⭕️ How do you actually take the First Step

Hey friend,

A couple weeks ago, I was sharing my T.O.D.A.Y framework as part of my speaking tour in North Carolina and after I finished one of the students came up to me and said:

Sounds like you? I feel you, that was me.

Honestly, it still is me sometimes. We’re all told to just start, but no one ever teaches us how.

That question stuck with me. And when I went home, I went down a full rabbit hole trying to find answers.

That’s when I came across one of the best essays I have read my entire life. And I am not even exaggerating. Really wish I read something like this when I was starting my journey at 15.

It’s called High Agency by George Mack. It’s a 30 minute read but wanted to give you a simplified version.

This essay hit so hard, I’ve decided to create a 5 part series out of it.

By the end of this series, my goal is to make sure you never feel stuck and ask “how do I actually take initiative?” ever again.

read time: 4 mins

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Part 1: What is High Agency?

If you were stuck in a third-world jail cell and could only call one person to help you get out, who would it be?

That person? They have high agency.

They’re the kind of person who, even without a clear plan or resources, would find a way. Not because they have connections or money, but because they’d start solving the problem without waiting for someone else to tell them what to do.

What separates them isn’t intelligence or privilege—it’s how they think.

High agency is the belief that, no matter the situation, you have the ability to influence the outcome. It’s not about being fearless or confident. It’s about thinking: “Okay… how can I figure this out?”

George describes three traits of high agency individuals:

First, clear thinking. This is about seeing the world as it is, not as we’re told it is. High agency people don’t just accept something because an expert said it or because it’s always been done that way. They pause and ask: “Does that actually make sense?”

Second, a bias to action. High agency people don’t wait for the perfect plan. They test things. Take small steps. Learn by doing. Instead of spending weeks creating the ideal pitch deck, they send a rough draft and get feedback. Instead of reading 10 productivity books, they just try something and see if it works.

It’s not about being reckless—it’s about being willing to move before everything feels ready.

Third, healthy disagreeability. This one can feel tricky. It doesn’t mean being rude or combative. It just means being okay with going against the grain.

Most people will go with the flow to avoid conflict. But high agency people aren’t afraid to say, “Actually, I think we’re doing this wrong,” even if they’re the only one in the room who thinks so.

Together, these three traits form a kind of mental software. The good news? You can install it. It’s not something you’re born with. It’s something you learn.

Will show you next week on how to “install” the high agency software in part 2 next week.

In the meantime, here’s an action you can take:

Think of one situation where you feel stuck. Maybe it’s something you’ve been putting off or convinced yourself you can’t do. Ask yourself: If this doesn’t defy the laws of physics, what are 3 things I could do today to move it forward?

Even one of them is a start.

Reply to me and let me know what that one action is. I make sure I reply to every single email from our community of 80,000 young people.

My friend, things have been crazy lately for me. Our tour is in full swing, 8 cities down, was at the UN 2 weeks ago, Kenya last week and now at my home in Tanzania. If you’ve been on this journey with me long enough, you must know how up and down this journey has been for me. Regardless of so many set backs and pivots, I have always practiced my agency and taken one step forward. You being part of this community we’ve been building gives me so much confidence to exercise my agency. So thank you, truly. It means so so much to me. If there’s anything I can do to return that favour to you, please just shoot me an email. Always in your corner.

Rooting for you my friend,

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