​

By Colby Kultgen

Happy Monday friends!

This is the newsletter where I share the 5 best things I find each week to help you get a little better each day.

Let's dive in!

---

Today at a Glance:

1. Concept: Embracing imperfection
2. Image: 20 powerful sentences
3. Idea: Why 90% of habits fail
4. Tips: Keys to happiness
5. Funny: Careful what you wish for

Read time: 3 minutes 37 seconds

---

In partnership with:

The Growth Without Hiring Blueprint

"253 leads using your Offer Magnet system!"
"Two Lighthouse Clients closed in one week!"
"Best month ever: $50k in NEW business!"

Those are just a few of the hundreds of people Ken Yarmosh has helped scale to 6- and 7-figures without working 40+ hour weeks—including industry leaders like Lara Acosta, Matt Barker, and Nick Broekema.

Today, you can grab his Grow Without Hiring Blueprint—for FREE.​

Here’s what you’ll learn:

✅ 3 reasons prospects don't buy services
✅ How to stop selling—and start closing deals
✅ Why scaling YOU is the key to growth
✅ And…how not to get eaten by bears

Join 10,000+ getting results.

Get the blueprint now

---

The power of embracing imperfection

For as long as I can remember, I've had anxiety.

One of my earliest childhood memories is lying awake in bed, wondering what happens when we die. (Pretty bleak, I know.)

I was the kind of kid who overthought everything.
Who carried a weight in my chest long before I had the words to describe it.

But it all came to a head in my early twenties.

I was finally an "adult" with adult responsibilities, and my anxiety-riddled brain simply couldn’t handle it.

That’s when I decided I was broken.

I wasn’t just struggling—I believed, deep down, that something in me was fundamentally wrong.

Game over.

But we both know that's not how this story ends.

Over the next decade, I started building habits.
Not to fix myself, but to find a way through.

Meditation.
Journaling.
Positive self-talk.

They didn’t make my anxiety disappear, but they changed my relationship with it.

And eventually, I learned how to channel it—into focus, into self-awareness, into something constructive instead of destructive.

That’s when I realized: I wasn't broken.

I was simply unfinished.

A work in progress that just needed a bit more time.

I’ve always loved the idea of Kintsugi—the Japanese practice of repairing broken pottery with gold.

Instead of hiding the cracks, it highlights them, turning flaws into something beautiful.

It’s a reminder that no matter how broken you may feel, there’s always a way to put the pieces back together. And when the light hits just right, you’ll shine brighter than ever.

---

20 sentences that have changed my life

I don't usually share my social media content here, but this one seemed to really resonate with people.

My challenge to you:
​Reply to this email with one sentence you wish you read sooner.

---

The real reason 90% of habits fail

A hill I'll die on:

Most habits don't fail due to a lack of motivation or discipline.

They fail due to a lack of accountability.

And more specifically, external accountability.

Think about it:​
When you have a deadline at work, you meet it.
When a friend is waiting for you at the gym, you show up.
When you invest in a coach or a program, you follow through.

We care way more about disappointing others than disappointing ourselves.

It’s sad but true—so we might as well leverage it.

If you’re struggling to stick with something, stop relying on willpower. Instead, make it so someone else will notice if you don’t follow through.

Try this:
​Pick one habit you’re struggling to stick with.
Now add some accountability—a partner, a coach, a class, a public commitment.

Make it harder to quit than to keep going.

---

How to be happier (according to science)

Laurie Santos is a world expert in happiness.

Her Psychology and the Good Life course is the most popular ever taught in the history of Yale University.

​This interview on the Huberman Lab was packed with so many happiness hacks, it would be impossible for me to include them all here.

But here are 5 that stood out to me:

1. The Social Prediction Error

We often assume socializing will be awkward or tiring, but research shows we almost always feel happier afterward (this applies to introverts too). Your brain thinks it knows what will make you happy, but it’s often wrong.

Try this: Next time you feel like skipping a social event, go for at least 30 minutes. Your brain is likely underestimating the payoff.
​

2. “NutraSweet” Connection

Social media feels like socializing, but it’s just a cheap imitation. Laurie Santos compares it to “NutraSweet” for the brain—something that tricks you into thinking you’re getting what you need but leaves you feeling empty.

Try this: Replace one texting or scrolling session today with a real-time conversation—call, video chat, or meet in person.
​

3. The Dopamine Rule

Huberman’s rule: Dopamine feels best when you earn it. If you constantly chase quick hits—scrolling, binge-watching, fast food—you train your brain to expect rewards without effort.

Try this: Before seeking a dopamine hit, ask: “Have I earned this?” Shift towards effort-based rewards—movement, learning, or deep conversations.

​
4. Hedonic Adaption (The Double Edged Sword)

We quickly get used to both good and bad things. This is why achievements lose their excitement fast—but also why pain fades over time. A blessing and a curse.

Try this: Savor the good while it lasts—pause and appreciate small joys before they fade into the background. And when life gets hard, remind yourself: You will adjust.

​
​5. The Power of Delights

Gratitude is great, but can feel forced and a little cheesy. Laurie suggests a “delight practice” instead—train yourself to notice tiny moments of joy in real time. The smell of coffee, a perfectly timed song, a warm breeze—these small, unexpected joys wire your brain to feel happier without effort.

Try this: Make note (either in your head or on paper) of one “delight” each day that made you smile.

---

😂

Have a great week!

—Colby

---

If someone forwarded this to you, Subscribe here.

113 Cherry St #92768, Seattle, WA 98104-2205
​Unsubscribe · Preferences​