đ€ How to STOP thinking and START doing
The science-backed way to break free from analysis paralysis and take actionâeven when youâre unsure
Hey there! Iâm Robert. Welcome to a free edition of my newsletter. Every week, I share 1 piece of advice đ, 1 breakthrough recommendation đ, and 1 challenge đ„ to help leaders in tech achieve a growth mindset, transform their communication & influence, and master their emotions. Subscribe today to become the person and leader that people love, respect, and follow.
Thinking is great.
Overthinking is not so great.
Overthinking is a neurological trap.
You know what Iâm talking aboutâŠ
Scheduling doctor/dentist appointmentsâYou know you should, but calling and coordinating is a hassle.
Returning online packagesâIt just sits there staring at you, shaming you, waiting to be taken to the post office.
Getting an oil changeâThe car is running fine⊠for now, you convince yourself.
The thing youâre avoiding thatâs important but not urgentâjust sitting as a todo.
So you donât do it.
Been there.
This week, weâre diving into why we overthink, how it holds us back, and what you can do to break free to get shit done.
This Weekâs ABC
Advice: Why we overthinkâand how to rewire your brain for action.
Breakthrough: 1 method that makes me insanely productive.
Challenge: One small action you can take this week to stop thinking and start doing.
đ Advice: 3 Reasons For Inaction
âThe secret to changing your life isn't knowing what to doâit's knowing how to make yourself do it.â
âMel Robbins
How do you break the cycle of inaction?
Hereâs what Iâve learned about how the brain works, and whyâŠ
1. The Prefrontal Cortex Hijack
Your prefrontal cortex (PFC) is kind of like the brainâs CEO.
Itâs responsible for planning, analyzing, and decision-making.
But when you overthink, your PFC overdoes it and you end up in an endless string of âwhat-ifsâ and worst-case scenarios.
âBut what if I fail?â
2. The Amygdalaâs Role
Your amygdala, the brainâs fear center, amplifies this loop.
It perceives uncertainty as a threat, triggering a stress response that makes action feel risky.
âMaybe I should do thisâ â âHmm well thereâs X reason to not do it, Y reason to not do itâŠâ
3. The Dopamine Drain
Dopamine is the âmotivation chemicalâ.
It helps you initiate and sustain actions towards achieving goals, whether those goals are positive or negative (good or bad) for you.
Without dopamine, you feel stuck, unmotivated, and exhausted.
Example: When you work hard, and struggle through a challenge, and grow? You feel great, and you worked for that dopamine.
Example: When youâre doomscrolling? Youâre giving in to âeasyâ and âcheapâ dopamineâthe brainâs âmotivation chemicalâ.
What feedback loop of dopamine release for what you activities you do (that drive your outcomes), drives your overall life from my perspective.
Iâm actively monitoring my dopamine.
So how can you get unstuck on something youâve been putting off?
đ Breakthrough: The 5 Second Rule by Mel Robbins
âThe moment you feel the instinct to act on a goal, count 5-4-3-2-1 and move.â
Iâve come to realize that everything in life hinges on your mental game:
How do you make yourself do things, you donât want to do?
How do you pick yourself up when youâre down?
How can you respond, and not react?
Mel Robbinâs 5 second rule is one I swear by that works.
Combine this strategy for day-to-day micro level execution with proper planning, time management, and intentional skill acquisition strategy, and youâre going to get results in whatever youâre doing.
Why Itâs Awesome
Itâs backed by neuroscience: The rule works by interrupting the PFCâs overthinking loop and activating the brainâs action center.
Itâs incredibly simple: Count down from 5 and take action before your brain talks you out of it.
Itâs versatile: Use it for everything from making decisions to overcoming procrastination.
So go do it.
What I Did This Week
So farâŠ
Physical Health: Got my sleep dialed in and PRed (personal record) on a climbing session with finger training. I was pretty pumped about this.
Mental Health: Got to 49 days of at least 30 minutes of meditation in a row.
Connections: Spent very mindful present time with my baby cousins for Lunar New Year. Taught them about AI, and veganism. (:
Work: Collaborated with great people to launch a big transformation initiative spanning 1000+ engineers, shipped 2 newsletters, a podcast, critical thinking through designs, and more.
Got more to do!
Challenge: Go Do It
So there you have it.
This week, hereâs what I want you to try:
Stop thinking.
Go do.
Get after it.
You got this!
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P.S. If you havenât already checked out my other newsletter, ABCs for Building The Future, where I reflect on my founderâs journey building a venture in the open. Check out my learnings on product, leadership, entrepreneurship, and moreâin real time!
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