The Most Dangerous Lie in Business (And Why It's Killing Your Dreams)

Hey there, my friend!

Want to know the most dangerous lie in business? "You need to work harder to succeed."

It's killing your creativity, destroying your potential, and keeping you trapped. And I see it claiming more victims every day.

Last week, during a conversation with a former colleague from Singapore, he proudly showed me his 16-hour workday schedule. "This is what it takes to make it" he said.

I had to laugh. Because I know something most people don't:

The harder you work, the harder you'll need to keep working.

Let me explain why less is actually more, and how this one insight changed everything about building wealth in 2024

Let’s dive in.

The Great Hustle Trap

Remember when working 80-hour weeks was seen as a badge of honor? I sure do. I lived that life in Singapore's financial district, thinking I was "winning" while my mind and body were shutting down.

Here's what nobody tells you: Every extra hour you work is actually making you less valuable in today's economy.

Think about it:

• AI can work 24/7 without breaks

• Machines don't need weekends

• Algorithms don't burn out

If you're competing on hours, you've already lost.

The Reality of Value Creation

Success isn't about time invested - it's about value delivered.

Think about it. Right now, you're sitting on a gold mine of experiences:

• Every challenge you've overcome

• Every problem you've solved

• Every shortcut you've discovered

Those 'ordinary' solutions you've figured out? It's a potential solution someone else desperately needs.

You don't need to be the world's greatest expert.

You just need to be a few steps ahead of those you're helping. Your journey, with all its mistakes and learnings, is incredibly valuable to those just starting out.

Think about your daily work. What comes easily to you that others find challenging? That's your sweet spot.

Your 4 Weeks Action Guide: Start Creating Value Today

Let me break down exactly how to turn your experience into value - no waiting, no complex systems, just practical steps you can take right now.

Three Ways to Start Today:

1. Knowledge Mining (Day 1-7)

• Open a fresh document

• List every problem you've solved in your career

• Write down your unique solutions

• Note which solutions others frequently ask you about

2. Value Validation (Week 1-2)

• Share one solution on LinkedIn/Twitter

• Write about a challenge you overcame

• Help someone solve a specific problem

• Document the questions people ask you

3. Solution Building (Week 2-4)

• Choose your most requested solution

• Create a simple guide explaining your approach

• Share it with people who need it

• Gather feedback and improve

The First Step Is The Smallest

In 2024, relying solely on a full-time income is riskier than starting something of your own. The beauty is, you don't need to quit your job to begin.

Start small:

• Write your first article about a problem you solved

• Create a simple guide someone can follow

• Share your unique approach to a common challenge

• Help one person overcome a specific obstacle

The Three Pillars of Success

1. Your Experience is Your Asset

   Every challenge you've overcome, every lesson you've learned, every solution you've found - these are gold.

   Package them. Share them.

   Help others avoid the pitfalls you've already navigated.

2. Build in Public

   Share your journey. Document your insights.

   Let people learn from both your successes and failures. Authenticity beats perfection every time.

3. Create Scalable Solutions

   Start with helping one person. Then turn that solution into something that can help thousands.

   That's how you work less while impacting more.

Your Next Steps

This isn't about overnight success. It's about sustainable growth. Here's where to start:

1. Audit Your Energy

   Track where your time and effort actually create value versus where you're just "being busy."

2. Find Your Sweet Spot

   What problems do you solve naturally? What insights come easily to you but are valuable to others?

3. Build Your System

   Create a framework that lets you deliver value consistently without burning out.

Your experience is valuable. Your solutions matter. And someone out there needs exactly what you know.

Harness AI: Your Personal Value Creatior

I've crafted a custom prompt that transforms ChatGPT into your Personal Value Creation Mentor. This AI tool will help you cut through noise and find authentic answers to getting you to your goal.

Here's how to use it:

1. Visit ChatGPT (https://chat.openai.com/)

2. Copy and paste the following prompt

3. Fill in your specific situation

4. Watch as AI helps you navigate your value creation

You are tasked with guiding individuals to identify and leverage their unique knowledge and experiences into valuable solutions for others. Your role involves extracting experiences, identifying potential solutions, and advising on practical implementation.

Here's my situation:

[Describe your work experience, the problems you've solved, and areas where people often ask for your help]

Please provide:

- **Analysis**: Break down the person's experiences to determine which aspects are most valuable to others. Focus on impact, uniqueness, and demand.
- **Packaging Strategies**: Propose two specific ways to present or package this knowledge, considering formats like workshops, online courses, eBooks, or coaching sessions.
- **Practical Framework**: Develop a step-by-step framework designed for effectively sharing and implementing these solutions.
- **Validation Methods**: Suggest methods for validating their approach to ensure it meets the target audience's needs and maintains quality.
- **Implementation Steps**: Outline concrete next steps to start implementing their strategies to maximize value creation.

Maintain an encouraging, empowering tone throughout to mentor the individual in unlocking their potential.

# Steps

1. **Experience Analysis**
   - Review the provided experiences.
   - Determine key areas of value based on expertise, challenges overcome, and common questions received.
  
2. **Packaging Knowledge**
   - Recommend two specific formats or mediums suitable for their content and skills.
   - Consider factors like audience size, scalability, and personal affinity.

3. **Developing a Framework**
   - Create an actionable framework for sharing solutions, including components like content development, marketing strategies, and delivery mechanisms.

4. **Validation Methods**
   - Introduce methods like feedback gathering, pilot testing, and surveys to evaluate effectiveness and refine the approach.

5. **Implementation Plan**
   - List clear, immediate steps to be taken following your guidance to ensure the plan moves forward.

# Output Format

- A written response structured in paragraphs, corresponding to each bullet point.
- Each section should be concise and practical, with direct advice and actionable steps.
- Maintain an encouraging and supportive tone throughout.

HOW TO USE THE PROMPT

Here is the output I received for the example inputs above.

Read the full output here!

My Final Thoughts

Look, I get it. This approach feels foreign. Maybe even scary. We've been conditioned to believe that success requires sacrifice.

But ask yourself: What if the opposite is true? What if working less, thinking more, and living fully is actually the path to greater success?

The world doesn't need more people working themselves to death. It needs more people sharing their genuine insights and helping others succeed.

Now it’s your move.

To your success journey,

Stephan

P.S. What's one solution you've found that could help others? Share it in the comments. Your insight might be exactly what someone needs today.