For years, I've been connecting with interesting people and documenting insights that might help my clients and myself. What was once private is now (mostly) public.

People often ask: "How do you know all these people?" and "How do you connect these (re: random) ideas?" The answer is simple: consistent relationship cultivation and thoughtful note taking. My north star is trusting my instincts, my maps are the constellations in these reflections.

This approach to multidisciplinary networking has helped dozens of clients, colleagues, and friends strengthen their networks and unlock new opportunities. Find my Personal Archive on CultishCreative.com, watch me build a better Personal Network on the Cultish Creative YouTube channel, and listen to Just Press Record on Spotify or Apple Podcasts, and follow me on social media (LinkedIn and X) - now distributed by Epsilon Theory.

You can also check out my work as Managing Director at Sunpointe, as a host on top investment YouTube channel Excess Returns, and as Senior Editor at Perscient.

Feel free to steal these ideas directly - that's what they're for! I can't promise you'll learn FROM me, but I guarantee you can learn something WITH me. Let's go. Count it off: 1-2-3-4!

Introducing… Jared Dillian!

Do you know Jared Dillian? He's an investor, trader, author, musician, and still my favorite consumer of cat psychic services (plus now supporter of Northeastern PA based cat themed tattoo artists).

If not, allow me to introduce you. Jared is the author of six books including his latest "Rule 62: Don't Take Yourself Too Damn Seriously," writes the Daily Dirt Nap newsletter, manages money through his CTA, and somehow finds time to DJ and work on novels. I wanted to connect with him because he embodies something I value deeply: the courage to create authentically without waiting for permission or perfection.

Our conversation is LIVE now on the Just Press Record YouTube channel (and this Cultish Creative Playlist). Listen and you'll hear us dive deep into anti-perfectionism, creative courage, and why authentic voice trumps technical polish every single time.

THREE: That's The Magic Number of Lessons

In the meantime, I wanted to pull THREE KEY LESSONS from my time with Jared to share with you (and drop into my Personal Archive).

Read on and you'll find a quote with a lesson and a reflection you can Take to work with you, Bring home with you, and Leave behind with your legacy.

WORK: The 80% Solution Beats 100% Paralysis

Key Concept: Perfectionism is often procrastination in disguise. Jared's approach of consistently shipping 80% solutions has allowed him to build multiple businesses, write six books, and maintain a daily newsletter for nearly two decades. The compound effect of consistent "good enough" output far exceeds the theoretical value of perfect work that never sees the light of day.

Personal Archive Note-To-Self: Jared - unintentionally - got me thinking about all the things I never consider how imperfectly I do them. They’re things I do well, but “perfect” is just not an adjective that ever enters my mind. Off the top of my head, you’ve got stuff like the dishes, or how I put my dogs food out as prime examples. Yes, they are tasks and they get done above some standard, but, to perfection? No. It never even enters my mind let alone crosses it.

Jared got me thinking about why this philosophical attitude doesn’t carry over to more of life. It turns out, being imperfect is way more of a default mode that I can say, with humble confidence, that I reflectively run on. I know others do too.

When Jared talks about his writing habit, I can relate, and exactly for this reason. I kind of write like I do dishes or feed the dogs. I know the purpose behind why I’m doing it, and then there’s a standard I have to meet, but I’ll be damned if I’m polishing spoons or plating diced up chicken tenders on kibble. Everybody should have an imperfect-but-good-enough list in their heads as a reminder how good they are at this already.

Work question for you: What project are you not starting or not finishing because you're waiting for it to be perfect?

LIFE: Say Yes Because You Never Know

Key Concept: This is about future regret minimization - the same framework Jeff Bezos used when deciding to start Amazon. Most people are haunted by the paths they didn't take, not the ones they tried that didn't work out. Jared's willingness to say yes to opportunities, from starting a CTA to self-publishing books, creates optionality in his life that keeps doors open for unexpected outcomes.

Personal Archive Note-To-Self: As Jared clarifies in our conversation, the FULL Andujar quote goes, “My favorite word in English, and I love this word, is ‘youneverknow.’” Laugh about it, but then let it really sink in.

You can know something is perfect, but you can’t know what it’ll do next. And by something I don’t mean precision rockets or surgical blades, obviously. You can have a perfectly polished piece of writing and it can get out into the world and flop with nobody ever so much as acknowledging you posted it. You can also riff on a melted bag of candy on the street and get a surprising number of email responses.

If you can’t know the future because - youneverknow. It’s permission to stop worrying and get some fun and excitement in play for your life. Take it from a guy who just saw his first bit of writing in print because he invited a guy on a podcast and then a while later the same guy said, “Hey, you want to write the foreword to my next book?” Youneverknow.

Life Question For You: What opportunity are you avoiding that you might regret not taking 20 years from now?

LEGACY: Creating Every Day Is Spiritual Practice

Key Concept: For true creatives, the act of creation isn't optional - it's essential for psychological and spiritual well-being. Jared writes 3,000-4,000 words daily, not because he has to, but because he needs to. This daily practice of getting ideas out of his head and onto paper has become his spiritual discipline, and the foundation for everything else he builds.

Personal Archive Note-To-Self: I need a few concentrated writing blocks 2-4x per week - any longer than a week without it and my brain starts feeling cluttered. Writing clears my brain out. It allows me some perfectly introverted focus on imperfectly tying loose threads in my head together.

I took an extended break from being deliberately creative between about 25-35. I was working on “a career” and “money” and “being an adult” and guess what? It was awful and stupid of me. Sure, I did some little projects, they had a way of manifesting themselves into my life, actually, but I was full-on in zombie mode. Constipated zombie mode if you will.

If you have an imperfectly healthy habit that you love, don’t get backed up. Go, go, and go some more. I don’t mean that in a gross way, but I do mean you should just do it and accept that everyone is gross in their own way so worry about yourself and GO.

Legacy question for you: What form of daily creation would feed your soul and leave something behind that outlasts you?

BEFORE YOU GO: Be sure to…

• Connect with Jared Dillian at jareddillian.com

• Check out his new book "Rule 62: Don't Take Yourself Too Damn Seriously"

• Subscribe to his Daily Dirt Nap newsletter

• Follow him on Twitter @DailyDirtNap

• Check out his DJ work on SoundCloud @djstochastic

• Take a moment to reflect on all these ideas!

You have a Personal Network and a Personal Archive just waiting for you to build them up stronger. Look at your work, look at your life, and look at your legacy - and then, start small in each category. Today it's one person and one reflection. Tomorrow? Who knows what connections you'll create.

Last thing: Don't forget to click reply/click here and tell me who you're adding to your network and why! Plus, if you already have your own Personal Archive too, let me know, I'm creating a database.