#189

I was listening to a mate recently talk through his frustrations.

He had followed all the sound, sage and ‘right’ advice from those who had gone before – the morning routines, the investment strategy, the goal-setting process - yet nothing seemed to work for him.

“I don’t get it,” he said. “This worked for everyone else. Why isn’t it working for me?”.

I smiled the kind of knowing smile that indicates I’m in the same place, so I gave him some of my own advice.

“Maybe because it wasn’t designed for you”.

We love formulas and methods. They create the illusion that if we follow a blueprint, success will inevitably follow.

But success doesn’t appear to work like that.

One size fits one, not all.

A business model that works for one entrepreneur might leave another struggling to break into the market. A productivity system that transformed someone’s day might drain someone else completely. The relationship advice that saved one marriage might suffocate another.

Why? Because you’re not a copy of someone else.

You are unique.

Some things are similar and might work, but not exactly.

Imagine someone hands you a beautifully tailored jacket. It looks amazing on them. It fits them perfectly.

You put it on. It’s tight in the shoulders. The sleeves are off. And it doesn’t suit your frame.

It’s not that the jacket is bad. It’s just not yours.

Advice, strategies, and methods are the same. They aren’t meant to be copied precisely - they’re meant to be tried on. Moved around in. Adjusted. And sometimes, left behind.

Instead of asking, “Does this work for me?” ask, “In what ways does this work for me?” and “In what ways doesn’t this work for me?”.

DESIGNING A YOU-PRINT

So, if there’s no universal blueprint, how do you create your own you-print?

1. Listen to Yourself. What energises you? What drains you? Pay attention.

2. Try Things On. Test ideas. Experiment. See what fits your working model of the world.

3. Tweak & Adapt. If something almost works, modify it. Make it yours.

4. Let Go of What Doesn’t Fit. Just because it works for others doesn’t mean it’s right for you.

5. Keep Learning & Iterating. A you-print evolves as you do.

The world will always offer blueprints. But the real work—the meaningful work—is crafting your own.

Try on the jackets. Do the me-search. Take what fits, leave the rest.

Because the only path that truly matters is the one you create for yourself.