Almost Died. Started Writing.

Dear Andre, (3 min read)

I thought I was going to die.

On a very specific day.

March 23, 2021.

What happened? I'll get to that.

1. The Big Lie: My story isn’t interesting.

2. The Truth: Your story matters.

3. The Plan: Do things. Meet people. Learn to tell stories.

This is Part 5 of a series on signature stories. So far, I’ve shared how I started Detailing, Drumming, learned to Focus, And lived in Ecuador for 2 months.

That moment sparked something unexpected—it made me start writing. I began my first manuscript that day. Spoiler: it’s still unfinished. But one thing was clear: I wanted to write a book.

Fast forward to today. If you read last week’s newsletter, you know I just achieved a seven-year dream—spending 2-3 months in a Central or South American country. Dreams are amazing. They’re wonderful. But as achievement-oriented people, we can’t stop there.

We need what’s next.

After achieving that dream, I set new goals. One was to take delivery of a German sports car and drive through Europe. Another? To write a book before turning 35—a book about this phase of life.

Why this topic? Because this is the first time life isn’t structured for us. No school system. No curriculum. If we don’t force ourselves to grow, we stagnate. And I hate that idea.

I refuse to stay still.

For years, my definition of a “good day” was doing a hundred things. Now? It’s doing the one most important thing.

Today, Christmas Day 2024 at 11:29 AM, that “one thing” is writing this newsletter. (not because I have to, because I LOVE creating)

The Dream of Writing

Last year, I decided it was time. I’d been marinating on this idea of writing for over two years. Dan Koe was the catalyst—a friend shared his Instagram post, and I went down the rabbit hole of his YouTube and courses. I bought Two Hour Writer after a month of hesitation.

That course didn’t just teach me how to write. It taught me how to capture my ideas. Game-changer.

So, I started a newsletter. My first one? No one cared.

That was both humbling and liberating.

How would I keep this up every week? Where would I find the time? At the time, I was running my busiest detailing season yet—89 vehicles in 90 days. Still, I wrote every morning. Why?

Because I had a dream.

I didn’t know how to write a book, so I started smaller: a newsletter. Writing about what I knew—detailing and people skills.

Lessons From the First Year

Early on, I spent weeks writing one newsletter, only to realize something huge:

The title and the first five lines matter more than anything.

Don’t make my mistake—don’t spend 90% of your time on content and 10% on the title. Flip it.

Another lesson? Networking opens doors in wild ways. I once complimented a guy’s watch at the gym. That conversation led to meeting Adam, who introduced me to Brayden, who’s been pivotal in my writing journey.

All because of one compliment.

Small actions lead to big changes.

The Current Dream

Have I written my book yet? Nope. It’s still a dream.

I even planned to outline it this year but felt a gut check to wait. Instead, I’m reverse-engineering everything I’ve done in the last 12 months into courses. My goal? To help you get where I am at 28, but faster—at 25.

I’m not even 100 newsletters in yet. I’m still early in the game. But here’s what I know:

Writing is always there for me. It’s stable. People change, die, or let you down—even yourself. But writing? It’s constant.

And now, it’s my identity.

I hated writing growing up. Thought it was stupid. Thought I was bad at it. But today? I know it’s the foundation of everything I create.

So, have I achieved my dream of becoming an author? Not yet. But I’m copying great writers, becoming a better one, and building something that will last.

Start Writing

Andre, here’s the deal: I want to make it easier for you. I’m giving you a 7-day course to get started. (free for the first 5 people to reply Storytelling to this email)

Instead of spending a year and $150, you’ll get 80% of what I’ve learned in a week. But you still have to do the work. Copy great writers. Build your reps.

You are an artist.

Practice.

Your Turn

Here’s what I want you to do:

1. Practice a story. Pick one thing that matters to you and share it. (Yes, it’ll feel lame at first. Do it anyway.)

2. Write like you talk. Record a voice memo of yourself telling the story, then transcribe it.

3. Focus on the hard parts. People root for you because of the struggle.

Every story needs:

• An intention: What do you want?

• An obstacle: What’s in the way?

And remember: Pixar’s rule is gospel—if it’s too easy, nobody cares.

Well, that’s all from me this week.

P.S. The first 5 people who reply “storytelling” will get the course for free. (Your story matters.)