Ahoi! Welcome to the 39th edition of the #LSC. One step closer to the 40th edition, yay!
As you know, you’ll find here some content on productivity, personal growth, health hacks, and even some interesting recommendations, because well, why not?
Before we dive in, though: To keep getting this newsletter straight into your main inbox, please move it there so your email client doesn’t mess with it.
And now, let's get into it!
Today’s summary:
📈 Success is built on obsessive repetition
🤓 How to get better at one thing in one month
🗓️ The undervalued power of calendar events
💬 Daily tips from the trenches: Maria Begué
🪨 Weekly Pick: What beats rock?
📈 Success is built on obsessive repetition
Fear of change and a closed mind are the enemies of success.
Ever feel like you need to get everything right on the first try? Success isn't about nailing it on the first try but about consistent effort and learning through repetition.
Let’s take Michael Jordan (I’m starting big today). He scored thousands of shots but missed even more (not lying, he made “only” 49.7% of his field goals over his 15 seasons in the NBA). And still, he said, 'I've failed over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed' (nice one, Michael, nice one). And let’s be clear here: if Jordan says so, who are we to doubt him?
In the business world, Steve Jobs lived by this idea, by iterating and refining until their visions became reality. Remember that Jobs was even fired from Apple, only to be rehired a few years later after his success with Pixar and NeXT. As he once said, “I'm convinced that about half of what separates successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”
So here’s the thing: obsessive effort is key. Repetition isn’t just practice; it’s the foundation of success.
Don’t fear failure or imperfection. Embrace obsessive repetition as your motto. Every time you fail, you’re actually getting closer to success.
🤓 How to get better at one thing in one month
As we just discussed, success isn't about getting things perfect on the first try. Sometimes, we focus so much on becoming great at something that we miss the opportunity to get better.
For me, getting better is the first step to becoming great, and the best way I’ve found to improve at anything is to follow this simple formula: do it regularly for one month (and enjoy the progress). I’ve followed this approach myself, and it really works! Here’s how I do it:
Choose one thing
It’s tempting to try and tackle everything at once, but multitasking will slow you down. The more focused your attention, the better your results will be.
Clarify your motivation
How many times have we talked about knowing your why? Understanding your motivation helps staying committed, especially when things get tough.
Define "better"
What does "better" look like to you? Define it clearly. Without a target, you can't measure your success. And sometimes better is not about being the best, but about improving on a steady path.
Do your thing at least three times a week
Make it a habit to practice at least three times a week (ideally daily but three times a week in a consistent way will do). Consistency is key to building momentum and seeing improvement.
Measure your results
Track your progress regularly. This helps to see what’s working and what’s not, and use this data to tweak the next steps.
Develop a hypothesis
Based on what you observe, form a theory about how to improve further. This becomes my mini-strategy for the next steps.
Test your hypothesis
Once you have a theory, put it into action and see what happens. Testing is about learning, so don't worry if it doesn’t work perfectly!
Recognize that better isn’t great
A reminder: getting better is a journey, not the final destination. The way to become great is to keep getting better, one month at a time.
And if you follow these steps, I’m sure you will!
🗓️ The undervalued power of calendar events
Sometimes it's the simplest tools that make the biggest difference. And for me, one of the most underrated tools is the calendar.
You might be thinking, "A calendar? Really?" But, hold on, hear me out.
When you block out time in your calendar for practice, it’s like setting an appointment with yourself. You wouldn’t cancel a meeting with someone important, so why cancel yourself? It forces you to show up. If you don't, you have to actively skip it, and that creates a little bit of guilt—enough to push you to do it anyway. Win-win.
Here’s how I use it:
Schedule practice sessions: I block out specific times each week dedicated to whatever I’m working on. It could be anything—learning a new skill, working on a side project, or even just reading more.
Treat it like a meeting: I treat this time as seriously as I would a work meeting. No distractions, no excuses. This is my time to focus and improve.
Set reminders: I set up reminders so I can prepare mentally before the session starts. It’s like a little nudge that says, "Hey, it’s time to get better."
Keep it consistent: I try to keep these sessions at the same time each week. Consistency is key, and by making it a habit, I’m much more likely to stick with it.
And the best part? When you check off that calendar event, you get a small sense of accomplishment. It’s like giving yourself a high-five.
So here’s the thing: Don’t overlook the simple power of a calendar, it might just be the tool that keeps you on track!
💬 Daily tips from the trenches: Maria Begué
Each week, someone outside of the #LSC will share a tip, tool, or technique that helps them go through their day-to-day life. Expect actionable tips you can take home, giving you insight into how others manage their lives.
Tying back into the “How to get better at one thing in a month,” I started using LinkedIn to build a personal brand. And believe me, on that field, there is no one bigger in the Spanish-speaking market than María Begué. A real authority. And surprisingly, an even nicer person (not sure why I was surprised, but I was really impressed when she got back to me about this section so quickly and so happy to help!).
This week, María shared a quick reflection on why we should all work on our personal brands and how to use LinkedIn for it. She even gives you a gift to start doing so right away. 🎁
Today, everyone knows the importance of personal branding to increase our perceived value in the market. However, LinkedIn is often the toughest platform to start with due to its professional nature. There's more fear of the infamous "what will they think?" and greater pressure to do things right. Many people don't even realize that LinkedIn is a powerful content platform—whether you build an audience or position yourself better for career opportunities, you win either way.
To make it easier for you, here are 3 tips to help you get started:
😊 Swap professionalism for authenticity: On LinkedIn, avoid complex or overly technical terms. Just like on any other social network, people want to connect. The best way to connect is through your personal stories and experiences.
🎯 Craft your headline wisely: Instead of just stating your job title, focus on what you can do for others. People care more about how you can help them than your specific role.
✍️ Take the first step: Commit to creating your first post. It can be as simple as introducing yourself and sharing the topics you'll be discussing on LinkedIn. If you need inspiration, here are 33 winning post structures.
🪨 Weekly Pick: What beats rock?
I love easy tools that make you think. For instance, here’s a funny twist on a classic game, rock-paper-scissors: What Beats Rock? Starting with "rock," you have to create a chain of things that could potentially beat your previous suggestion. I made it to 17 (okay, not me, but my partner 🙃). I'm sure you can do better!
If you play, take a screenshot of your chain and share it with me. It's funny to see different ways of thinking!
📊 Data Dive
And to finish the newsletter, let’s take a little look at the #LSC performance (yes, a bit of #buildinpublic here):
397 Subscribers → Last week we were 394
1 Unsubscribed → We lost 3 subscribers last week
54% Open rate → The goal is to keep this, as you know, in the 60-70% range.
Before leaving, here you have are a few things you can do to help me:
Share this newsletter with someone you think will like it.
Reply to this publication.
If you’re on Substack, like this publication, re-stack it, move it around…
And now, for good: Keep an eye out for the next LifeScore Chronicles—something exciting is just around the corner. 🚀
Until next week, stay safe and healthy!
Love Your news! I’ll put your advice On practice!