In this episode, CJ shares raw reflections and deep life lessons that have helped him navigate complexity, emotional ups and downs, and personal growth. These insights aren’t just ideas—they’re tools for transformation. From building your inner advisory board to rewiring your mindset around money, health, discipline, and purpose, this is an episode that doesn’t pull punches.

Key Topics Covered:

1. The 13 Advisors Hack Build your own mental board of directors—dead or alive. CJ uses AI to simulate advice from his heroes like Naval Ravikant, Steve Jobs, Krishna, and even his future self. Learn how borrowing the mindset of great thinkers can shortcut your personal growth and decision-making.
2. New Money for New Moves Don’t fund your next lifestyle upgrade with savings—create new income instead. This mental model rewires you for creativity, discipline, and long-term wealth.
3. You Are Not Your Emotions Gut health influences mood, focus, and motivation. Your cravings may be coming from your microbiome, not you. Clean up your diet, and you clean up your mind.
4. Type 1 vs. Type 2 Fun Type 1 is pleasure in the moment. Type 2 feels like pain but becomes joy in hindsight. Choose challenges that build your story.
5. Be Fast With Actions, Patient With Results Show up every day without obsessing over the outcome. Growth is a long game—and rewards come after consistent effort, not before.
6. The Ten Dark Years Every master went through a period of silence, doubt, rejection, and invisible hard work. If you’re in your own dark decade, don’t quit. It’s not punishment—it’s preparation.

5 Takeaways You Can Start Today:

1. Create Your Own Council Pick 3–5 people (real or historical) whose thinking you admire. Study their work. Use their lens to guide your choices.
2. Only Use New Money for New Things Want to buy something? Earn it first. Don’t dip into your past—create from your present.
3. Reset Your Gut, Reset Your Mood Cut sugar, skip processed food, and add fermented items for a week. Track how your focus and mood change.
4. Embrace the Painful Fun Sign up for something hard this week—a workout, a cold plunge, an uncomfortable but meaningful conversation. That’s where growth lives.
5. Fall in Love With the Process Detach from likes, metrics, or fast wins. Instead, focus on consistency and intensity. The season will come.

Final Words: This episode isn’t about hype—it’s about truth. Whether you’re in your “ten dark years” or just starting to shift, these lessons are fuel. Apply one of them today. Not tomorrow. Today. Keep building in silence, and your light will come.