⭕️ The False Progress Trap

Hey friend,

Let's cut straight to it: You're probably lying to yourself. Not intentionally—but still lying.

Ever feel super busy, yet deep down, you know you're not actually moving forward?

I get it—I've been there too.

Back in my nonprofit days, I spent 90% of my energy applying for awards, chasing conferences, and hunting down media features. And it worked—at least externally. Diana Award, BBC features, speaking on global stages in Dubai and New York. I was praised everywhere. But behind the scenes? I had barely moved the needle.

Two years in, I'd impacted only 500 people. Yet everyone celebrated me as if I was changing millions of lives.

That's the False Progress Trap.

read time: 2 mins

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You're Probably Doing It Right Now

The trap feels amazing because external validation is addictive. Likes, awards, follower counts, recognition—they give a dopamine rush that tricks your brain into believing you're successful.

But let me ask you this:

• Are the likes you're chasing actually turning into meaningful impact?

• Are those awards and recognition directly connected to what you're truly trying to achieve?

If you're honest, the answer might sting.

How to Spot False Progress

Here are some examples—see if any feel familiar:

• Career: You chase fancy job titles or LinkedIn praise instead of becoming truly skilled or fulfilled.

• Creative Work: You obsess over views, likes, or followers instead of creating quality work you actually believe in.

• Nonprofit/Social Impact: You measure success by events held or superficial stats like "people reached," instead of genuine change in people's lives.

In all these scenarios, you're optimizing for vanity metrics that sound great but don't lead to lasting change.

Breaking the Cycle

In 2020, when COVID hit, I had no choice but to face reality. The flashy opportunities dried up, leaving me alone with the truth: I hadn't been doing the real work.

I shifted focus. Instead of chasing validation, I spent 90% of my time directly impacting people. The result?

• 2020: From 500 people to 8,500 people impacted.

• 2021: From 8,500 to 20,000+ people impacted.

Less applause, fewer headlines—but way more impact. And that's what truly matters.

Your Turn: Brutal Honesty

My Friend, here's what you need to do, right now:

1. Ask yourself: "What does real progress look like for me?"

2. Audit your actions: Are you actually working towards your goal or just making noise?

3. Replace vanity metrics: Choose a metric that genuinely reflects your core goal—impact created, skills mastered, lives touched—not just superficial wins. Stop chasing validation. Start chasing real progress.

Reply to this email and tell me: What's the false progress you're dropping today, and what's your new meaningful metric?

Let's keep each other honest.

Always here for you,

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