system:

• Week Zero: The Golden Gate Bridge mindset—success isn’t a finish line; it’s an ongoing process.

• Week One: The Four Agreements—be impeccable with your word and align actions with intent.

• Week Two: Wu Wei—stop forcing, start flowing, and work with life.

• Week Three: Journaling—your best tool for self-mastery and conscious leadership.

• Week Four: The Creative Well—burnout is the enemy; replenishment is the path.

Now, in Week Five, we shift from spinning your wheels to traction.

The Busyness Addiction: A Smarter Way to Work

There’s a socially acceptable addiction that’s wrecking your focus.

It’s busyness.

People wear it like a badge of honor. But being busy doesn’t mean being effective.

If your calendar is packed but your progress is weak, ask yourself:

👉 Am I moving forward, or just moving?

🔴 What happens if you ignore this?

• More burnout.

• More wasted effort.

• More frustration watching others pass you by.

This week, let’s change that.

✅ Cut the fat: Focus only on what moves the needle.

✅ Think like a pro: A woodsman sharpens his axe before chopping. A writer refines their craft daily. What’s your axe?

✅ Stack habits & automate: Make progress effortless.

Quick Practice: Identify your weakest area—Write it Down—this is your next pro move. The obstacle is the path. Either master it or offload it to competent hands. Drop the ego and commit. This is Wu-Wei in action—turning struggle into effortless practice. Just recognizing this shift makes it instantly more rewarding. Celebrate the first step, stay consistent, and by year’s end, you’ll see the transformation.

The Wrong Epitaph: Why You Should Never Be the Martyr

No one wants their tombstone to read:

"Here lies [Your Name]. They suffered tirelessly. They did everything for everyone. They never rested. They never said no."

Are you kidding me? Shut the front door! This is not something to celebrate.It’s a cautionary tale.

Drop the martyr mindset.

The real pros? They:

• Say no strategically.

• Protect their energy.

• Let go of what no longer serves them.

You don’t get medals for suffering—you get results from prioritizing.

From Letting Go to Real Wins: My Story & My Clients’ Success

I didn’t just read about this—I lived it.

✅ I became fluent in Portuguese.

✅ I moved to Brazil and built my consulting practice.

✅ I picked up tennis and started playing at a high level.

✅ I learned to fly a paraglider solo.

None of this happened by doing more. It happened by doing less, better.

When I cut the busy work, outsourced distractions, and focused on my top three priorities, everything changed.

And it’s not just me—my clients are proof:

🚀 One client automated their scheduling & email workload, freeing up 15 hours a week—time they reinvested into creative deep work.

🚀 Another client outsourced low-level admin tasks and used that energy to train in their field—leading to 50% more revenue, with a 25 hour work week.

🚀 One client let go of their ‘always available’ mindset, delegated strategically, and created more time for their family while improving performance at work.

🛑 Here’s what they DIDN’T do:

• Keep grinding with zero recovery.

• Keep saying yes to every request.

• Keep mistaking busyness for results.

Instead, they simplified. They focused. They recovered.

And when you put your energy back into structured recovery and high-impact practice, you achieve more with less effort.

The Power of Subtraction: Less But Better

Most people think growth comes from adding more.

But real transformation? It happens when you remove what no longer serves you.

• Too many commitments? Drop the low-value ones.

• Scattered focus? Pick three real priorities—Work, Home, and Play.

  • Better Yet, Invert the Order: Play, Home, and Work!

  • Put Your Oxygen Mask on First!

  • Make Filling Your Well a Priority!

  • People Will Understand and Follow Suit.

  • Or Spontaneously Combust and Leave Your Life, Win-Win!

• Burnout creeping in? Build recovery time into your schedule.

  
  

💡 Going Pro isn’t about grinding harder. It’s about refining, sharpening, and optimizing.

What are you willing to let go of to make room for what truly matters?

Diving Deeper: The Bookstore

Want to go even deeper into this topic? Here are five books that will take your mastery to the next level:

📖 Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less – Greg McKeown👉 Get it here

📖 Turning Pro: The No B.S. Guide to Turning Your Passion into Profit – Steven Pressfield👉 Get it here

📖 You Can Heal Your Life – Louise Hay👉 Get it here

📖 Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance – Angela Duckworth👉 Get it here

📖 The Four Agreements – Don Miguel Ruiz👉 Get it here

These books aren’t just theory—they’re battle-tested playbooks for getting your life in order.

👉 Affiliate Disclosure: If you purchase through these links, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support my work and keeps this newsletter free.

Your Call to Action: This Week’s Challenge

1.     Identify your three real priorities—Work, Home, and Play.

***Better Yet: Play, Home, Work!***

2.     Write down one thing you will subtract to sharpen your focus.

3.     Hit reply and tell me:

👉 What’s the one thing you’ll subtract this week to sharpen your focus?

Let’s build this together.

Tamo Junto,

Glen

Real Wild Ginseng

www.realwildginseng.com | @realwildginseng