✍️ Desk of Amy Suto: What If It Was Easy?
How a mindset shift and a few tools can help you hit your goals faster and with more ease.
Happy Sunday! In today’s newsletter, you’ll learn about…
✍️ How finding ease can simplify difficult challenges in your business
☕️ Why removing complexity can pave the way for better action
😎 Why doing less strategically can help you achieve more in your work
📖 3-Minute Story: …But What If It Was Easy?
“What if it was easy?”
This is the question I ask myself at the beginning of everything.
When I was hired to ghostwrite my first memoir, I was unsure if I could do it. But I asked myself: what if it was easy?
When I decided to become a full-time digital nomad and start traveling the world, the logistics of travel were overwhelming until I just asked — what if it was easy?
I’m asking this question a lot recently as I build a new business rooted in a different set of skills in the tech world!
As humans, we tend to overcomplicate stuff.
That’s why I love Tim Ferriss’ books The 4-Hour Workweek and The 4-Hour Body (find these books and my other favorites here.)* Both of these books break down learning new skills — such as entrepreneurship and fitness — in manageable chunks with results in mind.
“But there’s no way I can get my dream business/body in just 4 hours per week!” is what people usually say when I recommend these books.
I disagree: sometimes, more isn’t more. Less can be more, but you have to be strategic.
As I wrote in my book Six-Figure Freelance Writer, the biggest growth moments in my business weren’t when I was slaving away, working 50-60 hour weeks and ending up as a pile of sludge on my floor at the end of every day. Not the vibe.
In actuality, I started hitting record months when I was working less and was forced to prioritize the high-impact tasks that actually moved the needle. I went from being a lamp to a laser with my energy — and that ease and focus changed my life.
I wrote about this in my post about how I was failing as a writer until I found essentialism (both the book and the concept!)
So if you’re starting something new — or even embarking on a routine task — ask yourself:
What if this was easy?
And watch how it changes your life.
*This is an Amazon affiliate link, and I earn a small commission on any purchases. Thanks for supporting the publication!
✨ 2 Quotes to Inspire You
“For all of the most important things, the timing always sucks. Waiting for a good time to quit your job? The stars will never align and the traffic lights of life will never all be green at the same time. The universe doesn't conspire against you, but it doesn't go out of its way to line up the pins either. Conditions are never perfect.” —Tim Ferriss
“The natural ups and downs of life can either generate personal growth or create personal fears. Which of these dominates is completely dependent upon how we view change.” — Michael Singer, The Untethered Soul
✍️ 1 Journal Prompt for Reflection
Pick one hard thing you’re dreading, or something new you want to learn. Ask yourself: what would this task or project look like if it was easy? Visualize the answer and write down your findings.
Feel free to share your reflections in the comments:
💻 New Blog Posts on AmySuto.com
3 Mistakes to Avoid When Self-Publishing Your Book on Amazon KDP
3 Steps: How to Write a Book Outline for Your Memoir or Nonfiction Book
🎙 New From the Desk of Amy Suto Podcast Episodes
#107 Three Mistakes to Avoid When Self-Publishing Your Book on Amazon KDP (5 min)
#106 Three Steps: How to Write a Book Outline for Your Memoir or Nonfiction Book (3 min)
#103 Four Lessons From Eat, Pray, Love: Best Travel Memoir Example (9 min)
I create these podcast episodes from my blog archives using the tool Wondercraft AI, a text-to-speech tool that speaks in YOUR voice. 🎙 Use my code SUTO50 or this link to get 50% off your Wondercraft AI subscription! (paid/affiliate link)
📸 Photo of the Week: Mint Tea and Conspiracies in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica
In Santa Teresa, Costa Rica, all of the shops and restaurants are located on the main street. However, half the of main street is unpaved, and gets super dusty.
“Why wouldn’t they pave this half?” I’ve been asking.
Turns out, there’s an unverified conspiracy that this bakery doesn’t want to close (even temporarily) so it has been using its sway over the town to keep the road unpaved and unpleasant just to keep its doors open all the time.
I know bread is powerful, but this powerful? They have a great Morrocan mint tea, though.
Follow me on X/Twitter or Instagram for more!
📸 Video of the Week: Unboxing My New Quince Clothes
Quince (paid/affiliate link) was so kind to send me some new clothes for my upcoming trip to Costa Rica. Here’s what they gave me!
⚡️ Upcoming Wednesday Edition: 3 Hacks to Learn Faster
This Wednesday, ✍️ From the Desk of Amy Suto paid subscribers will get an exclusive issue about…
✨ Why learning new things fast makes you a better writer and entrepreneur
🧪 3 hacks for learning new things more quickly
📚 How to use AI tools as your personal tutor
Sending creativity and good writing vibes your way,
-Amy