What Comes After Ordinary

Extraordinary Insights: Lessons from What Comes After Ordinary

📚 A Collection of Thought-Provoking Blog Posts Inspired by the Book

Dive deeper into the transformative ideas from What Comes After Ordinary with a series of blog posts that expand on the book’s core themes. Whether you’re seeking motivation to take the next step, struggling with fear of failure, or looking for practical strategies to build consistency, these insights will help you unlock your full potential.

1. Overcoming Fear: How to Move Forward Despite Uncertainty and Self-Doubt

Fear stops more people than failure ever will. It whispers excuses, plants doubt, and keeps you stuck in place. The reality? The most successful people feel fear too—but they act anyway.

Fear isn’t the enemy. Inaction is.

If you’ve ever hesitated to start something new, avoided risks, or felt paralyzed by doubt, this is for you.

The Illusion of the Perfect Moment

Many people wait for the “right time” to take action, believing that clarity, confidence, and readiness will magically appear.

  • “I’ll start when I feel more prepared.”
  • “I need to learn a little more first.”
  • “I’ll wait until I have more time.”

The truth?

👉 Clarity comes from action, not from waiting.

  • You don’t become confident before taking action—you become confident because you took action.
  • You don’t find perfect conditions before starting—you create them by starting.
  • You don’t need a perfect plan—just the courage to take the next step.

The longer you wait, the stronger fear grows. But once you start moving, fear loses its power.

Why Fear Holds Us Back

Fear doesn’t always show up as obvious panic. Instead, it often disguises itself in seemingly rational thoughts:

❌ Procrastination → “I’ll start tomorrow.” (But tomorrow never comes.)
❌ Perfectionism → “It’s not ready yet.” (So you never release it.)
❌ Self-Doubt → “I’m not good enough.” (So you don’t even try.)
❌ Imposter Syndrome → “Who am I to do this?” (So you let others go first.)

The truth? Fear isn’t a stop sign—it’s a compass pointing toward growth.

The biggest breakthroughs happen just beyond your comfort zone.

How to Take Action Despite Fear

1. Reframe Fear as Fuel

Fear means you’re stepping outside your comfort zone. That’s a good thing.

  • Feeling nervous before speaking? It means you care about what you’re saying.
  • Feeling anxious before starting a new project? It means you’re growing.
  • Feeling doubt creeping in? It means you’re about to do something meaningful.

Instead of saying, “I’m scared, I shouldn’t do this,” say:

✅ “I’m scared, which means this is important. Let’s go.”

2. Break It Down: Take the Smallest Possible Step

Big goals feel overwhelming. That’s why fear paralyzes people before they even begin. The solution? Make it small.

đŸ”č Want to write a book? Don’t write a chapter—write a single sentence.
đŸ”č Want to start a business? Don’t build a company—talk to one potential customer.
đŸ”č Want to get in shape? Don’t aim for an hour workout—start with 5 push-ups.

Action defeats fear. The smaller the step, the easier it is to start.

3. Detach from the Outcome

Most fear comes from worrying about failure.

  • “What if it doesn’t work?”
  • “What if people judge me?”
  • “What if I’m not good enough?”

The solution? Stop focusing on the outcome. Focus on the process.

Instead of worrying about success or failure, commit to:

✅ Learning something new.
✅ Taking action every day.
✅ Enjoying the process without pressure.

When you focus on the next step instead of the entire journey, fear fades.

4. Remember: Everyone Feels Fear—Even the Most Successful People

You might think successful people are fearless, but that’s not true.

  • Michael Jordan was scared before big games.
  • Oprah Winfrey had self-doubt early in her career.
  • Elon Musk once said, “I feel fear quite strongly.”

The difference? They acted despite the fear.

Fear doesn’t go away—it just stops controlling you once you learn to act through it.

5. Build Momentum with Small Wins

Every time you take action despite fear, you build mental strength.

  • Making a phone call → Builds courage to pitch a client.
  • Posting your first blog → Builds confidence to write a book.
  • Trying something new → Builds resilience to handle bigger challenges.

Every small win weakens fear and makes the next step easier. Start small and keep going.

6. Visualize Your Future Self

Picture two versions of yourself:

1ïžâƒŁ The one who gives in to fear and stays in the same place.
2ïžâƒŁ The one who takes action and grows into their best self.

Who do you want to be?

Let that future vision pull you forward.

7. Surround Yourself with Courageous People

Fear is contagious—but so is courage.

  • Hang around action-takers → You’ll take more action.
  • Learn from people who overcame fear → Their stories will inspire you.
  • Limit time with negative people → Doubters will only reinforce your fear.

Choose an environment that pushes you forward.

8. Accept Imperfection: Just Start

You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to begin.

  • Your first draft won’t be great—but you can edit it.
  • Your first workout will be tough—but you’ll get stronger.
  • Your first speech will be shaky—but you’ll improve.

Action beats perfection every time.

🚀 Your Challenge: Take One Small Step Today

What’s one thing you’ve been avoiding out of fear?

đŸ”č Pick ONE tiny step toward it.
đŸ”č Do it TODAY.
đŸ”č See how it builds momentum.

“Courage is not the absence of fear—it’s acting despite it.”

đŸ”„ Take the step. Fear doesn’t get to win today.

2. The Power of Small Wins: Why Tiny, Consistent Actions Lead to Massive Change

When people think of success, they often picture huge, life-changing moments—landing a dream job, starting a company, or achieving a major milestone. But in reality? Success isn’t about big leaps. It’s about small, consistent actions repeated over time.

A single step doesn’t seem like much—but when taken daily, it creates unstoppable momentum.

Why Small Wins Matter

The biggest mistake people make is assuming that success requires massive effort or immediate results. In reality:

✅ Small, daily actions build habits that lead to lasting success.
✅ Each tiny step forward strengthens confidence, skills, and persistence.
✅ Progress compounds—just like investing money, effort builds exponential results.

Most people fail because they focus on instant results instead of sustained effort.

But big achievements don’t happen all at once—they grow from consistent effort over time.

The Compound Effect: How Tiny Actions Lead to Big Results

Everything great starts small.

  • One push-up → Leads to a fitness routine.
  • One sentence → Leads to a finished book.
  • One dollar saved daily → Turns into financial security.

At first, progress feels invisible. But over time, small actions stack up to create life-changing transformation.

Real-Life Examples of Small Wins Leading to Massive Change

đŸ”č James Clear (Atomic Habits): He writes about how just 1% improvement daily leads to being 37 times better in a year.

đŸ”č Warren Buffett: His fortune wasn’t built overnight—he invested consistently over decades and let compounding do the work.

đŸ”č Stephen King: He writes just 2,000 words daily—leading to dozens of bestselling books.

They didn’t rely on motivation or luck. They built momentum with small, repeatable actions.

How to Start Using Small Wins in Your Life

1. Start Ridiculously Small

Most people fail because they set goals too big and quit when overwhelmed. Instead:

✅ Want to read more? Read one page a day.
✅ Want to exercise? Start with five minutes.
✅ Want to write? Write one sentence.

If it feels too easy to fail, you’ll keep going.

2. Track Your Progress

Seeing progress keeps you motivated.

  • Use a notebook, app, or calendar.
  • Mark a daily streak.
  • Watch small wins build confidence over time.

The brain loves visual progress. Don’t break the streak!

3. Celebrate Every Step

Most people only celebrate big wins—but small wins need celebration too.

✅ Finished a workout? Celebrate.
✅ Saved money today? Celebrate.
✅ Completed a task? Celebrate.

Acknowledging progress reinforces motivation.

4. Stack New Habits Onto Existing Ones

The easiest way to build habits? Attach them to habits you already do.

đŸ”č Drink coffee every morning? Read one page afterward.
đŸ”č Brush your teeth? Do 10 squats right after.
đŸ”č Check your phone? Take a deep breath before scrolling.

Attaching habits makes them automatic.

5. Stay Patient: Trust the Process

Most people quit too soon because they don’t see instant results. But success is a delayed reward—it comes to those who keep showing up.

  • The first workouts don’t show results, but muscles grow.
  • The first dollars saved seem small, but wealth compounds.
  • The first blogs get little traffic, but writing skills improve.

The key? Stick with it—even when progress seems invisible.

🚀 Your Challenge: Take One Small Step Today

đŸ”č Pick ONE tiny action that moves you closer to your goal.
đŸ”č Stick with it for a week—no matter what.
đŸ”č Watch how momentum builds.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day—but bricks were laid every hour.”

đŸ”„ Lay your first brick today. week. Watch how it builds momentum.

3. Lessons from Successful People: Stories of Resilience, Persistence, and the Courage to Pivot

What do Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein, and Oprah Winfrey have in common? They weren’t born extraordinary. They faced setbacks, failures, and doubts—just like the rest of us.

The difference? They didn’t quit.

Behind every great success story is a person who kept going despite obstacles, rejections, and uncertainty.

If you’ve ever felt like giving up, this is for you.

The Myth of Overnight Success

The world loves to celebrate big wins—but rarely talks about the years of struggle behind them.

  • Most “overnight successes” take 10+ years of persistence.
  • The road to success is never straight—it’s full of detours, failures, and pivots.
  • The only real failure is giving up too soon.

If you feel behind or stuck, you’re exactly where every successful person once was.

Examples of Resilience and Persistence

1. Steve Jobs: Fired from His Own Company, Then Built a Legacy

  • At 30 years old, Jobs was fired from Apple—the company he founded.
  • Instead of giving up, he launched NeXT and Pixar, revolutionizing technology and animation.
  • Years later, he returned to Apple, leading it to create the iPhone, iPad, and MacBook.

Lesson: Sometimes getting pushed out is the best thing that can happen. Failure isn’t the end—it’s a pivot.

2. Albert Einstein: Considered a Failure Before Changing Science Forever

  • His teachers thought he was slow.
  • He was rejected from university.
  • He worked as a patent clerk instead of a scientist.

But he never stopped thinking, experimenting, and asking questions. Eventually, he developed the Theory of Relativity, which changed the world.

Lesson: Labels don’t define you. You define yourself by what you choose to pursue.

3. Oprah Winfrey: Told She Wasn’t Fit for TV, Then Built a Media Empire

  • Early in her career, Oprah was demoted from her news anchor job because she was considered “unfit for television.”
  • Instead of quitting, she pivoted—focusing on human connection instead of just reporting news.
  • The Oprah Winfrey Show became one of the most successful talk shows of all time.

Lesson: Rejection is redirection. When one path closes, another opens—if you have the courage to take it.

4. Walt Disney: Fired for “Lack of Imagination” Before Creating an Empire

  • He was fired from a newspaper because he was told he “lacked creativity.”
  • His first company failed, leaving him broke.
  • But he kept going, eventually creating Mickey Mouse, Disneyland, and an entire entertainment empire.

Lesson: The world doesn’t always see your potential—but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

What We Can Learn from Them

1. Failure is Part of the Process

Most people avoid failure. But the truth? Failure is proof that you’re trying.

  • Every rejection teaches a lesson.
  • Every setback is a step forward—if you keep moving.
  • Every mistake is a learning opportunity.

Success is built on failures. The only real failure is quitting.

2. Adaptability is Key

Life rarely goes as planned. The most successful people adjust instead of resisting change.

✅ If your job disappears, build new skills.
✅ If your idea fails, pivot to a new approach.
✅ If you’re rejected, find another way.

The world rewards those who keep moving forward.

3. Keep Going, Even When No One Believes in You

At some point, everyone successful was doubted, underestimated, or ignored.

  • Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.
  • J.K. Rowling was rejected by 12 publishers before Harry Potter became a global phenomenon.
  • Elon Musk was laughed at for thinking electric cars could succeed.

But they kept going. And history remembers them.

How to Apply These Lessons in Your Own Life

1. See Setbacks as Setups for Success

What feels like failure now might be the thing that forces you to grow.

  • Lost a job? It might push you into something better.
  • Rejected from an opportunity? It might mean there’s a better one coming.
  • Feeling stuck? It might mean it’s time to pivot.

Success isn’t about avoiding failure—it’s about using it.

2. Focus on Resilience, Not Perfection

Most people quit too soon because they expect success to come fast.

But resilience beats talent every time.

  • Keep showing up.
  • Keep learning.
  • Keep improving.

The people who win are the ones who refuse to stop trying.

3. Pivot When Needed, But Don’t Quit

If something isn’t working, adjust your approach—but don’t walk away from your goal.

✅ If a business idea fails, refine it.
✅ If a strategy doesn’t work, test a new one.
✅ If you’re struggling, seek mentorship.

Successful people don’t give up—they evolve.

🚀 Your Challenge: Think About a Time You Faced a Setback

đŸ”č What did it teach you?
đŸ”č How can you use that lesson to move forward today?
đŸ”č What’s one small step you can take right now?

“The difference between successful people and everyone else is persistence.”

đŸ”„ Keep going. You’re just getting started.

4. Embracing the Unknown: Why You Don’t Need to Have All the Answers Before You Begin

Most people wait for certainty before they start. They believe they need more knowledge, more experience, and a perfect plan before taking action.

But the truth? No one starts with all the answers.

Every great success story begins with uncertainty, doubt, and a willingness to figure things out along the way.

The Myth of Knowing Everything Before You Start

If you’ve ever thought:

  • “I’ll start when I feel more prepared.”
  • “I need to know exactly what I’m doing first.”
  • “I’m not ready yet.”

Then you’re stuck in the biggest lie that keeps people from success.

Successful people don’t wait for all the answers—they start before they’re ready.

Because clarity comes from action, not from overthinking.

Examples of Success from Uncertainty

1. Steve Jobs: Built Apple Without a Roadmap

  • He started Apple in his garage without knowing how big it would become.
  • He had no business training, no degree, no guarantees.
  • He figured things out by doing, failing, and adapting.

Lesson: You don’t need to have everything figured out—you just need to start.

2. Albert Einstein: Created Groundbreaking Theories as a Patent Clerk

  • He was rejected from university.
  • He wasn’t a professor or scientist—he worked at a patent office.
  • He developed his theories in his free time, driven by curiosity.

Lesson: You don’t need permission or credentials—you just need to keep exploring.

3. Oprah Winfrey: Didn’t Know Her Path, But Kept Moving Forward

  • She was demoted from her TV anchor job because she wasn’t seen as “fit for television.”
  • Instead of quitting, she embraced a new approach, focusing on human stories.
  • That pivot led to her becoming a media icon.

Lesson: Your first plan might fail—but that failure could be pushing you toward something better.

Why You Don’t Need All the Answers Before You Start

1. Action Creates Clarity

Most people think clarity comes before action. But the opposite is true.

  • You don’t get confident before starting—you get confident by doing.
  • You don’t get clarity by thinking—you get clarity by experimenting.
  • You don’t figure things out in your head—you figure them out by taking action.

Success is an iterative process—each step teaches you something new.

2. Perfection is a Trap

If you wait for the perfect plan, the perfect timing, or perfect conditions, you’ll never start.

✅ Successful people start messy.
✅ They make mistakes and adjust along the way.
✅ They learn by doing—not by waiting.

Action beats perfection.

3. The Learning Curve is Part of the Process

Most people want to feel ready before they start. But readiness only comes from experience.

  • No one is great at something on Day 1.
  • No business plan survives first contact with reality.
  • No career path is perfectly mapped from the start.

The only way to get better at something is to start doing it, even if it’s uncomfortable.

4. Failure Isn’t a Sign to Quit—It’s a Sign You’re Learning

Every setback teaches you something valuable.

  • J.K. Rowling was rejected by 12 publishers before Harry Potter became a global success.
  • Walt Disney went bankrupt before he built his empire.
  • Thomas Edison failed 1,000+ times before inventing the light bulb.

The difference between success and failure? Successful people don’t stop when things go wrong.

How to Take Action Even When You Don’t Have All the Answers

1. Take the First Step Anyway

đŸ”č Want to start a business? Sell one thing.
đŸ”č Want to write a book? Write one page.
đŸ”č Want to get in shape? Walk for 10 minutes.

Just start. Clarity and confidence will follow.

2. Stop Overplanning—Start Doing

  • Most plans will change anyway.
  • You can’t predict the future.
  • You learn more from doing than from planning.

Make a rough plan—but don’t let it stop you from starting.

3. Learn by Doing

  • You don’t need another book on business—you need to start selling.
  • You don’t need another course on writing—you need to start writing.
  • You don’t need someone to tell you you’re ready—you need to decide you are.

Success happens through action.

4. Surround Yourself with People Who Take Action

  • Fear is contagious—but so is courage.
  • Being around action-takers makes you more likely to act.
  • Find mentors, friends, and communities that value progress over perfection.

Your environment shapes your mindset. Choose wisely.

🚀 Your Challenge: Take One Step Into the Unknown

đŸ”č What’s one thing you’ve been overthinking?
đŸ”č Commit to taking action—even if it feels uncertain.
đŸ”č Start before you’re ready.

“You don’t have to see the whole staircase—just take the first step.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

đŸ”„ Success doesn’t come from having all the answers. It comes from having the courage to start.

5. The Art of Patience: Why Slow and Steady Progress Wins in the Long Run

In a world that glorifies instant gratification, quick wins, and overnight success stories, patience is an underrated superpower. Many people give up too soon, not because they lack talent or potential, but because they don’t see results fast enough. The reality? Sustainable success is a long game.

The Value of Long-Term Commitment

We often hear stories of overnight success, but what’s left out is the years of effort, failures, and unseen work that built the foundation. The truth is:

  • Most “overnight successes” take 5–10 years.
  • True mastery in any field requires thousands of hours of practice.
  • The most successful people are those who keep going even when progress feels invisible.

Examples of the Power of Patience in Action

  • J.K. Rowling was rejected by 12 publishers before Harry Potter became a global phenomenon.
  • Warren Buffett made 95% of his wealth after the age of 60 because of his decades-long investing strategy.
  • Edison’s light bulb took over 1,000 failed attempts before it finally worked.

The key lesson? Every big achievement starts with small, consistent steps repeated over time.

Why We Struggle with Patience

Modern society has conditioned us to expect immediate results. From one-click purchases to viral social media success, everything around us trains our brains for instant gratification. But when we pursue big goals, we hit a wall because:

❌ We expect progress too quickly and get discouraged.
❌ We compare ourselves to others who are further along.
❌ We underestimate how long success actually takes.

Patience is the missing link between setting a goal and achieving it. The people who persist long enough to succeed are the ones who understand this.

How to Cultivate Patience for Long-Term Success

1. Shift Your Mindset: Think in Years, Not Days

Ask yourself: Will this matter in five years? If the answer is yes, it’s worth the wait.

  • Fitness → A six-pack doesn’t happen in a week. It happens with years of training.
  • Wealth → True financial security isn’t built in months; it’s built over decades.
  • Skills & Careers → Mastery requires years of practice, setbacks, and evolution.

Think like an investor—long-term gains over short-term dopamine hits.

2. Focus on Small, Consistent Wins

Massive progress doesn’t come from bursts of effort; it comes from showing up consistently over time.

✅ Write 100 words daily → Finished book in a year.
✅ Save $5 a day → Over $1,800 saved in a year.
✅ Walk 10 minutes daily → 60+ hours of movement in a year.

Small efforts may seem insignificant today, but over time, they compound into massive results.

3. Learn to Enjoy the Process

If you only focus on the end goal, you’ll get frustrated when results don’t come fast enough. But if you learn to love the daily process, success takes care of itself.

  • Athletes enjoy training, not just winning medals.
  • Entrepreneurs enjoy the grind, not just the payout.
  • Artists enjoy creating, not just seeing their work go viral.

If you find a way to enjoy the journey, you’ll stay in the game long enough to win.

4. Detach from Immediate Results

Not seeing progress right away? That doesn’t mean you’re failing—it means you’re still in the process of succeeding.

đŸ”č The first months of working out? No visible results, but strength is growing.
đŸ”č The first attempts at a new skill? Clumsy, but you’re improving.
đŸ”č The first year of a business? Slow growth, but foundation is forming.

Success happens in stages, not instant leaps. Trust that what you’re doing today will pay off—just not yet.

5. Surround Yourself with Long-Term Thinkers

Your patience is influenced by your environment. If you spend time with people who expect quick wins, you’ll feel rushed.

Instead, learn from people who understand the long game:
✅ Mentors who took years to succeed.
✅ Books from people who built something meaningful.
✅ Friends who prioritize consistency over instant results.

When you immerse yourself in long-term thinkers, patience becomes natural.

🚀 Your Challenge: Build Patience in Your Own Life

đŸ”č Identify ONE long-term goal you’ve been impatient about.
đŸ”č Commit to a steady pace instead of rushing the outcome.
đŸ”č Embrace patience and trust the process.

Remind yourself: It’s not about how fast you get there—it’s about not stopping until you do.

Final Thought: Patience Wins in the End

The most successful people in history weren’t the fastest or the most talented—they were the ones who didn’t quit.

Fast success is fragile. Slow success is sustainable.

đŸ”„ The question isn’t whether you’ll succeed—the question is whether you’ll keep going long enough to get there.

🚀 Are you ready to commit to patience? Start today.