Daniel Shaw’s Post

People ask me  “how do you get so much done?” - which I must say, I think this question is often asked out of self-judgement, not genuine curiosity, but I digress. My answer essentially is: productivity, just like success, is rented and not purchased. Every day we have to buy into gaining and maintaining our prime which requires investment, practice, and habits that become behaviors. When I worked a 9-to-5 job, I aspired to an entrepreneurial lifestyle because I wanted freedom over my time. Talk about, “be careful what you wish for…” Now that I have control over my time — where I work, who I work with, and how I approach work — my biggest enemy in this new life of independence, can only be me. As we all build towards our dreams, time is our greatest asset and efficiency is the name of the game. When you decide to bet on yourself, you take on not only the chance, but the responsibility, to sharpen your self-leadership. Keep reading to see some of the hacks that saved me from myself. https://lnkd.in/gEEc75Y2

Only 3% of entrepreneurs and executives know this secret. The mental habits and emotional responses ingrained in us often leave us tapping out - right at the threshold. The fear and self doubt entrenched in losing it all, or worse, ending up even further behind than where you started keeps you stuck. Especially for women, the stakes feel even higher; → You work twice as hard just to prove yourself. → You hide parts of who you are just to fit in. And the pressure starts to build to succeed adding even more stress on your nervous system.  Before you know it, you start taking advice from everyone who seems like they have it figured out.  And it’s costly.  It’s human nature to search for quick fixes, investing in programs or masterminds you don’t need, or over complicating your processes because that’s the current trend.  And to resolve the “I’m not good enough”, you turn to those little secrets that no one talks about.  Like alcohol, food, or shopping. But it’s not your fault.  You’re doing what successful people do and it’s probably right. But that playbook was not designed for you. → They may not understand your core limiting beliefs that govern your reactions and decisions.  → They may not know how you create naturally. → They may not know how you can down regulate your nervous system and re-frame your thinking.  And they won’t see how the struggles in your life are showing up in your biz or career. Your foundational playbook is very different to everyone else. It involves peeling back the layers from within to come face to face with the old beliefs that’s really underneath it all …. it enables you to approach your time, money, relationships and business with a renewed energy + sense of purpose.  Your willingness to intentionally chisel away and sculpt your masterpiece means you get the privilege to change the legacy of your bloodline. You’ll collapse time because all the issues and problems that you’d face in years, you face within months. So don’t wait for the new year to join the 3%ers.  Say yes to starting now. PS: observe what you could actually create if you let go of the strategy and just start what you’ve been putting off.  It’s all about aligning with the power of your energy (it’s not just my opinion…. it’s physics).

𝗕𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱—𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗮𝗹. A year ago, I hit breaking point. Burnout struck, and I realised I was trapped in the same patterns of behaviour, expecting different results each time. It was exhausting, demoralising, but familiar—so I kept doing it. One year later, and I just launched the '𝘋𝘰𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘶𝘳 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬'—a community designed to support and empower doctors who are building businesses. This time, it feels different—it feels correct. 𝗜𝘁 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗜'𝗺 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵. Here’s what those difficult years taught me about entrepreneurship: ➡ Your best work is often done in the break—remember to rest. ➡ Boundaries are as much for yourself as others—protect them at all costs. ➡ When there’s resistance, stop and reflect—ask what is the message. ➡ Patience and consistency drive progress—but only in the right direction. ➡ Learn to let go quicker—it creates space for the new. ➡ Fail fast and fail forward—failure is 𝗡𝗢𝗧 a reflection of your worth. ➡ You need a support network—others help see your blind spots. 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙠𝙚𝙚𝙥 𝙜𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄'𝙢 𝙘𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙤𝙪𝙨—𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬? 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙨𝙙𝙤𝙢 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛?

"I have failed often... and boy, it isn’t fun." Ho Kwon Ping describing himself as a failure at the Sustain SG event this morning initially seems paradoxical given his monumental success with Banyan Tree, a globally recognized hotel brand. However, this humility highlights a profound lesson: success is not linear nor solely defined by triumphs. From his varied challenges, including being a low achiever as a student, facing incarceration in his early 20s, struggling to make payments during the COVID pandemic, to his philosophical stance on failure and success, Ho's narrative is a powerful reminder of the human aspects behind entrepreneurial success. He emphasizes a life driven not just by profit but by a broader, more fulfilling sense of purpose. This perspective is not about celebrating failures but about leveraging them as critical learning points that foster personal and professional growth. Work-life balance isn't just about finding time to be at home but finding time to fulfill other senses of purpose beyond making money. He evolved into what he is today through a series of "accidental failures" that he wisely used to improve himself continuously by having a clear sense of purpose in life as well as understanding his mortality. He reminds us to embrace our past, emphatize with our community, and pursue a life enriched with good, transcending mere financial success. His reflections exemplify a journey of genuine self-awareness and resilience, often unspoken in the echelons of successful entrepreneurs. Ho Kwon Ping's story is a compelling call to see beyond the fear of failure and to recognize that our sense of purpose is the sustainability of our future. Our greatest setbacks can lead to our most significant achievements. Embrace the journey and let every challenge fuel your growth.

Navigating Key Decisions in Life and Business- Making pivotal decisions is an integral part of life, especially for entrepreneurs and business owners. Each choice, from selecting a life partner to deciding where to establish your roots or taking bold steps in your career, carries its weight. These decisions often pull us in multiple directions, leading to a sense of being stuck or overwhelmed. It's not uncommon to feel this way—after all, the fear of making the wrong choice and facing potential consequences is a shared human experience. Understanding the Impact of Choices- As leaders in our fields and lives, it's crucial to recognize that being overly cautious can lead to missed opportunities. The fear of failure might overshadow our ambitions, causing us to play it safe rather than pursuing our dreams. However, it's important to remember that there is no absolute right or wrong choice—only experiences and lessons that contribute to our growth. Slowing Down to Move Forward In moments of uncertainty, it’s beneficial to slow down and clear our minds. By giving ourselves space and tuning into our hearts and intuition, we can make decisions that align more closely with our true aspirations. This approach helps to dissipate the fear and allows us to focus on our potential. Clearing the Path Many entrepreneurs struggle with stagnant energy or unresolved issues that cloud judgment. Addressing these barriers is essential for operating in a way that feels natural and free, enabling us to navigate our paths with clarity and purpose. Take the Next Step: Are you ready to explore your potential and make decisions with confidence and clarity? Let's connect, join our community room with other like minded individuals who can support you on your path. Learn more about how I can help you harness your inner strength and turn challenges into stepping stones! #decisionmaking #trustyourself #theresonlyexperiences #navigatingyourpath #getclarityonwhereyourgoing

"Do not let the future trouble you. You will come to it eventually." - Marcus Aurelius Had coffee last week with Sarah. For the past two years, she's been sitting on an innovative B2B software concept that could revolutionize how small businesses do sales. "But what if someone else is already building this?" "What if I quit my job and it fails?" "What if I'm not ready?" I saw in her eyes what I've seen before and have experienced myself - that paralyzing dance between potential and fear, where overthinking becomes a comfortable substitute for action. Let me share something I learned the hard way: 95% of what we worry about never happens. But you know what does happen? Someone else launches your idea while you're still perfecting the hypothetical. The breakthrough moment came when I asked her: "If you knew you couldn't fail, what would you do first?" "I'd build a prototype and show it to three small businesses," she said without hesitation. "That's it. That's your next step. Not predicting every possible outcome. Not solving problems that don't exist yet. Just that one clear action." For the first time, she was thinking about what she could do instead of what could go wrong. This morning, she texted me that she's booked meetings with two companies in January. Sometimes, all it takes is permission to begin imperfectly. Here's what I've learned about the antidote to entrepreneurial overthinking: 🏃Start before you're ready 🎯Focus on the next immediate step only 🦄 Remember that action beats analysis every time The greatest risk isn't failure - it's spending your life rehearsing for a moment that never comes because you're too busy playing out every possible scenario.

Most of the founders knowingly or unknowingly falls into the trap of Dunning Kruger effect. I was also one of them. As an entrepreneur, we often dive headfirst into new ventures, fueled by passion and self-belief to build something great. Once we start going deeper to build, we started realising that it wasn’t that easy or as expected. It's a cognitive bias where people with limited knowledge in a field overestimate their expertise when they start something new. It’s also called the ‘Dunning-Kruger effect’. This effect can be both a blessing and a curse for founders. On one hand, it gives us the confidence to start something new, even when we lack experience. On the other, it can lead to costly mistakes and missed opportunities. I've experienced this myself. When I started InCruiter, I thought I knew it all after a few early successes. But I soon realized how much I had to learn more about team management, market dynamics, and customer psychology and a hundred other things. The key is to strike a balance: maintain the confidence to push forward, but stay humble and open to learning. Seek mentors, embrace feedback, and never stop educating yourself. Remember, true expertise comes from acknowledging what you don't know. Let's use the Dunning-Kruger effect as a reminder to stay curious and keep growing. What's your take on this? Have you experienced the Dunning-Kruger effect in your entrepreneurial journey? #KnowYourLimits #Confidence #Humility #Growth

What No One Tells You About Starting Over in a Career After 50! Starting over isn’t just about learning new skills—it’s about unlearning what no longer serves you! 1. You’ll face resistance from people around you—Many won’t understand why you’re choosing a different path, and that’s okay. 2. You’ll have to unlearn self-doubt—You’ve spent decades in your comfort zone. It’s time to push through the fear. 3. You’ll realize your experience is a superpower—You bring wisdom, resilience, and patience—qualities that younger entrepreneurs struggle to develop. 4. Reinvention is hard, but necessary—You’ll shed parts of your old self to make room for new possibilities. 5. Success looks different in midlife—It’s no longer about hustle—it's about building a legacy. Has it been worth it? ABSOLUTELY! What’s one thing you’ve had to unlearn or let go of in your journey? #MidlifeSuccess #Reinvention #WomenInBusiness #LegacyBuilding

I ran D1 track and cross-country in college, so I can tell you from experience: that overtraining will sideline you. People would want to get one more run or workout in before their race, even while their bodies were demanding recovery… and if they picked the training over the rest, they usually suffered for it. I’ve fallen prey to this overworking-is-productive mindset as a founder, too. I’ve had times where I’ve been burning the candle at both ends, only to wake up one morning physically sick and unable to get out of bed for an entire day. Every time this happens to me (and regrettably, it has happened more than once) I learn the same lesson: I was doing a bunch of stuff I probably didn’t have to do. It’s a false belief of a lot of founders that the best way to make progress is to grit and grind it out, without really cataloging what exactly they’re committing all that time and energy to. In reality, founders need to be a bit more circumspect about where they spend their time if they don’t want to burn out. They need to distinguish between what they really should get done and what they can pare back for the sake of their own health, and for the health of their business, too… because a founder who can’t come up for air likely isn’t capable of being the visionary that their company needs. It’s tempting to try to do everything all the time when you’re passionate about what you’re working on. But founders who don’t take a breath might just find themselves sidelined.

As a founder, it’s so hard to let go of control. I’m guilty of this myself. For the first few years of running Huppy, my personal care brand, I tried to control everything that happened. Building a company isn’t easy for anyone. With that building process comes a desire to control everything—and that leads to problems that can set you up for failure. (I deal with all of these) When you try to control the output at all times, you: - Build for the wrong reasons - Burn yourself out - End up miserable The key is detachment. When I learned to detach, I realized: - My business is just a business (harsh, but true) - Becoming a well-rounded human is most important - Trying to rush through every goal was hurting me So, my advice to founders is this: - Learn to detach - Embrace what happens - Take it all in stride - Don’t take life too seriously You’re allowed to slow down, fail, and have fun with it along the way. I’m glad I learned this lesson earlier than later. P.S. Do you have trouble detaching?