I’m very introverted. I truly enjoy (and need) time alone. Too much social contact drains my energy. One misconception about introverts is that they lack confidence. People falsely assume that we don’t want to be around others for that reason. In her book, Quiet, psychologist Susan Cain calls that concept the “Extrovert Ideal.” It’s the widespread belief that being outgoing, assertive, and socially proactive makes a person successful. As it turns out, introversion has its own set of...

The habit of journaling may seem small and insignificant. “How can writing personal notes in my journal every day do anything for me?” You might ask. I understand the skepticism. Even I had some doubts in the beginning. But journaling truly can change your life. Just ask any person who journals. You won’t find a person who says, “Journaling is so-so.” Everyone who does it loves it. Since 2015, I have made journaling an integral part of my morning routine, and it has helped me...

I have a love/hate relationship with impatience.  I love it because it has helped me to accomplish things in my career. When something needs to be done, I do it immediately. I just can't wait. But that approach is not helpful when it comes to your finances. To build proper wealth, you need patience. You can read about investing and compounding as much as you want. But unless you don't have the patience to let your money compound, you can never reap the benefits. This is something...

Essentially, making money from your passion is all about solving a problem or need. And getting paid for it. Whether it’s through a product or service, your focus should always be on providing value to your customers. Look at the Patagonia brand. The founder, Yvon Chouinard, saw a need for high-quality outdoor gear that was environmentally friendly and decided to fill that gap. By focusing on providing value, he was able to build a loyal customer base and become recognized as an industry...

The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche wrote this in his book, The Gay Science, about purpose: “Gradually, man has become a fantastic animal that has to fulfill one more condition of existence than any other animal: man has to believe, to know, from time to time why he exists; his race cannot flourish without a periodic trust in life–without faith in reason in life.” Nietzche said that we need to have some kind of trust in life. Just surviving, eating, working, and procreating are...

Smartphones have become an extension of ourselves. We use them for almost everything - from staying connected with friends and family, to managing our schedules and even for entertainment. A recent study showed that the average person spends around three hours a day on their phone, which adds up to a staggering amount of 45 days a year. People are glued to their screens most of the time. There’s a constant need to check notifications, scroll through social media feeds, and respond to...

Worrying is a natural human response to uncertainty. But when we allow our worries to consume our thoughts at all hours of the day, they can quickly become overwhelming. One effective strategy to manage this is by only giving yourself five minutes to worry and sulk over negative emotions. Call this your 5 minutes of worry time. Worrying is a natural part of life. We all have things that cause us stress and anxiety, whether it’s work, relationships, or just the daily grind. And sometimes, it...

In this episode, I share how I dealt with my latest setbacks. I talk about how you can use challenges to learn and adapt. And to come back stronger! Pre-order my new book, The Stoic Path to Wealth Combining ancient wisdom with practical investment strategies drawn from analysis of the greatest investors of all time, The Stoic Path to Wealth will teach you how to: cultivate an investing edge by managing your emotions and developing your unique skills and talents develop the discipline to...

I believe our natural response to setbacks is stress. When you deal with loss, sickness, conflict, or uncertainty, you get that heavy feeling in your stomach. Your mood becomes dark. You start feeling less energetic. Your instincts tell you to run. For some people, that type of stress lasts only a few hours, but for others, it can go on for weeks or months. What matters is that you don’t get stuck in those negative feelings. Because when you don’t address your setbacks, you start to get...

In my experience, there are a few things you can do when your brain feels clogged. Get rid of your overwhelming goals: What’s a big goal that you really want to achieve badly? Something big. Delete it from your brain. Focus on the present and enjoy yourself. You can always come back to your goal later. Stop multitasking: Focus on one thing at a time. Take a few days off or work less: Your brain needs some rest! Limit negative inputs: Avoid negative people for a while. And also avoid...

Imagine an ambitious goal for yourself. Say you want to write a book, switch to a completely different career, or start your own business. If your goal is something you have to do because your life and the lives of people you care about depend on it – then how could you increase your odds of success? Try this: 1. Always aim high. People will try to make fun of you. Tell you to be more ‘realistic.’ They will try to marginalize you. Don’t listen. Never let the small-mindedness of others...

For the longest time, I had this dream of living in Spain. Who doesn’t want to live somewhere warm and close to the beach?! Well, me. In this episode, I share why and what I learned. I gave it a try in 2022 and spent six months living in Spain. I learned a lot. And I even met my girlfriend there. But I realized that living somewhere warm was just a dream. I got used to the weather. And it made me realize that I was complaining too much about the weather in The Netherlands. Since I got...

I started writing daily in 2015. Since then, I published over 600 articles and wrote 8 books. I easily wrote more than a million words. There are many things I have learned from writing. I published an article with 12 lessons I learned. In this episode, I share every point briefly. And at the end, I talk about my most important takeaway. Read about the other lessons here: https://dariusforoux.com/learned-from-writing/ Join the Effective Writing course In Effective Writing, I share the...

The late Charlie Munger, renowned investor and long-time partner of Warren Buffett, said this during a 1998 annual shareholder meeting of Berkshire Hathaway: “The hard part of the process for most people is the first $100,000. If you have a standing start at zero, getting together $100,000 is a long struggle for most people.” This is so true. In this episode, I talk about my own journey. Here are the stages. The First Three Years: The Foundation Year Four: Start Reaping Year...

I started writing every day in 2015. Since then my life completely changed. I wrote 8 books and reached millions of people with my words. Writing daily helped me to build a 7-figure net worth. Here’s why writing helped me to change my life: Focus: By translating my thoughts, I boost my focus. I know what I should work on. If you want to improve your writing skills, join my online class, Effective Writing. It’s only open once a year. Regsitration for the 2024 class is between January 28...

Charlie Munger once said: “More investors don’t copy our model because our model is too simple. Most people believe you can’t be an expert if it’s too simple.” The simplest investing ideas are truly the best. Here’s a simple idea: If you have freedom, you have wealth A lot of people fall into the trap of endlessly chasing more money. They wait to feel fulfilled until they have a certain amount of money in stocks or the bank. But wealth is more a feeling than a number. Wealth isn’t just...

The DF Show is back! New episodes coming out weekly. In this episode, I talk about a life lesson I learned from the Stoic philosopher, Seneca. Seneca taught that happiness doesn’t come from always wanting more, but appreciating what we already have. Contentment comes from understanding and valuing our present achievements, rather than constantly striving for the next big thing. We all want a bit more. That’s just natural. We want a bit more income to buy the stuff we want; more time to...

The Matthew Effect, also known as the principle of accumulated advantage, is not only a platitude; it’s a scientifically recognized phenomenon that has been studied by sociologists and economists. Coined by sociologists Robert K. Merton and Harriet Zuckerman in 1968, the term derives its name from a biblical parable found in the Gospel of Matthew. https://dariusforoux.com/matthew-effect/

A few words of encouragement. Thanks for listening. https://members.dariusforoux.com/procrastinate-zero-2

On this episode, I talk about meaningful productivity. By applying this strategy you will make more progress and stress less. Learn about my productivity system, Procrastinate Zero 2: http://members.dariusforoux.com/procrastinate-zero-2 More about Meaningful Productivitiy: https://dariusforoux.com/meaningful-productivity/

Are you ready to turn the page towards a more fulfilling life? In my latest video, "Journaling Will Change Your Life: 4 Tips to Get Started," I delve into the transformative power of penning down your thoughts. This isn't your typical 'Dear Diary' stuff - it's about self-discovery, growth, and turning dreams into reality. It's like having a conversation with yourself, a friend who's always there to lend an ear, and a personal coach rolled into one. I'll share four practical tips to...

Hi there! In this episode, I'm sharing advice for procrastinators and I talk about a strategy that can make you more successful. Based on Wise & Wealthy newsletter #89: https://dariusforoux.com/two-words-of-advice-and-strategic-opportunism/

Success isn't just about luck or talent - it's about adopting the right mindset. In this enlightening video, we delve into the 5 powerful mindset shifts that have transformed the lives of many successful individuals. From embracing failure to fostering resilience, these mindset shifts will empower you to overcome barriers and reach new heights. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a student, a professional or someone looking to unlock their potential, this video is for you. You'll learn how to...

Today, I'm sharing my thoughts on a topic that might surprise you: inconsistency. Yes, you heard right. We often hear that consistency is the key to success, but let's be real - life isn't a straight line. There are bumps, detours, and sometimes, complete standstills. And that's okay. Inconsistency is not a failure; it's part of the journey. The second half of this episode is about investing wisdom. Have you heard Warren Buffett's quote, "If you have more than 120 or 130 I.Q. points,...