In partnership with

Welcome to another edition of the 1% Habits Newsletter!

This is where you’ll get up-to-date information on small wins to improve your habits, productivity, and life satisfaction. 

Let’s get to it.

— SPONSORED AD —

Find out why 1M+ professionals read Superhuman AI daily.

In 2 years you will be working for AI

Or an AI will be working for you

Here's how you can future-proof yourself:

1. Join the Superhuman AI newsletter – read by 1M+ people at top companies

2. Master AI tools, tutorials, and news in just 3 minutes a day

3. Become 10X more productive using AI

Join 1,000,000+ pros at companies like Google, Meta, and Amazon that are using AI to get ahead.

Sign up and start learning AI

— END SPONSORED AD —

📈 How Self-Knowledge Can Change Your Life

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been sharing a lot about my experiments, failures, and lessons learned while building new skills—especially my journey into making “Faceless Videos.” If you’ve missed any of these stories, you can catch up here:

● The Secret to Learning (Almost) Anything for Free

● How I’m Using Tiny Projects to Learn New Skills

● Why You Need More Failed Projects (Seriously)

But today, I want to talk about something that matters to everyone—not just people who make videos or write books. It’s the idea of knowing yourself.

The Temptation of “Should”

Recently, a few people have asked me, “Why don’t you just get in front of the camera and talk?” In other words, why not do what so many others seem to do so easily?

Here’s the honest answer: I know myself.

If I tried to force myself into being a certain kind of person—someone who loves being on camera, for example—I’d probably get excited for a week or two. I’d buy the gear, set up my home office, and maybe even record a video or two. But then, inevitably, I’d start to dread it. I’d move the “Make a Video” task to tomorrow, then the next day, and eventually, a month would go by without making any progress.

The reason? I simply don’t enjoy it. I’m much happier writing, brainstorming, and tinkering behind the scenes. That’s where my energy comes from.

Why Knowing Yourself Matters (For Everyone)

Here’s the thing: We live in a world that constantly tells us we need to be good at everything. We’re encouraged to “get out of our comfort zones,” “face our fears,” and “become well-rounded.” And yes, there’s value in trying new things and growing as a person.

But there’s also enormous power in understanding who you really are—and building your life around your natural strengths and interests.

Don’t Fight Your Nature

Knowing yourself isn’t about making excuses or refusing to grow. It’s about being honest about what energizes you and what drains you. It’s about giving yourself permission to focus on what you do best, instead of constantly fighting your natural tendencies just because you think you “should.”

If you’re an introvert, why force yourself to be the life of the party? If you’re a morning person, why try to burn the midnight oil? If you love working with your hands, why sit at a desk all day just because it’s what others expect?

When you stop fighting your nature, you free up energy and creativity. You stop wasting time on things that don’t fit, and you start making real progress on the things that do.

The Myth of the “Well-Rounded” Person

Society loves the idea of the “well-rounded” individual—the person who can do it all: excel at work, manage a household, stay fit, be social, pick up new hobbies, and always be learning something new. But the truth is, nobody is great at everything. The most successful and fulfilled people are usually those who know their strengths, lean into them, and find ways to work around their weaknesses.

Think about it. Steve Jobs wasn’t the one building the computers—he was the visionary and the storyteller. Or take Warren Buffett: he’s one of the greatest investors of all time, but he’s never pretended to be a tech expert or a management guru. Even among your friends and family, you probably know someone who’s amazing with numbers but hates public speaking, or someone who’s a great organizer but prefers to stay out of the spotlight.

So why do we put so much pressure on ourselves to be great at everything?

— SPONSORED AD —

Imagine having all the tools you need to build small, consistent habits that lead to big changes over time? 

With the whole Store Bundle, you’ll get an all-in-one collection of over 100 premium printables designed to help you master the art of building 1% habits. 

Unlock your best self—one small habit at a time. The Whole Store Bundle gives you instant access to 150+ printable planners, trackers, and journals, so you can organize your life, crush your goals, and stay motivated every single day!

— END SPONSORED AD —

How Well Do You Know Yourself? (A Self-Assessment)

If you want to live a life that feels authentic and fulfilling—not just busy or impressive—the first step is to get honest about who you are and how you work best.

Here are a few questions to help you get started:

1. What Activities Energize You?

Think back to the last week. What tasks made you lose track of time? What projects left you feeling excited or motivated?

For me, it’s writing, brainstorming new ideas, and tinkering with tech tools.

2. What Activities Drain You?

What tasks do you procrastinate on, avoid, or dread? What leaves you feeling tired or frustrated—even if you think you “should” enjoy it?

For me, it’s recording video and audio content. I’ll do anything to avoid it!

3. What Have You Tried (and Quit) Before?

Look for patterns in your past. Are there projects, jobs, or habits you started enthusiastically, only to abandon them after a few weeks? What do those things have in common?

I’ve tried public speaking, podcasting, and even private coaching. Each time, the excitement faded fast.

4. Where Do You Get the Best Results?

What types of activities have gotten the best feedback, results, or personal satisfaction?

My most successful projects—writing, organizing, problem-solving—have all been things that align with my natural strengths.

5. What Do People Ask You For Help With?

Sometimes, other people see our strengths more clearly than we do. What do friends, family, or coworkers come to you for advice or assistance on?

I get a lot of questions about writing, productivity, and creative brainstorming.

6. What Would You Do If Nobody Was Watching?

If you could spend your time on anything, with no pressure to perform or impress, what would you choose?

I’d be perfectly happy tinkering with new tools, writing, and quietly sharing what I learn.

Action Steps: Use Self-Knowledge to Guide Your Path

1. Double Down on Your Strengths: Spend more time on the things that energize you. Don’t feel guilty about focusing on your natural talents.
   
   

2. Design Around Your Weaknesses: If there’s a task you hate, see if you can delegate, automate, or simply avoid it. Not everyone needs to be a public speaker or a social butterfly.
   
   

3. Experiment, But Don’t Force It: Try new things now and then, but pay attention to your gut. If something consistently drains you, it’s okay to let it go.
   
   

4. Build Systems That Fit You: Create routines and habits that align with your personality—not someone else’s.
   
   

5. Be Honest With Yourself (and Others): Don’t pretend to like something just because it’s popular. Authenticity is more sustainable than trend-chasing.

Final Thoughts: Your Path, Your Rules

It’s easy to compare yourself to others—especially in a world where everyone’s highlight reel is on display. But the real shortcut to success and fulfillment isn’t copying what works for someone else. It’s knowing yourself, trusting your instincts, and building a life that fits your unique strengths and interests.

So, if you’re wondering why I don’t just get in front of the camera and talk, now you know. I’m not afraid of trying new things—but I also know what works for me. And that’s the secret to sticking with any journey for the long haul.

Keep being you,

Steve

📰 Newsletters You Might Like

☕ Techpresso: Techpresso gives you a daily rundown of what's happening in tech and what you shouldn't miss. Read by 300,000+ professionals from Google, Apple, OpenAI...

👣 Deep Walks: The newsletter for deep thinkers. Perspective-changing quotes, reflections, and essays on everything from world religion to ancient philosophy.

📈 Your Next Breakthrough: #1 NYTimes bestselling author Mark Manson sends one idea, one question, and one exercise to help you achieve your next breakthrough. 5 minutes each week that might change your life.

🗂️ The Resource Roundup

🗓️ Daily Habits of High Achievers That Most People Overlook: A refreshing take on the subtle but powerful habits that drive success, focusing on the often-overlooked practices that can make all the difference in your daily productivity.

❓ Feeling Stuck? Ask These 8 Questions: A compassionate guide offering eight thought-provoking questions to help you break through periods of stagnation and rediscover your path forward.

🧘 The world is so busy, and then there's me: A gentle reminder that it's okay to move at your own pace in a world that seems to value constant hustle, with permission to find your own rhythm.