A Newsletter -- What It Takes To Win -- On Focus

 

Twitter: Orange Book on facing Reality

Talent comes with painful training. Wealth comes with stressful risks. Peace of mind comes with brutal self-reflection. Intelligence comes with grueling mental efforts.
Love comes with demanding commitment. Nothing great happens without friction. Figure out the price, then pay. — Orange Book

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What It Takes To Win

Mastery takes time— 7 to 10 years, roughly. Whether you’re building a robust business, getting in exceptional shape, or overcoming your suffering, it’s a relentless pursuit. It is NOT peaceful or easy. It is years of brutal struggle. In fact, the depth of your mastery usually mirrors the intensity of the lessons you have to endure.

Everyone dreams of being rich, fit, or happy, but few are patient and resilient enough to stick with the grind for the next 7+ years. The truth is, we often compare ourselves to those who have endured unimaginable hardship to achieve greatness, without fully acknowledging the pain they’ve had to face along the way.

If you’re willing to commit to 7-10 years—or even more—of consistent, unrelenting effort, there’s a 90% chance you’ll reach your goal. But if you aren’t prepared to embrace the brutal reality of what it takes, you might as well let go of the dream and settle for mediocrity. It may sound harsh, but it’s the truth.

Admiring someone else’s success is pointless if you’re not willing to put in the same work. In fact, it’s toxic and will only bring misery. You can have what they have, but only if you're ready for the journey, no matter how long or painful it may be. And if it truly matters to you, the struggle won’t deter you—it’ll fuel you.

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Thomas Edison On Focus

You do something all day, don't you? Everyone does. The only trouble is that they do it about a great many things and I do it about one. If they took the time in question and applied it in one direction, to one object, they would succeed. Success is sure to follow such application. The trouble lies in the fact that people do not have an object, one thing, to which they stick, letting all else go. Success is the product of the severest kind of mental and physical application.

Energy: The Real Currency of Success

 By Cancelo Alvarez

Energy — that internal force most of us had in abundance in childhood — becomes rarer in adulthood. And yet, adulthood is when we need it most.

One of the most eye-opening, yet basic truths I recently discovered: The professionals, the icons, the best creators we look up to — are simply the most energetic individuals — most productive, most curious, most consistent — mentally & physically. And then, we cannot help but call them talented, brilliant, intelligent.

But here's the heart of the matter: Anyone can be curious, anyone can be consistent. It just costs a tremendous amount of energy. Which the winners & creators are willing to pay.

And as a result - they build incredible speed, which, over the years, widens the gap — like a marathon — where we all begin as a large group but finish scattered around — the winners & leaders of the pack miles & years ahead. 

It is energy, it is eagerness, best articulated as: 

The most glowing successes are but the reflections of an inner fire.

So — dear reader, in pursuit of ambitious goals — it is less talent, luck, or intelligence that will get you there, but energy, volition, courage to act.

The courage to ask again after rejection — the energy to run this week, again — the volition to create on a blank piece of paper again after throwing the draft in the dustbin.

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This article was inspired by these two profound reflections on what separates those who achieve extraordinary things from those who don't:

When you think something’s impossible, consider this: people who achieve extraordinary things are willing to endure what others won’t.

Take SpaceX. In 2002, most experts said private companies couldn’t build orbital rockets. Musk accepted years of failure and ridicule that others wouldn’t.

What you call impossible is often just pain you’re unwilling to endure. — Shane Parish ⭐

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"I have a theory: if you put in 80%, you get back 80% back. But if you put in 100%, you get 1, 000% back. The last 20% is where the magic happens. Because almost nobody is mad enough to go all in. Only a perfect storm of delusion, obsession and a pinch of childhood trauma makes that extra 20% possible. It's the part where you keep going long after logic says retreat. Where your biggest weakness becomes your biggest strength: an inability to stop. Because at a certain point, success isn't about talent or luck. It's about who's willing to suffer for the longest. Pain is the filter. Few pass it." — Seif El‑Sahly

Relentless

“There is no such thing as a quantum leap. There is only relentless consistency – and in the end, you make it look like a quantum leap.” — James Dyson

People often see success as sudden — a breakthrough, a stroke of genius, a ‘quantum leap.’
But behind every so-called overnight success is a long, unseen grind.
It’s the relentless repetition. The failures. The revisions.
The quiet determination that compounds when no one is watching.
What looks effortless in the end is actually the result of effort no one saw.

Dyson reminds us: persistence is the true engine of progress —
not magic, not talent, but the steady return to your craft.
Again and again. Until the leap becomes inevitable.

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Peter Thiel: “You should focus relentlessly on something you’re good at doing, but before that, you must think hard about whether it will be valuable in the future.”

Thiel’s advice cuts through hype like a blade.
It’s not enough to be good at something — the world must care about it tomorrow.
Don’t just chase passion or skill. Chase future relevance.

This means thinking strategically, not just emotionally:
Where is the world going? What problems will need solving?
*Focus like a laser on where your strengths meet future demand.
That’s where real success lives. That’s where you become irreplaceable.

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Key word: Relentless.
Do not be afraid of winning.
Do not be afraid of hearing your name called for extraordinary performance.
Do not be afraid to stand out in a positive way.

Some think this kind of attention is arrogant or selfish —
but little do they know: when you win, when you outperform, when you stand out for good reasons,
you’re actually doing it for yourself, you’re arming yourself against depressive thoughts.

Because here’s the truth:
Excellence isn’t just for applause — it’s an antidote to inner darkness.
When you rise, you’re repelling self-doubt.
You’re making your heart deep and wide —
capable of strong emotion and keep perception. 

All this — is for yourself. To enjoy living with yourself.
Because you make yourself proud.

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“Life is short. But life is also long. You have to live with choices.”

Choose extraordinary results —
forged through energy and self-belief —
not hesitation and regret.

You only get one shot at this.
Be relentless.
Be proud to stand tall.

Cancelo Alvarez 

Moments Beyond the Usual

 “Sometimes, it only takes one decisive day to get the life you want, but it takes a whole decade to be ready for that one day.” — Orange Book 🍊

It will take something unique, authentic, and competent in you to bend fate into your favor. I assure you — I implore you — it can be done. Not only because others have done it before you and are doing it as we speak — but because you also have the basic conditions for extraordinary performance: time to practice, awareness to focus, and the heart to persist.

Remember — everything you have experienced until this moment has shaped you — and remember too, that we come from completely different backgrounds. And though the classroom and society’s strategems group us into inauthenticity for half our lives, still:

There are moments in our lives, there are moments in a day, when we seem to see beyond the usual. Such are the moments of our greatest happiness. Such are the moments of our greatest wisdom.

Find these moments — capture them — journal them — and understand them. Those moments of happiness, of clarity and wisdom — they are the actual building blocks of the life you pursue.

Gather all your pain and victories and use them as fuel and tools. Your background is uniquely yours because your future can be uniquely yours — if you choose to:

Study while they party.
Save while they spend.
Plan while they wait.
Believe while they doubt.

And do this consistently. You need not become a robot of concentration or a dull, serious person. But you must awaken that untamable, resilient, brave spirit within you — the Godly and Angelic voice in your chest — and listen. Spend your time wisely, intentionally. That’s how you begin to deserve success — not through perfection, but through persistence and purpose.

Because truly — it only takes one decisive day to get the life you want, but it takes a whole decade to be ready for that one day.
Or more... or less.

Cancelo Alvarez 

Chat GBT Founder, Sam Altman, On Productivity

 Original - click on the picture. 

Elaborated: 

What you work on:

• Direction matters more than speed — picking the right thing to work on is most important.
  • Or look at it like this: “You should focus relentlessly on something you’re good at doing, but before that, you must think hard about whether it will be valuable in the future.” — Peter Thiel
• Develop strong independent beliefs about the world.
  • Things to consider: Which industries serve humanity most - hinder humanity most — what to invest your time and money on — how to overcome societal peer-pressure & expectations not grounded in facts or relevance for the individual — how to raise compassionate & strong children - -why we fear death — how politics work.
• Leave enough time in your schedule to think about what to work on.
• Delegate based on what people like to do and are good at doing.
  • Delegation is a skill — ask a colleague to do (for you) something they enjoy - and they won’t even notice you’re delegating.
• Consider a major job change if you don’t like what you’re doing for a long period
  • Not for the lazy and emotionally unstable. First give your very best effort and then decide if it’s not your kind of job - otherwise, the job is not the issue, but yourself - busy looking for shortcuts that don’t serve the goal. Liking every post about ‘working smart’ when you’ve never really given your all in any task.
• Surround yourself with smart, productive, happy people who don’t belittle your ambitions.
  • Not for the lazy — no use looking for smart & productive people if you yourself have no worthy goal.
• Compound growth works in careers, small gains over 50 years create massive differences.
  • Another way to look at it: “You don’t need to be the fastest learner, you need to make your mind about the few things that you really want to do, and execute with a much longer timeframe than most people. There isn’t much competition left after the first few years. After a decade, it almost feels lonely.” — Orange Book

Prioritization

• Three key pillars:
  • Get the most important shit done – Dedicate 2–3 focused hours daily to your highest-impact projects.
  • Don’t waste time on stupid shit – If something feels like a waste (e.g. forcing yourself through a boring movie or pointless meeting), trust your gut & leave.
  • Make lots of checklists – Use to-do lists to offload your brain. Whether it’s a high-stress week or a slow day.
• Use written lists for yearly, monthly, and daily goals.
  • To build a house, you need bricks. Identify the "bricks" of your big life goals and make sure you're laying one every day.
• Re-transcribe lists frequently to force thinking about priorities.
  • Example: You have 10 things on your to-do list for the week. By Wednesday, new demands have likely surfaced. Take time to review and rewrite your list — are these new tasks truly moving you forward, or are they just distractions?
• Avoid most meetings and conferences due to huge time costs.
  • The worst thing you can do is fail to ask this simple question to your boss: “Do I really need to be in this meeting.” — Asking intentionally tells them you value your time.
• Keep 10% of schedule open for chance encounters and new ideas
• Schedule meetings for 15-20 minutes or 2 hours, not the default 1 hour.
• Value your time appropriately - don’t spend hours to save small amounts of money
• Focus on optimizing your year, not your day.

To be Continued: 

Letters to My 18-Year-Old Self

Don’t be lazy in learning: First, how to do well. Next, how to live well. 

Don’t be lazy in learning and practicing the Art of Economics, practicing the Art of Productivity, and practicing the Art of Lifestyle

I would say to that teenager who has just matriculated:

It is not a lot of things, my dear boy, that you need—or think you need—in order to feel proud and confident in yourself.

It is not money, nor the approval of a thousand cities, nor a perfect body —

What you actually need is a mission—something to strive for every single day. And when you no longer enjoy that specific mission, find another—better and finer — to test all your powers against.

Strive to do it well. Hence: study, practice, strengthen your philosophy, and mind your own business. Understand the internal and external factors required to excel in your mission—and concentrate on those.

Money, public approval, the admiration of many —easy to desire, but dangerous to depend on. They have broken more spirits behind closed doors than any weapon of war. They are invisible chains to the human heart.

Attain them by chance or force, and you’ve bound yourself to a life of anxiety, restlessness, and delusion.

Attain them in blind hope that they’ll fuel your confidence—and in despair, watch them amplify your self-doubt instead.

There are no certainties. There are no guarantees, my boy—only this:

Only what you practice will you deserve.

Only what is right and ripe will you attain.

Only what is pure and simple will amplify your confidence.

Growth, not glory, is the real prize.

All else—though loudly advertised—is mere dust.

Cancelo Alvarez

A Newsletter - Thoughts Triggering Thoughts

Orange Book on Twitter (X)  

True failure is not when you try and it doesn’t work out. It’s when you are young, have little to lose, yet are scared of doing something different and “risky.” You will wake up in a few decades, wondering why so many people who were not smarter than you, ended up so far ahead. — Orange Book, Twitter

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There is nothing cute about lacking self-confidence past a certain age, there is nothing impressive about getting angry all the time either, if you refuse to grow into a calm, confident, smart person, don't be surprised if you never seem to attract "good people" into your life.

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You aren't struggling because life is unfair, you are struggling because life wants you to have a taste of the enormous satisfaction that comes from being rewarded after decades of self-belief and well-directed efforts.

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Getting frequently rejected and ignored is actually healthy, it helps you stay as driven as you were when you still had everything to prove, it reminds you that no one cares until you make the effort to become a valuable person first.

 Cancelo Alvarez 

Happiness Isn’t Postponed — It’s Practiced

 

Writer and philosopher Michel de Montaigne reveals what wisdom looks like:

“The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness.”

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A written piece from one of Jim Rohn’s timeless seminars:

"The ultimate challenge of life is to take your results, take your money, and fashion for yourself a good life — with your own hands, your own ideas — like painting a masterpiece.

A good life does not happen by accident."

When I was 25, my teacher gave me two phrases that changed my life. I want to share them with you.

Here’s the first one:

“If you wish to be wealthy, study wealth.”

He gave me a whole new economic philosophy. I studied, I practiced, and I became wealthy.

Here was the second phrase he gave me:

“If you wish to be happy, study and practice the art of happy living.”

Up until then I had no concept that happiness was a study. My best hope for happiness at age 25 was just to go through the day with my fingers crossed… Hoping somehow something would make me happy.

But my teacher said:

“No! Happiness is not something you postpone.

Happiness is not something off in the future.

Happiness is something you design.

Happiness is a study.

Happiness is a practice.

Happiness is an art — it’s not an accident.”

Anyone who wants to can study and practice the art of happy living.

Start with your family. If you want a happy weekend, you’ve got to design it. You’ve got to fashion it. You’ve got to weave it — like a tapestry — with your own hands, your own ideas.

Don’t leave an important weekend to the ‘winds.’ Don’t leave a child’s birthday to the ‘winds’ and let the ‘winds blow’.

Fashion the day. Fashion the weekend.

Engage in this happy living called: Lifestyle.

Another part of it is culture.

Take an hour. Take an evening. And go soak up the music. Soak up the symphony. You gotta let these things affect you.

Happiness is like culture. Money doesn’t make you cultured.

Culture is a study. Intelligence is a study. It’s not an amount, It’s not an account. It’s a study.

Money doesn’t make you intelligent or cultured.

Only study and practice make you intelligent, only study and practice make you cultured, only study and practice make you happy, study and practice make you rich.

Key phrase:

“Don’t be lazy in learning — first, how to do well. Next, how to live well.”

Don’t be lazy in learning and practicing:

• The Art of Economics
• The Art of Productivity
• The Art of Lifestyle

My mentor taught me these things in such simple terms.

A reflection on a timeless Jim Rohn seminar.

How To Master The Art of Happiness

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I hope you enjoyed.

Cancelo Alvarez

The Invisible Advantage - A Newsletter

For more of these lines: Visit or Sign up to Shane Parish’s blog: Farnam Street Blog (Articles)

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Results are forged from invisible efforts.

That hit song? Years of practice, countless unheard tracks. The championship athlete? Countless hours of unseen training. The successful entrepreneur? Working on a Friday night, again.

The invisible advantage is choosing to do what other people could do, but don’t do. Behind every great achievement lies a long, unseen journey.

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The hard part isn’t knowing what to do; it’s doing it daily, whether you feel like it or not.

The challenge isn’t knowing you should work out; it’s putting on your shoes and running in the cold when you’d rather sit at home under a warm blanket.

The challenge isn’t determining the most important project; it’s sitting down and doing it when you’d rather browse social media.

If you’re waiting for inspiration, you’ve already lost.

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The lazy lose to the average.

The average lose to the focused.

The focused lose to the obsessed.

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Final Words:

Consistency builds ability.

Ability fuels confidence.

Confidence enhances performance.

Performance drives success.

 

Envy, Anxiety, and the Art of Refocusing

 

Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once said:

“All this anxious overthinking and concern about how people view me — someone said something bad about me, and you get so upset about it — is wasted time and energy.

Your only focus should be on getting better at what you’re doing. Focus on what you are doing. Get better at what you are doing. Everything else is a waste of time.”

It’s a simple but powerful idea — and it doesn’t just apply when people say things about you.

But what about the other side?

What about when you’re the one imagining or saying bad things about someone else — not because they’ve wronged you, but because their name keeps coming up in praise? Because your friends or colleagues speak highly of them? Because they’ve succeeded at something you secretly wished you had?

That, too, is wasted energy.

Envy, like anxiety, jealousy, and insecurity, is natural. It’s baked into the human experience. But just because it’s natural doesn’t mean we should feed it. The best we can do is learn how to disarm these negative, energy-draining emotions.

The trick isn’t to pretend they don’t exist, but to starve them of our attention.

We remind ourselves:

“Our focus should be on getting better at what we are doing. Concentrate on what we are doing. Practice what we are doing. Everything else is a waste of time.”

Because whether it’s fear of judgment or the quiet pull of envy, the cure is often the same:

Refocus. Return to your work. Sharpen your blade.

Cancelo Alvarez 

The Quiet Power of Gratitude

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched — they must be felt with the heart."

—Helen Keller

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"You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give."

—Kahlil Gibran

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"Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I am grateful that thorns have roses." —Alphonse Karr

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There is strength and power in our ability to control and change our thoughts — especially when they refuse to be changed. This happens in both heartbreaking and victorious moments alike. Yet both extremes can cloud our judgment: one leads to underconfidence, the other to overconfidence. And we need not explain those further — they are self-explanatory.

In moments of stress and heartbreak, we cultivate this strength by reflecting, in quiet solitude, on all the positive things in our lives. It helps to try every method available, to truly explore all that is going well, all that is beautiful, all that is worth appreciating right now.

Go out and look at the world — and think:

“How many are in jail? How many are disabled? How many were killed by a stray bullet and didn’t make it home for dinner — with a chocolate gift in their pocket for their children?”

Think:

“How lucky I am to be alive at this moment — and what a waste of precious time it is to dwell on the little negative that just visited me.”

“Some of you say, ‘Joy is greater than sorrow,’ and others say, ‘Nay, sorrow is the greater.’
But I say unto you, they are inseparable.
They come together, and when one sits with you at your table, remember that the other is resting upon your bed.”
— Kahlil Gibran (adapted from “The Prophet”) 

In both difficult and victorious times — be like a wise king: modest, grounded, and composed. For they know that life moves in cycles, like day and night, and flows in seasons, like summer and winter. It is a Law. It is a Science.

The brave-hearted embrace it — with open hands, steady hearts, and eyes that see beyond the present season.

Cancelo Alvarez

The Luckier You Are The Nicer You Should Be

By Morgan Housel and Orange Book

Nothing too good or too bad stays that way forever, because great times plant the seeds of their own destruction through complacency and too much risk, and bad times plant the seeds of their own turn-around through opportunity and panic-driven problem-solving. 

Life moves in cycles.

But we treat risk and luck very differently: We notice risk and uncertainty right away and want them gone fast. But when luck arrives, we act like it’ll stay forever. This shows up in investing and in life:

When the market or our portfolio losses money, we look for someone to blame.

When it rises, we credit our own intelligence and game-plan.

Maybe the best way to stay grounded is simple:

• The luckier you are, the nicer you should be.
• The more successful you are, the nicer you should be.
• The better life treats you, the kinder you should become.

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Orange Book — On the Beauty of the Climb

People want to get rich immediately. 

They want to meet the perfect partner, get fit, become wise—now.

But the truth is, it’s easy to feel lost and even depressed once you’ve reached every goal.

Be grateful you still have work to do.

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Let this remind you:

Success is a cycle, not a finish line.

The journey—full of uncertainty, effort, and growth—is the reward.

And if you’re lucky enough to be doing well, don’t forget to be kind.

Your Actions Are Votes — Choose Wisely

 

Today's Article

“The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of life is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The beauty of life is to give.”
— Happier Lives

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On Persistence — Susan Sontag

“It never occurred to me that I couldn’t live the life I wanted to lead. It never occurred to me that I could be stopped…
I had this very simple view: that the reason people who start out with ideals or aspirations don’t do what they dream of doing when they’re young is because they quit.
I thought, well, I won’t quit.”

What a powerful reminder from Sontag: many people don’t fail because they’re incapable — they simply stop. They surrender their ideals too early. Her words challenge us to persist, even when it’s hard, even when it’s inconvenient, even when we’re uncertain. Just don’t quit.

As Jim Rohn put it, “The real value of setting goals is not in their achievement, but in who you become in the process.”
The pursuit shapes you — and that’s the deeper reward.

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On Identity — James Clear, Atomic Habits

“Every action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become. No single instance will transform your beliefs, but as the votes build up, so does the evidence of your new identity.”

Let that sink in.

Think of it this way: every vote a citizen casts helps shape the leadership of their country — at least, that’s how democracy is meant to work. Similarly, in our personal lives, every choice we make is a vote for the kind of person we’re becoming.

Here are just a few examples of those personal “votes”:

• The time you choose to go to sleep.

• The first thing you do when you wake up.

• The dinner you choose to eat.

• The friend you decide to visit on the weekend.

• The movie you watch, the course you postpone, the book you pick up — or don’t.

Each one might seem small, but over time, they stack up and shape your identity — and eventually, your reputation in society.

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Final Thought

You are becoming someone every day. Make sure your votes are going toward a future self you’re proud of.

The Seasons of the Mind

 

    "Enjoy when you can, and endure when you must." — J.W. Goethe

Endurance — the ability to experience an unpleasant or difficult situation without losing yourself.

Some years you win,

Some years you build character. — Steve Jobs

You will know that you are enjoying when your heart is positively eager, curious, and excited about the future — maybe after a compliment, a profit, or a promotion. These feelings encourage you to see the beauty in life, the necessity of being alive, and the unique opportunity to experience it all.

Your endurance will be most required when your self-image or beliefs are proven fragile or misinformed. Feelings of dejection, hopelessness, and frustration chase each other around your mind in search of existential answers.

But again — what did you expect?

This is life: a rare, miraculous, once-off experience on a planet revolving around gigantic stars and galaxies. Governed, as it seems, by nothing but time, space, and silence.

Continually remind yourself, therefore, that it is not your job to control everything or create magic that works only in your favor — but rather, to open your heart and mind to the experience. Smile often. Serve humanity. Sleep peacefully.

Because we are all destined to return to the silence from which we came — and that’s not tragedy, it’s clarity.

“Look around for some enduring good instead. And nothing answers this description except what the spirit discovers for itself within itself. A good character is the only guarantee of everlasting, carefree happiness.” — Lucius Seneca

And while you're here, understand and appreciate these words by Kahlil Gibran:

“The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain…

Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.”

In the end, it is not about avoiding the seasons — but learning to move through them with wonder.

— Cancelo Alvarez

The Price Tag of Success

 

Everyone dreams big until they see the price tag.

But to really progress in your goals, you must develop a taste for saltwater.

"You see, most people mistake discomfort as a signal to stop and quit; the great ones see it as evidence they’re on the right track. Excellence is just pain tolerance disguised as genius. The real advantage isn’t talent — it’s cultivating a perverse appreciation for the discomfort others instinctively avoid."
— Shane Parrish

Orange Book on Twitter echoes this mindset:

There is no stress-free life. There are only people who appear to be stress-free because they are constantly investing in themselves in order to become a person who can handle any situation with calm.

Everyone dreams big until they see the price tag.

Until they face the quiet assassin: their own laziness.
Until they face the louder demon: their self-doubt.

But let us close this article with these obvious words:

You don’t have talent?
You don’t have connections?
You don’t have qualifications?
There’s still a solution within your control: wake up earlier.

— Cancelo Alvarez

Weak Points for an African Professional

 

"Just avoiding common mistakes can greatly increase your chances of success."
— Charlie Munger

After reflecting on three areas that concern me most—personal finance, small business, and professional growth—I curated this list for the African youth striving to build a solid foundation.

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1. Waiting for a “big job” instead of starting where you are

Jobs and money are not as scarce as we believe. What’s truly scarce are people with skills that solve problems, the focus to get the job done, and the leadership drive to raise the standard of their environment.

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2. Underestimating the power of consistent habits (reading, saving, exercising)

It’s easy to walk into a bar and grab a beer and a cigarette—it helps you forget your problems. It’s hard to walk into a library and read a book—it forces you to face them. But growth lies in discomfort.

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3. Living for show—status games, designer clothes, and lifestyle inflation

Whatever mind games are played around us, we must refuse to play mind games with ourselves. When you know what is important but refuse to do it, you are planting seeds of regret and unimaginable pain for your middle age. 

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4. Rejecting mentorship and peer accountability

Nothing is more common than 20-year-olds who believe life began with them—ignoring the experience of those before them, whether in the form of mentorship or history books. Humility is a shortcut to growth.

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5. Living above your salary—driven by the pressure to “look successful”

We underestimate saving money because it feels boring. We overestimate spending because it feels good. But saving is the road to wealth. Spending everything you earn is the road to poverty. The Road to Hell feels like heaven, the Road to Heaven feels like hell.

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6. No emergency fund—one crisis collapses everything

If one river feeds a community of 100 people, and that river dries up, the whole community suffers. Your income is that river. You must protect it—and plan for droughts.

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7. No budget or scorekeeping—money disappears silently

Planning a budget in your head is like sailing a ship without a map. Sooner or later, you drift into disaster.

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8. Mixing personal and business money—no discipline, no accountability

If your business has no written plan, no records, and lives only in your head, you haven’t started a business—you’re just playing. Business is a discipline, not a daydream.

Cancelo Alvarez 

The Art of Letting Go

 

Frustrations melt away when we appreciate what we have. — Dr. Brett Steenbarger

So we convince ourselves that the best and most worthwhile personal wins are those in which we come out first, beat our competition, or attract applause from the audience.

In my practice of journaling daily wins, I've been forced many times to think about less obvious wins, because not every day will I compete and win, or perform and impress.

I'll share briefly another kind of win less talked about - the rare mental ability of swiftly letting go of defeat and failure as it occurs so that it does not affect your next conversation, presentation or performance.

As children, we are superstars at crying and sulking. We cry when denied what we want, we cry when mama leaves the house, we cry when dad runs faster in a race, so that he allows us to win, and we wipe our fake tears while laughing and enjoying our win of coming first.

Not so as an adult — the table turns. You've got to be a superstar in suppressing, not tears, but sulking. Frustrations, failure and embarrassing experiences almost always evoke the child in us who wants to sulk and scream, "it is unfair!" But you cannot do that as an adult. And you should not. Because you know better.

Practice the habit of appreciating what you have and the obvious advantages in your life. You could not afford college? Appreciate your matric and wake up earlier. You did not become a TV star? Appreciate your fluent English and the peace of mind that comes from being unknown.

We mistake publicity for success. I have one warning: famous people cannot make the mistakes you and I can make — because journalists and fans will pounce and feed on them.

And you missed a life-changing opportunity? Head to Orange Book once again, and maybe you'll understand the cycles and the circle of life. Everything comes and goes, and comes again in different colors.

"If you missed a life-changing opportunity, just get ready for the next one. It's coming faster than you think." — Orange Book 🍊

Cancelo Alvarez  

A News Letter: Becoming The Best

Seth Godin, Author & Businessman, On Being The Best

Book — The Dip: On Struggle and Success

Your industry is competitive, filled with smart people overcoming challenges every day. It’s the incredibly difficult challenges (the Big problems) that give you the opportunity to pull ahead. In a competitive world, adversity is your friend. The harder it gets, the better chance you have of shielding yourself from the competition. It’s human nature to quit when it hurts. But it’s that resilience that creates scarcity.

If you haven’t already realized it, the Dip is the secret to your success. The people who push through the Dip—who invest the time, energy, and effort—are the ones who become the best in the world. (In Public Speaking — in Sports — in Business — in Art)

---

Morgan Housel, Author of The Psychology of Money

The Laws Of Investing — Law #9

Big success often comes from rare events, so it’s normal to lose most of the time and still win big overall.

Anything that is huge, profitable, famous, or influential is the result of a tail event – a one-in-thousands—or even one-in-millions—event. And most of our attention goes to things that are huge, profitable, famous, or influential. When most of what we pay attention to is the result of a tail, it’s easy to underestimate how rare and powerful tails are.

But tails drive almost everything. A minority of participants will capture outsized returns because opportunity attracts competition, and the winners of that competition tend to lock in because customers, employees, and investors want to associate with winners.

A diversified portfolio will derive most of its long-term returns from a minority of companies. Those companies derive most of their value from a minority of products, and those products were the brain-child of a minority of employees, who were educated at a minority of schools, on and on.

The takeaway from tails is that you should be comfortable when a lot of what you do and see doesn’t work. If you become paralyzed when a few things don’t work, you’ll never stick around long enough to enjoy the few things that do.

---

Conclusion —

Both the Dip—struggles and hardship—and Tail Events—rare, powerful breakthroughs—contribute to big success. You need a LOT of things working in your favor, to be honest. But there are still key things that keep showing up:
You must be persistent — You must be focused — You must be flexible — You must, at some point, get lucky.

It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness. — Lucius Seneca

—

Cancelo Alvarez

Discovering Everton: A Hidden Treasure in the Heart of Hillcrest

 

Background:

I spent five formative years in Hillcrest, attending Hillcrest High School, before relocating to Pietermaritzburg—just 50 minutes away. Only in hindsight did I come to fully appreciate the elegance, aura, and quiet standard of life that defines this area.

It wasn’t until the first week of April 2025—seven years after matriculating—that I stumbled upon a place I’d never heard of before: Everton.

Tucked deep within the Gillitts and Upper Highway forests, Everton revealed itself like a dream I hadn’t known I was missing. The homes were breath-taking—mind-numbing, even—each one a masterpiece of architecture and intentional living. Surreal. Serene. Silent in a way that spoke volumes. 

Kudos to my best friend and brother from Hillcrest, Mr. Ayathola Shabane, for continuously exposing me to new experiences around Hillcrest whenever I visit.     

Article Edited by ChatGBT

Everton: The Slopes of Quiet Wealth

In Everton, the air is quieter than most places. Not silent, no—but rich with the sounds of well-fed birds, distant fountains, and the soft hum of electric gates sliding open like secrets being told. The homes here aren’t just homes—they’re statements, often hidden behind long, tree-lined driveways and manicured hedges that were once wild but are now tamed by landscapers with quiet eyes and sharp tools.

The people of Everton are not idle. Their days are full—but full in a curated way, like art galleries arranged just so.

---

What They Spend Their Money On

They spend discreetly but deliberately—on:

• Home Improvements: Infinity pools, solar systems, and kitchen upgrades that blend Cape Dutch aesthetics with European minimalism.
• Education: Private schools that teach Latin and robotics. Tutors in Mandarin and coding. Termly fees that would build small houses elsewhere.
• Wellness and Health: Pilates instructors who arrive in black SUVs, private chefs who speak softly, nutritionists, and imported supplements stored in fridges as pristine as laboratories.
• Travel and Experiences: Wine tours in Stellenbosch, art fairs in London, spiritual retreats in Bali. But always returning to Everton, where the garden blooms all year.
• Security and Privacy: State-of-the-art alarm systems, 24/7 patrol vehicles, and community WhatsApp groups that pulse with both caution and care.

---

What They Talk About

Their conversations often dance between the global and the hyperlocal:

• The volatility of international markets.
• The cost of installing boreholes versus water tanks.
• A new art gallery opening in Umhlanga.
• Which architect is best for a home cinema extension.
• The school headmaster’s latest speech on principles and integrity.

But also—more intimately:

• The worry of raising grounded children in abundance.
• The recent divorce on Oak Tree Lane, whispered like a confession.
• The gardener who left unexpectedly after ten years.

---

What They Believe

• Everton’s residents are shaped by a mix of legacy, aspiration, and curated spirituality:
• They believe in legacy over luxury—what they leave behind matters as much as how they live.
• They believe success should be understated, preferably worn in linen and never shouted about.
• They believe in community, but at arm’s length—a WhatsApp group is enough.
• They believe in health as wealth, in mindfulness, in morning routines, in vision boards, and in sage burning—though some still attend church on Sunday.

---

What They Do During the Day

• Some run consulting firms from their home offices, where Zoom calls begin with “Sorry, the dogs were barking.”
• Others are entrepreneurs in property, tech, or bespoke services—quiet empires built on years of shrewd decisions.
• A few are retired, but active: volunteering, painting, or hosting book clubs with themes like "Women Who Run With the Wolves."
• Many manage households like CEOs: domestic workers, drivers, tutors, chefs—coordinated with calendars and kindness.

---

And Always—A Slowness

Time in Everton moves gently. There's urgency in their lives—but not in their afternoons. The lawns are always green. The coffee is always organic. And behind the stillness of it all, there’s an unspoken agreement:

We worked hard to arrive here. Let’s not rush through it.

Remove What Stops the Growth

A man once asked his gardener why his plants grew so beautifully.

The gardener answered:

“I don’t force them to grow. I remove what stops them.”

Translated into our lives:
You cannot produce a human baby in one month — for some cosmic reason, it has to remain nine months. Understanding this is part of being a mature adult, but it also helps us comprehend the Laws that govern our lives.

Serious, depressing, and even heartbreaking problems begin when we go against these Laws and Principles that govern this complex world we inhabit.
Put simply: when we refuse to accept, acknowledge, and appreciate the hard facts of reality.

Without going any further, I’ve begun reflecting on my own life — and asking:

What things are in my control, and what things are outside my control?

Because:

Once a man truly grasps what is within his control — and what is not — he becomes dangerous.
He becomes a force of nature.
All the effort and concentration he devotes to the things he can control begin to compound.
And over time, this focus subtly and powerfully influences the things outside his control:
luck, circumstance, opportunity, situations, timing.

So I ask you:

What garden are you cultivating in your personal life?
And what can you focus on removing — not forcing — to allow its natural growth?

Focus on that. 🌱

Cancelo Alvarez 

Reflections Of An Inner Fire

 

The most glowing successes are but the reflections of an inner fire.

Adversity and perseverance shape you in ways that nothing else can. They forge a resilience and self-esteem that are priceless. You may have heard the saying, "A tree is only as strong as its roots." But Carl Jung offers a deeper truth:

"No tree can grow to heaven unless its roots reach down to hell."

This speaks to a profound reality—to achieve extraordinary success, you must endure extraordinary trials. Darkness, hardship, and solitude are not obstacles; they are the very forces that strengthen you. The fire that burns within must be tested, tempered, and refined. As Seneca reminds us:

"It is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness."

You must and should be strong mentally and physically - you must have thick-skin to endure the attacks of defeat and ridicule. Your mind must be burning with self-belief, yes — nothing new — but unwavering, stubborn, and quiet self-belief.

True confidence is not given; it is earned through fire.

"That is the way for the true mind to prove itself, the mind that yields to no judgment but its own. One can never be sure of one’s strength until numerous difficulties have appeared on every side, for courage increases when it meets with a challenge."

— Seneca

The flames of adversity do not destroy those with inner fire—they illuminate them. And in that glow, true greatness is revealed.

Cancelo Alvarez 

Ryan Holiday, Discipline is Destiny - Part II

Beware This Madness - 

Page 159-290 

The Burden of Potential: Will You Lift It?

For money to carry the heavy load for you in middle age, you must first carry the heavy load for money, skills, and a brand in your youth. -- Twitter

For anything really, that is valuable and precious, like money.

The grace and poise of a public speaker in middle age comes from deliberate efforts - even if it means the effort of simply discovering and accepting their god given talent, using their voice artfully.

Who knew, that even the act of looking deeper inside oneself - to find out what one is good at — is, on its own, heavy lifting and requires incredible mental strength?

André Gide, a Nobel Prize winner, once remarked:

“Yet I'm sure there's something more to be read in a man. People dare not—they dare not turn the page. The laws of fear. People are afraid to find themselves alone, and don't find themselves at all.”

He would drive the point home, adding:

“You can't create something without being alone. But who's trying to create here? What seems different in yourself: that's the one rare thing you possess, the one thing which gives each of us his worth; and that's just what we try to suppress. We imitate. And we claim to love life.”

In this short adventure called life, few mistakes are as irreversible as settling for a career or job you despise—merely because it pays the bills. Notice I say 'settle', because understandably we all need to start somewhere. Not everyone begins with inheritance. Some, in fact, inherit debt.

No matter. You have youth. You have 365 days a year. You have a brain. You can and should carry the heavy load—for financial stability, for skills, for your unique brand and voice.

You can and should realize that:

Time defines our lives. We are not shaped by the space we find ourselves in but by how we spend the time we have in that space.

Cancelo Alvarez

The Pillars of Mastery -- A Series (4/4)

On Happiness & Gratitude

Lack of happiness is a lack of gratitude.

Have you ever found yourself completely overwhelmed by negative, embarrassing, or frustrating circumstances—where you aren’t sure how you ended up in such a low point, yet part of you doesn’t want to move away from it? There’s a strangely comforting feeling in those negative thoughts and reflections, even though they come with an overwhelming sense of despair that can make you feel like doing something drastic, like harming yourself or disappearing. It’s a thought that maybe, if you ended your life, people would finally care about you—but just too late.

I’ve been there myself, and maybe I will be again in the future.

No matter, I’ve developed a safeguard against these feelings.

Psychologist and Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman sums it up best:

“If you are allowed one wish for your child, seriously consider wishing him or her optimism. Optimists are normally cheerful and happy, and therefore popular; they are resilient in adapting to failures and hardships, their chances of clinical depression are reduced, their immune system is stronger, they take better care of their health, they feel healthier than others, and are likely to live longer.”

This safeguard is Optimism, brilliantly depicted in Frances Hodgson Burnett’s novel A Little Princess (1905).

Like any muscle, this mental safeguard improves with time.

You deliberately imagine a better future instead of a worse one, which encourages self-respect, self-care, and energy. You turn defeat into an opportunity to learn, accepting reality by stripping away the inessentials, rather than using failure as proof of your inadequacy. You look for the positive side of life—not just for the sake of optimism, but to spark your curiosity, to try new things, and to review your painful past with understanding and maturity.

Optimism, maintained daily through practices like keeping a gratitude journal, prayer, or giving, is the cure for the mind’s disease that we discussed earlier.

Previous Posts In this Series:
1st:  On Discipline & Talent
2nd: On Wealth
3rd: On Growth

Cancelo Alvarez

The Pillars of Mastery -- A Series (3/4)

On Growth  

Lack of growth is lack of courage.

“Do not do what someone else could do as well as you. Do not say, do not write what someone else could say, could write, as well as you. Care for nothing in yourself but what you feel exists nowhere else. And, out of yourself create, impatiently or patiently, the most irreplaceable of beings.” — André Gide, The Immoralist

Fifty years later, Carl Jung would write: “If the path before you is clear, you’re probably on someone else’s.”

And then, Robert Greene added: “The purpose of life is to live a life of purpose,” and I would further add that you must discover, invent, and create that purpose—because yours is unique and different from that of others. Certainly, it is different from those in your neighborhood, which is the most likely place where you will find yourself following and trying to fit in.

Growth is felt more than it is seen; this is why capturing daily wins is more about feeding your feelings of improvement than merely celebrating the actual wins. Our feelings possess immense power—both to build and to destroy.

You have heard that a man’s worst enemy is himself. This is because, through his feelings, he has the ability to destroy himself—but also the ability to build himself. Why? I read somewhere that: “The road to hell feels like heaven, and the road to heaven feels like hell.” Meaning—building and sharpening yourself is painful. Think of exercise, of meditation. On the other hand, destroying yourself feels enjoyable—think of junk food, watching pornography, and other indulgences.

But all that said—to grow, you must remember that the mind is in control of the body, which, when left unsupervised, will default to destroying itself with excess and avoiding all that is hard.

“Too great am I to be a slave to my body; too great is that for which I was born.” — Seneca

Previous Post in this series: On Wealth  

Next Post: 

Cancelo Alvarez  

The Pillars of Mastery -- A Series (2/4)

 

On Wealth

Lack of wealth is lack of vision.

"How to stay poor: Think you need to start rich to get rich."

— Alex Hormozi, Entrepreneur & YouTuber

Success leaves clues, Jim Rohn would remark in his books and seminars, and one clue we may lean on here is school.

Remember, to advance to another grade, we’re required to pass the examination of our current grade. In other words, we must earn the next level by proving our worth and capabilities. Failure to do so keeps us at the same grade—or worse, leads to quitting.

Fast forward to wealth creation: there’s no formal exam or school to impress, but the principle holds. We must exercise mastery and supremacy over what we have to merit what we desire.

In his timeless book, The 7 Strategies of Wealth & Happiness (1980), Jim Rohn wrote:

It really doesn’t take much to be in business; it doesn’t take a million dollars.

What it takes is to become master over what you have and what you are.

That’s where the seeds of greatness are sown—great wealth, great results, great influence, and a great lifestyle.

Take interest—and even delight—in doing the small things well. It will help you become a sophisticated person—one who knows the fundamental strategies for wealth and happiness.

I would add a caution for those seeking wealth: avoid taking advice from ordinary, unsuccessful people. Raise your standards. Raise your information sources. Change your circle of association. And most importantly—avoid instant gratification.

Play these games where the downside is survivable but the upside is exponential—because that’s where real wealth, in money and mastery, is born.

Vision sees the exponential upside where others see only risk.

Previous post in this series: On Discipline

Next Post: On Wealth

Cancelo Alvarez, 🇿🇦

My Research You Might Appreciate

 Your Mental "Thinking Behaviors" Book

I’ve been exploring a framework of Thinking Behaviors—

• Clarity, 
• Accuracy, 
• Precision, 
• Relevance, and 
• Logic—

that can sharpen how we process and share ideas. Below is a concise guide I’ve crafted, like a mental "book" to imprint in your mind, with the best bits distilled for you.

---

Chapter 1: Clarity

Goal: Make your thoughts clear and understandable.

• Guiding Questions:
  • Could I elaborate on this?
  • Could I illustrate what I mean?
  • Could I give an example?
• Imprint Strategy:
  • When explaining anything, imagine you’re teaching someone who’s new to the topic. Add details or examples until they’d “get it.”
  • Trigger: Every time you share an idea, pause and ask, “Is this clear enough?”

Chapter 2: Accuracy

Goal: Ensure your thinking is backed by facts and research.

• Guiding Questions:
  • How could we check on that?
  • How could we test that?
  • How do we know this is true?
• Imprint Strategy:
  • Treat yourself like a detective. Before accepting or sharing something, verify it with a quick fact-check or source.
  • Trigger: When learning or arguing, ask, “What’s my evidence?”

Chapter 3: Precision

Goal: Be specific and exact in your thinking.

• Guiding Questions:
  • Could I be more specific?
  • Could I give more details?
  • Could I be more exact?
• Imprint Strategy:
  • Picture yourself as a scientist describing an experiment—vague won’t do. Push for details until it’s crystal clear.
  • Trigger: When describing something, challenge yourself to avoid generalities.

Chapter 4: Relevance

Goal: Keep your thoughts tied to the central idea or problem.

• Guiding Questions:
  • How does this relate to the problem?
  • Does this answer the question?
  • How does this help us?
• Imprint Strategy:
  • Act like a navigator—steer every thought back to the main point. Outline your ideas if needed to stay on track.
  • Trigger: Before adding a point, ask, “Does this matter here?”

Chapter 5: Logic

Goal: Present your thinking in a way that makes sense to others.

• Guiding Questions:
  • Does all this make sense together?
  • Does my thinking follow the evidence?
• Imprint Strategy:
  • Think like an architect building an argument—each step must support the next. Test your reasoning for gaps.
  • Trigger: When concluding, check, “Does this flow logically?”

---

How to Imprint This Framework in Your Mind

1. Create a Mental Checklist:
   • Run through the five behaviors before speaking, writing, or deciding:
     • Is it clear?
     • Is it accurate?
     • Is it precise?
     • Is it relevant?
     • Is it logical?
2. Link to Everyday Actions:
   • Tie each behavior to a task:
     • Explaining → Clarity
     • Researching → Accuracy
     • Describing → Precision
     • Discussing → Relevance
     • Arguing → Logic
   • This builds a habit through routine.
3. Reinforce with Resources:
• Check out Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman or The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli for deeper insights.
• Observe others in debates or articles to see these behaviors in action.

Next Post: We'll explore four more:

• Depth
• Fairness
• Breadth
• Significance 

Cancelo Alvarez 

The Pillars of Mastery -- A Series (1/4)

On Discipline

Lack of talent is lack of discipline.

Lack of discipline is lack of prioritization.

To be truly talented, you need a unique way of thinking—one grounded in self-honesty.

It takes energy, courage, wisdom, faith, and self-assurance to be honest with oneself. It is so easy to lie to ourselves. And when it comes to developing great talent, becoming a professional at what you do, an artist in your craft, you need all the ingredients of self-honesty, because without them, you will continually prioritize the less important things—things that do not feed your talent, your career, or your self-worth."

One day, you will look back and realize that we all had the same 24 hours each day. Some used it to become criminals, others housewives, some fell into addiction, while others became millionaires.

It has always been a question of prioritization.

What are you prioritizing today, this year?

It is a clue to your destiny.

Next Post: On Wealth

 Cancelo Alvarez