第一部分
與其一味強迫自己更有紀律,你更該專注於在生活中做出更好的微小決策。這些選擇,會逐漸塑造出一個「自然去做正確事情」的身份認同。
我要先說,這支影片可能會是我拍過最無聊,也可能是最激勵人心的一支。雖然我認為在社群媒體上分享成就、讓他人獲得靈感是有價值的,但我同時也認為,那些真正讓人成功的日常瑣事——那些無趣但堅持的行動——才是真正關鍵的地方。
這支影片,我就想單純記錄我的日常。跟我以往的影片風格非常不同,可能會變成一個系列吧。我會帶你看看我的早晨日常、我如何規劃一天、我早上怎麼進行寫作——這些習慣幫我打造出現在的生活。
寫作聽起來很無聊,每天坐下來寫個一千、兩千、三千字,沒什麼好看的。但很少人真正看到這些小步驟的長期結果,大家總是缺乏長遠眼光,看不見這些行動怎麼在未來回報你。
如果你對數字有興趣,我之前拍過影片提到這件事。大約兩年前,我每天寫作兩小時,年收入達到 80 萬美元。去年,我還是在做一樣的事,但收入變成了 410 萬美元。
如何規劃我的一天
我會先從「如何安排自己的一天」開始講起。因為,除非你擁有一套可持續的日常節奏,可以日復一日地執行,否則你無法期待任何成果。你不必是作家,但你必須是某種意義上的創業者;你要嘗試去掌握自己的收入,從而真正掌握自己的生活。
對很多人來說,這類工作屬於創意工作。創意工作指的是設計、寫作、藝術等等,而創作者工作則包括自我成長、生產力、健身這類看似不一樣、實則相似的事。你必須有創意,才能當創作者。
我甚至認為,寫作應該是每個人都該培養的習慣。如果你想打造屬於自己的生活,你該問:人們為什麼要付錢給你?答案就是——媒體。
現在所有的注意力都不在電台、不在報紙,也不再是傳統電視。注意力正在轉移到社群媒體上。所以你必須去那裡,因為沒有注意力,就不會有人看到你的作品。沒有觀眾,你就無法創業。
很多人還以為,這只是一個選項,或是一個偶然的網路新職業。但其實,大公司都開始要求員工經營 LinkedIn,開始發表內容。甚至像 Tucker Carlson 這樣的媒體人,也離開主流媒體,全職經營 YouTube 頻道,因為他再也不需要靠媒體生存了。
回到寫作——寫作就是你每天能做的事情中,最有效率的事情之一。你寫貼文、寫腳本、寫信件、寫電子報、寫給潛在客戶的訊息、寫 outreach 內容……這不只是「拍一支影片」那麼簡單。你可能會幸運地爆紅一次,但真正能夠長期建立影響力的,是銷售力、說服力、內容力——這些都來自寫作的鍛鍊。
如果你的影片、貼文成效不彰,很可能不是你內容不好,而是你缺乏說服力,而說服力的訓練,正來自寫作。
第二部分
我通常會把工作時間分成三個區塊,每個區塊大約 60 到 90 分鐘。中間會穿插散步、吃早餐或其他放鬆活動。大約從早上 9 點開始,我會持續進行這些區塊,直到傍晚去健身。
這部影片會完整呈現這一整套流程:我的高效工作區塊、去健身房的流程,還有其他我平常會做的事。其實,我的生活也就那樣:去散步、吃晚餐、跟朋友聊天、和合作夥伴通訊等等。
三區塊的生產力時間法
這三個區塊可以用兩種方式規劃:
第一種叫做「建構、發佈、維護」。
- 建構(Build):這段時間專門用來創造可以長期回報的東西。假如你每天只有一個小時,請務必把這一小時拿來「建構」——打造能幫你未來全職創業的資產。對多數人來說,這可能是建立社群媒體觀眾,或寫電子報、數位產品、服務包裝……只要能幫助你往下一個商業階段前進的東西都可以。
- 發佈(Publish):完成創作後,這一區塊就是把內容上傳發佈,特別是社群媒體貼文。對我來說,這已經變得比較自動化了,不再是主要精力所在。但對剛起步的人來說,這步驟仍然重要。
- 維護(Maintain):這是處理已經建立的資產或項目。例如管理舊的電子書、課程、Cortex 大學的內容、客戶合作、回信、帳務處理、To-do 清單上的雜事等等。
第二種方式是「長期、短期、即時」。
- 長期區塊(Long-Term):這段時間用來處理那些需要數週、數月才能完成的項目,比如寫書、開發軟體、打造新品牌等。這是我目前的首要任務,比如寫我的書、打造 Cortex。這些都是耗時長、但意義深遠的專案。這也是自由工作者常掉入的陷阱——一旦停下創新、只是重複維持現狀,就像重新進入了朝九晚五的生活。
- 短期區塊(Short-Term):這是你目前正在進行的任務,還沒馬上產生結果,但不久後就會看到回報。例如,我的電子報就是一個短期任務,它通常會變成 YouTube 影片腳本。寫完書後,我會接著寫電子報。
- 即時區塊(Immediate):這是處理今天一定要完成的小事。類似第一種規劃裡的「維護」,像是回覆電子郵件、聯絡工作夥伴、處理任務清單上的瑣事。雖然這些事小,但加總起來也很關鍵。
我的寫作流程與工具(開頭)
很多人對我怎麼寫電子報、影片腳本感到好奇。接下來我會簡單示範給你看,這同時也會讓你預先一窺我們正在打造的寫作與創作者專屬應用程式。
第三部分:寫作流程與早餐
我知道很多人都對我的寫作流程很好奇,所以我想分享一些細節。你會看到我如何為電子報(以及我的 YouTube 影片)建立大綱,也會順便介紹我們正在開發的一款專為創作者設計的寫作工具。
A lot of you are curious about my writing process, so I want to give you a few things here. I want to go over how I outline my newsletters and therefore my YouTube videos… and it’ll also give you a sneak peek into the app we are building for writers and creators.
首先,我會為每一篇電子報草擬一個大綱。大致流程是這樣:我先進行腦力激盪,將所有想法寫在上方;接著是「連結」區,我會整理相關筆記與舊內容;最後是「研究」區,這裡我會請教 ChatGPT、翻閱舊內容,或看 YouTube 與 Medium 上的文章。
The first thing I do is I create an outline for the newsletter itself… I brain dump ideas at the top, then I have “connections” – notes or ideas from previous writing I want to reference. Then “research” – I ask ChatGPT things, review my past content, research YouTube videos and Medium articles for more ideas.
然後我會開始構思開頭句與標題的「鉤子」,讓讀者一眼被吸引。這個流程不是一次完成的,而是整週持續加入靈感。今天是星期四,我這週的電子報已經完成,現在我在準備下週的主題。
Then I start brainstorming hooks for the headline or the title of the newsletter/video. This is an ongoing process… today is Thursday, I already wrote this week’s newsletter, so this one is for next week.
接著我會根據這些元素製作「柔性大綱」,還可以一邊開啟「連結區」做延伸閱讀。這樣我寫起來會更有靈感、更具方向。
Then I go through and create a soft outline… I can open the “connections” in a side panel and read through to get more ideas for what I want to write about.
當我正式開始寫作,我會打開我們開發的軟體 Cortex,進入電子報文件頁面。我會使用「Cortex Elements」開始撰寫,等結構完成後可以把輔助結構拿掉,變成真正的電子報格式。
When it’s time to write, I create the actual document… and I use what we call “Cortex Elements” to start outlining. I can get rid of these when I want to turn it into an actual newsletter.
如果你去看我上一封電子報或前幾支影片的草稿,會看到我的寫法都一樣。我們之後會加上「直接發佈」功能,但目前就是在這個介面中進行大綱與逐段撰寫,同時在側欄查看資料與連結內容。
If I go to a previous newsletter… this is how I write it in Cortex. Eventually you’ll be able to publish directly. For now, I outline and write throughout the week, and I view my references in the side panel.
現在,我們切換到下一個階段。
早餐與營養哲學
這時候,我會準備吃早餐。我的早餐非常怪,不是那種「健康 influencer」會推薦的餐點(笑),但這是我的營養哲學。
So at this point in my day is when I eat breakfast… I have a very weird breakfast. So here’s my entire nutrition philosophy as well as I can put it.
我的早餐包含:白飯、雞蛋、菠菜、沙丁魚,還有椰子油煮的。聽起來很奇怪,但我是為了在早上就攝取大部分的蛋白質與微量營養素,這樣我就不用在下午或晚上擔心了。
In the morning I have rice, eggs, spinach, sardines, and coconut oil to cook it in. The reason is I’m trying to knock out as much of my protein and micronutrient intake in the morning, so I don’t have to worry about it later.
我習慣將所有重要的事(工作、營養、健身)都放在早上完成,這樣晚上我可以輕鬆放鬆、不用太焦慮。
As you can tell, I frontload everything in the morning – from work to nutrition to the gym – so I don’t have to worry about those things at night.
為什麼選這些食材?因為雞蛋營養密度高、菠菜補綠、沙丁魚則含有豐富的 Omega-3,有助於心臟健康、血壓與膽固醇。
I eat this because eggs are very nutrient-dense, spinach gets your greens in, sardines are extremely nutrient-dense – Omega-3s, heart health, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.
早餐後,我會補充一些營養補劑,其中最重要的是牛肝膠囊——這幾乎是大自然的綜合維他命。
After I eat this, I take my morning supplements, which contain beef liver – it’s like nature’s multivitamin.
這一頓大概含有 50 克蛋白質。我以前會搭配一些起司或奶製品。我的目標是一天攝取 220 克蛋白質(我的體重就是 220 磅),所以午餐前要達成至少 150 克,讓晚餐可以比較放鬆,不用太精算營養。
I try to get in 50ish grams of protein with this. I used to add cottage cheese with it… I’m trying to hit 150+ grams by the time I finish lunch or the gym, so that I don’t have to worry much about dinner.
即使我晚餐吃得輕鬆、有時會外食,只要食物裡有蛋白質就好。我仍然會維持一定的健康飲食習慣,但不會太過神經質。
So when I go out to dinner, it’s like, “Okay, a bowl, something that tastes good.” I still eat relatively healthy at dinner… I’m not super neurotic about it.
第四部分:散步、學習與健身哲學
吃完早餐後,我會打開電腦,處理一些工作項目,比如社群社群訊息、社群社區互動,讓自己維持在掌控狀態。
After I eat this, I check up on some stuff on my computer for work… like checking into the community, messaging people, etc. Just making sure I’m keeping on top of my day.
很多人可能好奇我早餐到底吃什麼——老實說,真的滿奇怪的(笑)。但這一切都跟我的營養哲學有關。
Now you’re probably wondering what I actually eat for breakfast… and I have a very weird breakfast. So here’s my entire nutrition philosophy as well as I can put it.
吃完後,我會去散步。我一天大約走 15,000 步,在這些散步時間,我會聽有聲書或 YouTube 上的長格式講座,幫助自己學習新東西,不論是提升工作、還是純粹變得更聰明。
I walk about 15,000 steps a day… and on those walks I like to listen to audiobooks and YouTube lectures… educate myself on things I want to learn that can fuel my work or just make me a smarter individual.
我覺得這種方式比「什麼都不做」或「一直工作不停」更有效。
I feel like that is a lot more beneficial than not really doing anything or always working all the time.
目前我在聽一本書叫做《The Way of the Superior Man》,這本書我大概每年都會重聽一次。我非常推薦,特別是給那些想過有目的生活的人。
Right now I am listening to The Way of the Superior Man. I listen to it often – maybe once a year. I highly recommend it for anyone looking to live a life of purpose.
為什麼我不做冷水浴與桑拿
很多人問我會不會做冷水浴、桑拿等等。我答案很簡單:不會。因為我真的不喜歡那些東西。聽起來不有趣,冷水浴像是酷刑,我也沒有那麼多時間去安排這些繁瑣的活動。
A common question that I get is: “Dan, do you do anything like sauna or cold plunge?”… The answer is no. One, because I just don’t like those things. Sauna isn’t fun. Cold plunge is just pure torture. And I don’t have time to fill my routine with all of those things.
我不知道那些每天做冷水浴、跑步、曬太陽、做桑拿、再散步的人,是怎麼完成工作的。那根本就是另一種全職。
Like I don’t know how people get things done… if they’re doing cold plunge in the morning, running in the morning, sauna sometime in the afternoon, sunlight, walking… it’s like, what are you working on?
我習慣從大局出發思考:「我到底想要什麼樣的未來?」我想過一種理想人生,那麼,我會選擇最有效率的方式朝那個方向前進。
I like to think from a big picture: What is it that I’m trying to accomplish? What is the ideal future that I’m leaning towards?
我發現,對我來說,走路一萬到一萬五千步、每天健身、偶爾做點有氧,這樣的組合就已經足夠。我會曬太陽,但不會硬逼自己泡冷水。
And to me, I found that walking 10–15,000 steps a day, going to the gym, and doing cardio occasionally… is how I achieve that. I get sunlight – absolutely necessary – but I’d rather sit in the sun than in a cold plunge.
如果我能在屋頂或陽光下赤裸上身散步,不只曬到太陽,還能培養些微古銅膚色,這才更有意義。
If I can walk in the sun, especially shirtless on the roof, or around when it’s sunny… and get some form of a base tan – that just makes more sense to me.
散步=工作
走路這件事對我來說,不只是運動,更是「創作過程」的一部分。我會邊走邊想內容點子,構思影片、寫作、計劃下一步。
Not only am I generating ideas for my content – I’m thinking through ideas and using this as a part of my creative process – I would say I’m technically working. I would consider walks a part of my work and my life.
再者,大量的步行會消耗不少熱量。我身體本來代謝就快,加上健身與走路,每天大約需要攝取 4,000 卡路里來維持體重。
Walks burn quite a few calories… I weigh a lot, I go to the gym… and walking added on top makes it so I burn – I would say my maintenance calories are around 4,000 calories a day.
所以我必須吃很多,也「可以」吃很多,這讓我可以輕鬆地跟親友一起吃一頓好吃的晚餐,不需要精算每一餐。
So I have to eat 4,000 calories… and I’m allowed to do that, which means I’m allowed to have nice dinners with my friends and family and loved ones.
第五部分:健身與身份認同
健身之前,我有一個有趣的「儀式」:吃碳水、補咖啡因。健身的兩個「C」:Carbs(碳水)與 Caffeine(咖啡因)。
There are two C’s to any good gym session – Carbs and Caffeine.
我看過一些 Instagram 上的影片說最天然的 pre-workout(運動前補充)是:在手上塗蜂蜜,加點喜馬拉雅鹽巴。但我偏好人工一點的版本(笑)。
I’ve seen a few Instagram reels that talk about the most natural pre-workout – putting honey on your hand and adding Himalayan salt. I prefer to take the more synthetic approach.
就像汽車使用合成機油會讓運轉更順,我也喜歡吃個 Rice Krispie 糖餅(快速消化的碳水,又有鹽巴),讓肌肉充血感更好。
Just like synthetic oil in a car helps it run longer… Rice Krispie treats are fast-digesting carbs, have salt – makes for a good pump.
我其實沒那麼在意這算不算健康,因為它吃起來好吃,而且我會消耗掉。
I don’t really care if I have a little Rice Krispie Treat – tastes good.
我也會喝能量飲料。不是因為品牌,而是純粹有種「懷舊感」——以前我在看健身 YouTuber 的時候,他們都在喝這些,我也跟著喝。
Second thing is Monster Energy – I drink these quite a bit. Not necessarily Monster, sometimes Ghost or others… but I only get this because of the nostalgia. When I used to watch fitness people online – this is what they’d get.
黑白罐的包裝看起來不錯,喝起來有點像雪碧的變種,也滿順口的。
It’s kind of on brand for me – black and white, looks good, tastes like an off-Sprite – pretty good.
現在大概下午一點半,我剛參加完一場「導師小組」的 Zoom call,對象是我目前合作的一些學生。之前我又去散了一次步,這是今天的第二次。
It is about 1:30 right now. I just had a mastermind call with a few students from the people I’m working with… and before that I went on another walk.
今天到目前為止,我已經完成了:
- 寫作流程
- 吃了一份「怪異」但營養爆表的早餐(含沙丁魚)
- 散步、聽書
- 開會與進行一些行政工作
So far today we’ve been through my writing routine… the monstrosity I eat for breakfast including sardines… went on one walk, listened to an audiobook… had a call with my book guy, did a bit more work, went on another walk…
剛剛那次散步是在戶外、陽光下,我也曬到一些太陽。開會是在中午十二點,現在一點半,我們正要出門去健身。
The second walk was in the sun – getting my sunlight… had the call at 12, now it’s 1:30… we’re on our way to the gym.
帶好我的碳水與咖啡因,我們今天要練的是手臂。
Got my carbs, got my caffeine – yes, we’re going to train arms.
我的健身頻率與訓練方式
很多人好奇我健身的頻率:其實我幾乎每天都練。我喜歡每天都去健身房,這樣有助於維持規律與節奏。
For those curious – I do train almost every day. I like going to the gym every day to keep a routine.
當然,我也會休息。有時一週休個幾天或幾次。但總體來說,我是「高頻率低總量」訓練。
I have rest days occasionally… sometimes I take multiple rests throughout the week… but in general, I train every day.
我每次練一個部位,大概做 4 到 6 組,每週訓練兩次,所以一個部位每週 8 到 12 組。這是在有效範圍內偏低的總量,但我每次都練到接近力竭。
I train 4 to 6 sets per body part per workout, and I do each body part twice a week – so that’s 8 to 12 sets per week, which is on the lower end of optimal volume… but I go to failure as much as humanly possible.
今天練手臂,等等見!
So we’re training arms today – see you in there!
(畫面切入健身現場 vlog)
第六部分:真正的自律與身份認同
我們剛結束健身訓練。因為我每天都訓練,所以每次的訓練時間其實不長,大約 45 分鐘左右。我的訓練量分散在每一天中,因此每次訓練不需要太久。
So we just finished up at the gym. My workouts are usually like 45 minutes… because since I go every day, my volume is split across those days. My workouts aren’t that long.
我想談一個主題,我猜這應該會是很多人看完這支影片後最常留言問的問題,因為我今天做了很多我平常沒在影片中展示的事:像是大量寫作、健身、散步等等。
I wanted to go over what could be a common theme for this video. I’m predicting the comments ahead of time… I’m doing things I normally don’t show in my videos: writing a lot, going to the gym, going on walks.
所以大家可能會問:「你怎麼這麼有自律?要怎麼維持那麼有紀律的生活?」
So I can assume a common question will be: “How do I develop that discipline? How do you stay so disciplined and do those things?”
但我想換個方式來說這件事。我不覺得這是在於「自律」本身,而是你是否已經變成那個會自然而然做這些事的人。
I want to reframe that a bit. I don’t think it’s about discipline. I think it’s about becoming the person that automatically does those things.
當你養成這種身分認同,你不需要強迫自己做什麼——這些行動本身就是你的習慣與選擇。
They don’t even have to think about it. It’s just about cultivating an identity… and the actions that that identity takes toward specific goals lead to those actions – and it leads to you doing them without thought and enjoying them.
與其努力變得更有紀律,不如在日常中做出更好的微小選擇,讓這些選擇漸漸強化你的新身份。
So rather than focusing on being more disciplined, you need to focus on making better decisions on the small scale… so that those condition yourself into adopting the identity that just does those things.
兩個核心觀念:視野與覺察
要做到這件事,需要兩個關鍵點:視野(perspective)與覺察(perception)。
There’s two things there: one – gaining perspective. There’s perspective and there’s perception.
首先是視野。你要跳出當下,思考自己未來想成為什麼樣的人,不想變成什麼樣的人——然後看看你現在的行為會把你帶去哪裡。
So you gain perspective of your situation, where you zoom out and think about the future that you don’t want and the future that you do want… and where your current actions are leading you.
以健身為例:你不想要的未來也許是肥胖、沒自信、身體虛弱;你想要的未來可能是健康、強壯、快樂。
In terms of going to the gym: where do younot
want
當你有了願景(視野),接下來要做的就是培養覺察力(perception)——讓每天的行動更清晰、更有方向。
Now that you understand that – you have perspective. Now you need to gain perception and bring clarity to your day-to-day actions… so it becomes easier to make better decisions.
你當然還是會犯錯、會失控,這是人之常情。但你要用長期視角來看整體選擇的「平均值」。
You’re of course still going to make mistakes… but it’s good to think of it on like an averaging basis.
只要你在一年中,有超過 51% 的時間做出好選擇,那你就走在正軌上。
Where – over the average of a year – are you at least 51% making good decisions? If so, you’re on track.
你需要學習什麼?你需要練習什麼?
要改變自己,先問兩個問題:
- 我需要學會什麼?(Learn)
- 我需要練習什麼?(Practice)
You need to hold your perspective at the top of your head – what youdon’t
do
學習來自教育資源,例如 YouTube。我就是這樣開始健身的——看別人的訓練影片,試著理解他們的計畫。
What you need to learn comes from education – like YouTube. How did I learn about going to the gym? Watching people on YouTube, studying their techniques.
你不會自動學會這些東西。你得試一套訓練法,堅持一段時間,觀察效果。再試另一套,看看差異。這不是在「追新鮮感」,而是找到適合自己的東西。
You don’t just learn how to go to the gym – you study someone’s program, try it out, see if it works… this isnot
這不只適用健身,也適用於創業。你不會一開始就找到對的商業模式,而是靠反覆嘗試、失敗、然後總結規律與原則。
This goes for business too – you don’t just fall into the right business model… you test a bunch of different ones, fail, and eventually learn the patterns and principles that make it work.
第七部分:生活收尾與思維總結
健身結束後,我們會去 Protein House 吃點蛋白質豐富的食物,大概是一碗營養夠的餐。
After the gym, we are going to Protein House to get protein and just a bowl of food – like decent calories.
我今天大概就不會再拍什麼內容了。剩下的時間,我會去散個步,寫一點東西,跟白天做的差不多,只是把時間分散在晚上。
I’m probably not going to film anything later today. I’m probably going to go on more walks, I’m going to write a bit more – it’s everything you’ve already seen, just split up throughout the day.
然後我們會回家,跟我女友吃晚餐、放鬆一下、看看 Netflix。我們最近在看《Lost》,很好看。
Then probably sit around, go to dinner with babe, have a good time, come home. Usually we watch Netflix – we’ve been watchingLost
我們原本打算每天晚上一起讀書,但實在是…這部劇比書還吸引人(笑)。
…we’ve been meaning to try like reading every night, but we haven’t really done it just becauseLost
不過今天晚上,我們應該會去散步或做點別的事,一起度過一些有品質的時間。
But tonight, we’re gonna read or we’re gonna do something – maybe go on a walk, just have quality time together.
結語
那這支影片我就先在這邊結束吧。你大概也不想一直看我重複做一樣的事(笑)。雖然…也許有人喜歡?我不知道。
So I’ll end the video here, ’cause I’m sure you don’t want to see me just do the same thing over and over again. Some people like that – I don’t know.
如果你對這種風格的影片有感覺,留言讓我知道你的想法。下次見!
Leave a comment letting me know what you thought of this kind of video. Bye!