Jason Leow

I’m a creature of habit. Routines in my daily life help me think less about what I should be doing, when I should be doing it. It’s the momentum that helps me stay healthy, disciplined, committed to important things in my life – health, mental wellness, family, career. It’s like productivity workflows but for life. It’s the bedrock foundation of everything else that I achieve in life.

And when my routines go awry, everything else downstream gets messed up too.

All it needed was a consultancy project to throw a spanner into the engine. I had a good routine going for the months before that, honed from the past 3 years working from home through the pandemic lockdowns. But the world had reopened, and now work is starting to revert to how it was before, I feel like a sailor being at sea for months and feeling the land-sick when I touch solid ground for the first time. I guess I wasn’t prepared for the disruption to that change, and paid for it through my sleep, exercise, stress levels, family time.

Now I know why my numbers had been going down recently.

I can’t will the world to go back to as before so that I can have my routines again. I’d rather not either. But I can regroup and re-routinize in new ways.

Routine routine routine.

I use the simplest note system on the planet for my content flywheel.

- Take and save notes in Telegram Saved Messages
- Use some notes in Lifelog
- Repurpose content directly from Telegram or from Lifelog, to other channels

No complex note-taking system. No automation. No excessive tagging or categorising. No networked thought.

Just an app that I open and use everyday anyway, to collect notes. And on to another app that I use and write on every day, to process, think through, reflect on them. And then onwards to other platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn for content distribution.

This simple note system is how I'm able to keep writing on Lifelog for 700+ days, post on Twitter and LinkedIn daily for the past year. The results speak for themselves.

It's so crucial that it starts on an app (Telegram) that's easily accessible and habitual. Because any layer of friction, no matter how tiny, raises the barrier to utilising the note system to its full potential. Taking notes often happen when life is happening. When you're out and about, when you're having an interesting chat with a friend, when you see something at the mall. If I had to log in to take a note, it'll fail. If it's a desktop app, it fails. If I have to open my web browser to access it, it fails. If my network is spotty and without internet—I'm underground on the train, or out in the jungle—it fails. If I can't take notes hands free (like voice memo), it fails. It has to be always on, always available.

Mostly importantly, a note system where the notes are actually *used*, not just hoarded. So much of note-taking systems I see is an elaborate way to hoard stuff you'd never use again. So much effort, so little utility. It's digital hoarding at it's most subversive.

That's why I say note system , not note-*taking* system. It's not just for note-taking but also note-*using*. otherwise what's the point?

The best note system should be **generative**, not archival. It should stir up dust, not collect dust.

I like this simple note system. It works for me.

I can't stop thinking about this question that James Clear asked in his [latest newsletter](https://jamesclear.com/3-2-1/december-15-2022):

What is your relationship with self-discipline?
What is your relationship with self-forgiveness?

That pairing of questions is so perfect. Self-discipline and self-forgiveness, like yin and yang, like fire and ice.

Self-discipline is what people often think they need when it comes to building a wholesome habit streak, say daily writing. Self-forgiveness is the other half of the equation people don't know about. You need some self-discipline to get started on a streak. But you also need self-forgiveness if you happen to break it. Breaking the streak doesn't make the habit any less wholesome, but it does feel sucky for a while, because that's how streaks work (as a disincentive). Self-forgiveness is the balm that soothes that suckiness, so that you'll bounce back and keep going all over again.

Self-discipline is putting in your best effort every day; self-forgiveness is forgiving yourself if you tried but wasn't good enough to win.

Self-discipline is being hard on yourself today. Self-forgiveness is being soft on yourself yesterday.

Self-discipline is the father. Self-forgiveness is the mother.

Too much self-discipline and you get too uptight or stressed out. Too much self-forgiveness and you get too lazy or ineffective.

Reflecting on myself: I'm weighted more in self-discipline. I could do with more self-forgiveness. My relationship to self-discipline vs self-forgiveness isn't balanced. And it's time to balance that out. As much as I practice self-discipline seriously, I got to also practice self-forgiveness as seriously.

That way, like the twin wings of a bird, I can truly soar.

Me, v1: What's some good questions to ask indie hackers?
v2: These are generic questions for indie hackers. Please suggest 10 questions that are novel and surprising.
v3: This is better, but not good enough. I want 10 more questions that catches people's attention, and makes people sit and think. It has to be unexpected and contrarian to mainstream generic questions and ideas of what it means to be an indie hacker.
v4: Give me 10 questions that are so unconventional and against mainstream that it will outrage and anger most indie hackers. Give me 10 questions that are so unconventional and against mainstream that it will trigger a response from most indie hackers.
v5: Give me 10 questions related to careers, lifestyle and success of indie hackers that are so unconventional and against mainstream that it will trigger a response from most mainstream folks

ChatGPT:
- In what ways do you think being an indie hacker allows you to live a more fulfilling and meaningful life than working a traditional job?
- How do you think being an indie hacker affects your relationships with friends and family, and what steps do you take to maintain a healthy balance?
- Do you think indie hacking is a viable long-term career choice, or do you see it as more of a short-term endeavor? Why?
- In what ways do you think being an indie hacker allows you to have more control over your time and work schedule?
- How do you think being an indie hacker challenges traditional notions of success and achievement, and what do you consider to be successful in your own work?
- In what ways do you think being an indie hacker allows you to explore your passions and interests in a way that a traditional job might not?
- How do you think being an indie hacker affects your personal and professional growth and development, and what steps do you take to continue learning and improving?
- Do you think being an indie hacker allows you to have a greater impact on the world and make a positive difference, and if so, how do you work towards this goal in your own work?
- In what ways do you think being an indie hacker allows you to have more flexibility and freedom in your work, and how do you make use of this freedom?
- How do you think being an indie hacker affects your financial stability and security, and what steps do you take to manage the inherent risks and uncertainties?

The past few weekly recaps revealed an interesting trend. I'm filling out entire pages full of ideas for my Plugins For Carrd project.

It's like I'm sensing so many opportunities, chancing on new ideas for plugins, discovering business ideas to try, and things to optimise for Plugins.

But here's the weird thing:

I'd decided to drop my main project and no longer have any main projects.
I'd decided that all my projects will stay as small bets, even if they get big.
I'd decided to spend more time on Plugins For Carrd, even if it stays a small bet.

I'm not sure how the newfound opportunities figure in my decisions to keep things small, but everything about the reality seems to be contradicting these decisions.

I'm spending more time, yet I call it a small bet?
I'm working on it mostly, yet it's not my main project?
I have a deluge of new opportunities and ideas, yet I care about it being big or small?
I've been pulled forward all along by it, yet I'm telling myself to not push?

Am I in denial about the project? Indulging in self-deception or protecting some part of my ego here?

Or do we always have to conflate effort spent to a project's priority/size?

I think I've spent lots of time and effort on previous projects with huge expectations, yet nothing to show for. Perhaps I can now try spending *some* time and effort with little/zero expectations, yet show some degree of results/success.

Or maybe I'm simply not used to working hard on a product pulling me forward, while reining in my expectations and emotions for it?

I have many questions. More questions than answers.

Many contradictions and paradoxes.

I'm not sure where I'm going with this. Writing to figure it out and mirror back the hard questions to myself...

I asked a [question on Twitter](https://twitter.com/jasonleowsg/status/1601215575828492298) about the pros and cons of discounts, and learned so much from everyone:

> "Discounts devalue your product, erodes trust." - True, or false?
>
> When would discounts be okay?
> When would it devalue/erode?

Here's me summarizing and trying to do justice to everyone's contributions:

### When discounts devalue your product
- When it's perpetually on discount (e.g. Udemy). People come to expect the discounted price as the true price, and no one would want to pay full price anymore. It also erodes trust as customers catch on that it's just a form of sales manipulation.
- Offering one simply because someone asked. This gives customers the impression that it's actually worth less.
- When the quantum for the discount is too high, e.g. 80%. Again, it hints at customers that the true value is lower for you to be willing to sell it at that price.

### When discounts are okay, or even beneficial, increase value/trust
- For purchase power parity. That's a discount that might in fact increase trust because it show you're being considerate to people in lower purchase power locales. Kindness is always good for biz.
- Timing and frequency matters. When it's occasional, or for celebratory occasions, like Black Friday, product/company anniversary, or to celebrate achieving a milestone of X number of users. People are more open to it and less chance existing customers will feel it's unfair since it's to 'celebrate' an occasional occasion. Maybe 5 or less per year might be a good rule of thumb.
- Discounts are often given only to new customers, and leave the existing customers out of the picture, which is a wasted opportunity to build more loyalty. So also give existing loyal customers something special, like beta access to some hot new feature or also a discount for subscriptions.
- When it's aligned to your brand, product, positioning, pricing, business model, market, price sensitivity of your customers, etc (e.g. "no discounts ever" Apple vs "always on discount" Udemy)
- When it's for a certain type of product among different products of one business, e.g. lead magnets. Any price point to acquire a customers at, is better than $0.
- When planning a price increase, give a discount for a week/month to anyone to get it at the last price. Be open and honest about the price rise, and the discount you can give right now. This move doesn't erode trust but increase it, because it shows you care for customers.
- Give a discount when upselling/cross-selling. When your customer buys a product, they get recommended related products at a discount. Or even cross-bundling discounts with other creators!

*What other situations would discounts be okay vs devaluing?*

Just minor text updates to the writing prompts, to test if the pipeline still works!

And to fix the announcement banner with new Google App Script link

I asked ChatGPT this question: "I have a goal to write at least 100 words every day. Please suggest a daily task list to help me achieve that goal."

What do you think of the reply? Legit? Was surprised it gave good standard answers 😆

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be." – Douglas Adams

This seems to be a recurring lesson in my indie solopreneur journey. Or even in life.

It always starts off with ambitions, aspirations and goals. Very specific goals. Very targeted means to get there. A purposeful stance I adopt going into it. And sometimes I do get there the way I intended, but the satisfaction isn't always commensurate with the achievement. Something feels off. I've won trophies in school where I wasn't thrilled on receiving it. I redpointed climbing projects where I felt more relieved than joyous. I achieved revenue targets for one of my businesses but got burned out.

Yet when I did not go where I intended to go but chanced upon buried treasure, I feel blessed and overjoyed. I wandered down streets in foreign countries feeling lost and not in the direction I feel I should be, yet discovered beautiful places and neighbourhoods that are etched in my memory for life. Indie side projects that have a life of its own and pull me forward despite my original intentions are often my best performing products. I never expected to meet a girl (or any girl) at the office, yet I did, and one thing led to another and now I married her and had a lovely child with.

Every time I ended up where I needed to be without intending to, there's joy.

Chance = Yay
Stance = Meh

Makes me think: Why set any goals or intentions at all? 🤔

I asked ChatGPT to convince me to start a daily writing habit in the voice of Shakespeare.

What do you think? Legit? 😆

Seeing all the indie hacker add GPT-3 to their apps is giving me major FOMO. [ChatGPT](https://chat.openai.com) had been the hot trending topic on the internet the past weeks. And you can actually train a version of the AI to suit your apps. The docs make it sound pretty [easy to do](https://openai.com/blog/customized-gpt-3/). So that got me thinking:

How would I use it? What AI-powered features would I add?

Just to brainstorm, here's my own list:

- An app to generate prompts for writing, based on your past writings. Paste a link to your Medium, Substack or Lifelog profile, and it spits back writing prompts and ideas based on the words and analytics of each post.
- A social good app to help laypeople find all public assistance initiatives and programmes by asking a question in plain English. AI gets trained on just the government websites, and the app only shows results from those sites.
- A conversational AI chatbot that gets trained on your SaaS's documentation and blog content, and only replies based on those content.
- A mental health bot app that chats with you based on your past journal writings.
- A speech writing app that helps you write speeches for people in the style and tone of voice based on their past speeches, e.g. write speech in voice of Donald Trump 😂

If you could create an AI-powered app, what app would you create?

I asked ChatGPT to convince me to start a daily writing habit in the voice of Donald Trump.

What do you think? Legit? 😆

So much of sleep quality has got to do with calming down before actually sleeping.

Yes there's stuff you should note *during* sleep—like thermal comfort—to ensure you sleep well. But I'm realising that the main barrier to good sleep quality in our modern lives seems to be about what we do *before* sleep, how we settle down the mind and body.

Our always on culture keeps us alert right to the minute before we drop off to sleep. All that blue light from our phone screen, TV and home lights in the evening and at night doesn't help. We mindlessly watch content that keeps us up till late, keeping our brains in wakefulness mode. Some even work out 2-3h before bed because that's the only time we have after work.

We had basically forgotten what good sleep hygiene is:

- Wind down routines 1-2h before bed to settle down
- Drink beverages like camomile tea to help you relax
- Do things that don't require electricity, e.g. read, talk, journal
- Meditate or stretch before bed to slow down
- No screens in evening
- Switch to warm lights in the house
- Dim down the lights in evening
- No exercise within 2-3h of bedtime
- Do relaxation breathing exercise upon lying down to relax more
- Chat with your family or partner to release any emotional energy you're keeping in
- Do quick journaling to download thoughts that's still on your mind, that you promise yourself to come back tomorrow
- Left field stuff: Use the Leela Inner Peace or Calm & Rest quantum energy cards

*What else can we do to calm down before sleep?*

https://www.reddit.com/r/IMadeThis/comments/zi6wni/just_made_snowfall_for_my_website/

Copying 90% of an existing business with 10% unique spin is so underrated.

Same reason why there's 10 different brands of orange juice in the supermarket all containing the same fruit inside.

There's always more room in the market than we assume, and people like more choices.

Yet for some reason many don't do it out of personal ego or pride. Or worse: They go the other extreme and clone entire websites/apps.

That got me thinking:

I should put my money where my mouth is and do it.

But thinking through, I did try it before:

- One 90:10 product is Sheet2Bio. It's 90% similar to all the incumbents like Linktree and Bio.Link, but the 10% differentiation is just in the Google Sheets as CMS. But it didn't do quite so well, or at least I haven't yet found the right value proposition for it and distribution channel.
- Lifelog is totally a 90:10 product too. It's building off what 200wordsaday was, with an added spin around writing about goals.
- Keto List Singapore is a 90:10 spin from NomadList, where the 10% is the targeting for keto folks in Singapore. It performed average in the initial few years.
- Sweet Jam Sites is so obviously a 90:10 spin from the conventional web design agency, but targeted for JAMstack sites. It never quite took off.
- Outsprint Design is 90% a consultancy service at it's base, with just 10% differentiation on business model, pricing, offering, and was my very first business that did well.

Indeed now that I ran through my key products, most of them are copied! 90% copied. Some hits, most misses. But that's the nature of the game. Copying guarantees nothing, just speed to market and validated market.

Goes to show, it's so easy to start products by 90% copying. But being truly unique and standout is a lot harder than you think.

Though not that being unique it matters all that much...