Hey friends,
This month’s midweek check-in is a bit personal.
Not a breakdown of strategy or a playbook for growth. Just a reflection … let’s call it a gut check.
I’ve spent the last few months sprinting through life. On the outside, it looks like momentum. On the inside? It feels more like a loss of time, attention, and the parts of life I care about most.
I can barely remember my past wins from this year, and I’d have to check LinkedIn, Instagram, or my Notion dashboard for a quick refresher.
Turning 31 this month has made me pause.
Am I building a life I actually want to live, or just running faster because I can?
The Real Cost of “Success” 🙄
Creator Economy NYC Panel
Earlier this year at Creator Economy NYC, someone asked a question that stuck with me: “You all are already successful, how do you keep going?"
It hit me because I don’t see myself that way. Not really.
Yes, I’ve had success. But I don’t feel like a successful entrepreneur. Maybe it’s the same reason champions stay hungry; they don’t see themselves as champions. They just keep showing up, like they haven’t arrived yet.
This has been one of the busiest years of my life, personally and professionally. I just turned 31, and on paper, things look great:
Business travel to Austin, Vegas, Mexico City, and Amsterdam.
I'm growing, reaching new heights, stacking wins.
My calendar is full. My inbox OD. My life feels... “productive”.
But if I'm honest? I'm missing big parts of it. Moments I used to enjoy. Space I used to protect. The clarity that used to guide me.
So I’m starting a new kind of journey. A more intentional one. And I’m inviting you to walk it with me.
Here are two simple shifts I’m making immediately:
Auditing my time like my bank account.
If I don’t know where my hours are going, how can I invest them wisely?
I'm tracking where my time actually goes — like an expense report for my life.
I'm labeling tasks: Energizing, Neutral, or Draining. This helps me spot the patterns and cut the noise.
Here’s a video that’s helping me 👇
Walking away before I say yes.
My yes needs to be earned and not a reflex.
Fewer meetings. Fewer maybes. Fewer unfinished tasks.
More white space. More "no for now." More deliberate action.
Why? Because a personal brand is supposed to create freedom, not steal it.
And if I want to build something recession-proof — financially and emotionally — that starts with ruthless clarity and intentional choices.
Thanks for reading. If you're feeling a similar tug, reply and tell me how you're reclaiming your time
Maybe you're in a season like this, too, where your life looks full, but your soul feels cluttered.
If so, I see you. And I hope this gives you permission to slow down, zoom out, and reorient toward what truly matters.
Thanks for reading — I’m grateful you’re here.
Brandon Smithwrick
Thanks for reading!
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