20X Your Potential: Hell Week

On February 8th I started Ramit Sethi’s “20X Your Potential: Hell Week”

Day 1: Pushing your physical limits

First day’s challenge (choose one):

1. 1,000 push-ups for time
2. 21-minute plank hold (to see what this looks like check out this video here)
3. 20X STRETCH BONUS CHALLENGE: Both the 21-minute plank hold AND 1,000 push-ups for time
4. Quit: Ring the bell, say “I’ll do this later,” close the tab, and go on with your day

I chose first one of a 1,000 push ups, and initially failed when I attempted this on Monday. I started at 10 PM and did not have enough time to complete the challenge, I got up to 300 pushups before heading to bed. I felt sore for days. On Sunday I revisited this challenge when I had more time and got up to 700 pushups before my arms gave out.

Day 2: Embrace the suck

STEP 1: Think of your “someday” goal. We all have them. Maybe someday you want to make a million dollars. Maybe you want to start a business. Maybe you want to visit every continent. We ALL have the goals that we’ve thought, “that’d be nice.”

STEP 2: Visualize your goal or problem in detail. What does it look like? What do you feel like? What are the tastes, sounds, and smells? (For me, this was showing up to host an event where nobody came. I felt like a vacuum had sucked all the air out of the room.)

STEP 3: Listen for your mind to start telling you why you can’t do this. “This isn’t the right time.” “I’m not the kind of person who…” “She can do it, but I don’t have…” When you hear it, acknowledge it, and redirect your thoughts to positive ones, “If this were possible, what would it take?” “If I were perfect, what would I do?”

STEP 4: Embrace the suck. This is where most of us tend to shut down because we’re uncomfortable. We’re uncomfortable about what we’re asking of ourselves. So instead of working through it, we file the goal away to deal with it “later” — the equivalent of ringing the bell to quit, since “later” means “never.”

STEP 5: Once you have a clear picture of your goal, eliminate the noise by using Commander Divine’s box breathing technique for 12 minutes. (Click here for even more detailed instructions.) I warn you, 12 minutes will seem like an eternity.

STEP 6: After 12 minutes, take out a piece of paper and write out how you feel about your goal or problem with your mind clear. Then come up with ONE step you can take TODAY. It could be to make a phone call or buy a book or even writing out the problem and it’s components. You MUST take at least one physical action.

For me the some day goal is to start a business that earn 5K a month in Semi-passive income in addition to my normal job. I’d create a system that gives me freedom, where I am not always trading time for money. Part of the 5K would come from Rental properties. My thoughts are, what if this is a bad time to buy real estate, I don’t know enough. What if I fail?  I don’t have enough capital. What does this take: Working hard in the short term. Doing the research, and creating value. If I were perfect I would know the exact property to buy, put a down payment and start collecting a check. The box breathing technique was helpful, I have started Mantra Meditation a week prior and had some similar effects. I feel like the best time to start is now, and waiting won’t help. The goal is achievable and if anything is too small

My next step: I went to Zillow and made a property inquiry on a home in Geneseo.

Day 3: Master your emotions

This was the most challenging day for me. Today’s goal was to call a friend and ask for brutal feedback. I had a pit in my stomach and wanted to skip this day.

I did end up calling my friend and really happy I did. There a very few people I can be open with and once I was done with the call I felt very relieved

Day 4: Relentless focus

For two hours today, take a vow of silence.

No talking, internet,  phone,  sleeping, or reading

I did not end up completing this on the day of the email, and moved this to Saturday.

I am Shomer Shabbat, and this is a day I normally do not use electronics, but could use the extra headspace. I cleaned my room; making my bed is an easy win to the day. I also did twenty minutes of meditation. The two hours felt extra long as most saturdays I take a long nap in the middle of the day. I will write about my Shabbat experience in the future and why even without the religious aspect leaving a day to unplug is great for the rest of the week.

Day 5: Build a warrior spirit

Do a major act of service.

I know this is Hell week but this was a great day.

I made a donation to the AMF https://www.againstmalaria.com/

I donated 50 nets to help prevent malaria in Africa. This charity was recommended in Doing Good Better by William MacAskillI a fantastic book, I will blog about Effective Altruism in the future.

The second charity was for the Special Olympics through the Annual Rochester Polar Plunge. I chose this cause after seeing my college friend raise money on Facebook.

ℵ

Thank you Ramit and Mark Divine for a great week. This week reminds me of something my High School track coach said.

“Put up your hands as high as they will go”

“Okay now stretch up a little higher”

Every single hand went up a little higher despite being told to put up our hands as high as they will go a second prior. This week has been about that stretch. At 500 push ups I wanted to quit, than 600, and finally ended at 700, as that would put me at a weekly total of over 1000. Did I fail? Yes but I’ll keep going and revisit that challenge. Embrace the suck had a great ending of forcing me to take a real step and not be stuck in analysis paralysis. I am believer in giving Ma’aser a tithe that Jews give to charity. My main charity is the local Kollel, but I do want to branch out to Charities that fit the 100x Multiplier spoken about in Doing Good Better.

Sign up at 20xyourpotential.com