Stop Doing (and What to Do Instead)

12 Lessons I need to keep telling myself.

1. Stop Confusing Activity with Accomplishment

A rocking chair moves all day but goes nowhere. Just like a jam-packed calendar doesn’t mean progress -or profit. Productivity isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing what matters. The world doesn’t need you busy -it needs you bold. Focus on the moves that make money and create impact. Everything else? Dead weight.

2. Stop Thinking You’re Not Ready

The biggest lie you’re telling yourself? “I’m not ready.” Nobody feels ready. Ready is a myth sold to keep you stuck. The only way to get ready is to start. Progress beats perfection every single time. Different isn’t about waiting for the perfect moment -it’s about creating it. So stop waiting. Start moving.

3. Stop Starting Your Day with Social Media or Email

Your mornings are your power hours. Every time you start your day scrolling or checking emails, you’re giving away your best energy to distractions. Flip the script: create before you consume. Use your mornings to build something that matters. Instagram can wait. Your impact can’t.

4. Stop Chasing Shiny Objects

Not every trend is your trend. Not every strategy is your strategy. Chasing every shiny object is a distraction, not a strategy. The key to standing out isn’t doing it all -it’s doing less, but doing it differently. Write down your top 3 money-making activities and spend 80% of your time there. The rest? Let it go. Different isn’t about more -it’s about focus.

5. Stop Obsessing Over Vanity Metrics

A loyal, engaged audience of 500 will outperform 50,000 who barely notice you. Stop chasing ego numbers. Different isn’t about being the loudest -it’s about being the most unforgettable. Get obsessed with your ideal clients. When they feel seen, heard, and understood, they’ll buy from you again and again -and bring their friends.

6. Stop Ignoring Email

Social media is a rented space, but email? That’s your home turf. Your email list is your most valuable asset. Treat it like gold. Write with purpose, deliver value, and don’t be afraid to ask for the sale. Different isn’t about shouting louder - it’s about building trust where it matters most. Consistent, value-packed emails = consistent, value-packed revenue.

7. Stop Undervaluing Yourself

You are a one-time event in the universe. If you don’t value your time and expertise, no one else will. Raise your prices to reflect the transformation you deliver. Different isn’t about being the cheapest - it’s about being, well, Different! The right clients aren’t looking for a bargain—they’re looking for you.

8. Stop Trying to Reach Everyone

You’re not for everyone -and that’s your superpower. When you try to please the masses, your message gets watered down. Different isn’t about being liked by everyone - it’s about being unforgettable to the right ones. Speak directly to your best people. When you do, conversions soar, marketing costs drop, and profits skyrocket.

9. Stop Ignoring Your Numbers

Metrics are your map. If you’re not tracking your progress, you’re driving blind. Whether it’s revenue, sales, or profit - know your numbers daily. Different isn’t about guessing - it’s about knowing exactly where you’re going and how to get there.

10. Stop Being Afraid to Invest in Yourself

Your business will only grow as much as you do. Spend money on the skills, tools, and training you need to level up. Surround yourself with growth-minded mentors who’ve been where you want to go. Different isn’t about playing it safe - it’s about betting on yourself and winning.

11. Stop Saying “I Can’t”

The words you use shape your reality. Every time you say, “I can’t,” you’re building a wall between you and your potential. Flip the script: “I’ll figure it out.” Different isn’t about waiting for confidence - it’s about building it through action. Action creates clarity, and clarity creates results. Confidence isn’t something you wait for -it’s something you earn.

12. Stop Settling

“Good enough” is the enemy of greatness. In a fast-changing world, standing still means falling behind. Different isn’t about settling -it’s about stepping into your edge. The breakthrough you’re craving is closer than you think -but it won’t come to you. You have to go after it. Stop settling. Start leading.

Final Push: Different, Not Better

This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing what matters. It’s about stepping out of the noise, owning your edge, and making moves that count. Different isn’t about being louder - it’s about being impossible to ignore.

Stop blending in. Stop waiting for permission. The world doesn’t need another business playing it safe. It needs you - bold, unapologetic, and unforgettable.

Now, go make it happen.

Ready for more? ​Have a peek at my CreActivist Method® ​- because this might just be what you need right now - a mentor, not just a download.

Want it?.

Worth a chat?

John(Nick) Atkinson, The CreActivist Marketer who is Doing it Differently!

john@doingitdifferently.com