Happy Sunday! If you’re in the US, and in this storm, hope you’re staying warm and safe today.

This week’s mantra: “Stay on the f*ing bus.”

One of my favorite reads last year was 4000 Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. In it, he shares a parable about a bus terminal in Helsinki. Many routes originate there, and for the first 10-12 stops, they all take the exact same path. Only after that do they diverge and take you to unique destinations.

The common pitfall—one I know well—is getting off the bus too early.

In the beginning, you are riding alongside everyone else. You look around and think: “I’m not getting anywhere. I’m just like everyone else. My work isn’t special.” So, you hop off, head back to the terminal, and catch a different line.

But if you do that, you’re just repeating those first 12 stops forever. You never stay on the line long enough to reach the unique part of the route.

That’s been a huge lesson for me with this newsletter. At the start, I wasn’t sure what differentiated this from others in the space. But I refused to quit. I kept going. And going.

Now, I’m finding my voice and picking up subscribers (you!) along the way. None of that would have happened had I exited too early.

This week, ask yourself:
Are you staying on the bus long enough to differentiate yourself? Are you giving yourself time to reach the part of the route where the magic happens?

If you’re ready to stay on your own “bus,” this system will help you do it: