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MJ DeMarco
I followed the science; all I found was money.
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The Problem/Purpose Paradigm
How to Tap Into Unlimited Motivation and Give Yourself a Laser-Like Focus. Every. Single. Day.
Imagine you're chained to a railroad track.
In the distance, you hear the ominous clatter of an approaching train. Your heart pounds like a jackhammer, and every beat is a desperate reminder that time is slipping away.
The lock mechanism trapping you on the tracks can only be solved if you decipher the Latin passcode etched on its surface.
Death is around the corner if you don't take action and translate the code from Latin to English. As a bonus, a ten-million-dollar suitcase sits next to the tracks if you solve the code and set yourself free.
Unfortunately, you don't know Latin, and your smartphone isn't in your pocket. However, behind you is a stack of books piled 6 feet high and 3 feet wide.
Now let me ask you something...
What would you do as the moments count down to your tragic, grisly ending?
Would you...
Or would you...
You see, when you're faced with a problem as clear as the sound of the train's whistle and the death it represents, everything becomes clear.
Your problem. Your purpose. Your motivation.
Suddenly, none of these things are ambiguous, and your next actions become crystal clear.
The waffling ends.
The action-faking ends.
The tepid motivation ends.
The purposeless reading of books with no application of them ends.
Problem: Set myself free and avoid a tragic death.
Purpose: To live, and live well.
Motivation: Permanently on fire until you die, regret-free.
This powerful combination of PROBLEM and PURPOSE is the key to drawing unlimited motivation and focus and creating your best life.
Become Laser-Focused With A Problem
Now, let's switch tracks—pun intended—to the Fastlane. Motivation is like a patient on Prozac, up, down, and everything in between. However, the same principles that drive you to survive on the railroad tracks can be translated into a Fastlane with remarkable usefulness.
Ironically, the most common problem I read at The Fastlane Forum is that the user has no problem.
Where do I start? What do I do? What's next?
With no problem to solve, the user wanders aimlessly, reading book after book, watching podcast after podcast, and doing nothing with their precious time.
Find a problem, put yourself on the tracks, and make everything clear.
Every successful business starts with a problem. It's the itch that needs scratching, the fly in the ointment, the burr under the saddle.
I cofounded GoalSumo.com.com because I was tired of using a paper-and-pen "to do" list for my 1/5/10 strategy. I founded the Fastlane Forum because I was tired of visiting other business forums littered with scammers and promoters. I write Fastlane books because I'm tired of people being misled down a path of financial mediocrity where financial freedom awaits them in a wheelchair and diaper.
Consider the story of Airbnb. The founders, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, faced the problem of being unable to pay their rent. Train anyone? Then, during popular conferences, they saw another problem/train in travelers' difficulty finding affordable lodging. Their solution? They rented out air mattresses in their apartment. What started as a minor fix for a personal problem spiraled into a global business, solving a universal issue for millions.
Identifying a problem isn't just about finding something broken; it's about spotting an opportunity to improve something. This could be anything from a gap in the market to a pain point that no one has adequately fixed. If you read Unscripted or The Great Rat Race Escape , value skew—doing one thing better than the competition—is the key to starting a business with gravitas. Skew multiple attributes—ingredients, price, convenience, packaging, delivery, shipping—and things really magnetize.
To learn more about VALUE SKEW visit this forum thread.
The Purpose
While a problem refines focus with that of a laser, a purpose keeps it in motion. The purpose is the compass that guides your efforts, the North Star that keeps you on course. It's the reason you jump out of bed in the morning (or crawl out, if you're not a morning person) and the driving force behind every decision you make. When you're chained to the railroad tracks, the purpose is clear: To live. To avoid tragedy.
Yet, how is life any different?
Millions of people poison themselves daily with the food they shove into their mouths, eroding their health and vitality. They don't see the train.
According to the latest research, the average teenager spends nearly 5 hours on social media daily. They don't see the train.
A clear purpose can vary widely—from helping others and creating positive change to achieving financial freedom or leaving a lasting legacy. The important thing is that it resonates deeply with you and aligns with your core values.
For me, I found my purpose early. After watching my divorced mother struggle every month to pay the bills, I knew I wanted financial freedom. When I saw that Lamborghini as a teenager, I knew I could do it, not just the Slowlane way, but fast.
This was my purpose— a purpose to live, and live well.
Armed with this type of purpose, you'll do anything for it.
Cold call.
Ring doorbells.
Learn code.
Speak in front of an audience.
Read a book on how to translate Latin to English.
Suddenly, "I don't like that," or "I'm not good at that," becomes completely irrelevant.
Unlike the ill-advised "passion," purpose gets things done and has no prerequisites. If you "followed your passion," you'll never read the book From Latin to English because it's boring, bland, and not blanketed by your comfort zone.
A great blending of PURPOSE and PROBLEM comes from Tom's Shoes. Founder Blake Mycoskie identified a problem: children in developing countries lacked shoes. His purpose? For every pair of shoes sold, a new pair would be given to a needy child. This "one for one" model addressed a significant problem and established a purpose that inspired both customers and employees, leading to a thriving business.
The Synergy of Problem and Purpose
This death train metaphor can be applied to real life with astonishing effectiveness. Death's train is indeed approaching, and one day, it will arrive.
Question is, have you lasered your focus and found your problem? Have you given your life clear, actionable direction?
Have you defined a purpose that will make you crawl through a sewer pipe for freedom, like Andy Dufresne from Shawshank fame?
When a compelling problem meets a powerful purpose, motivation isn't, just an occasional visitor; it takes up permanent residence. The problem keeps you grounded in reality, ensuring your efforts are practical and necessary. The purpose, however, fuels the right passion and keeps the fire burning, even when the going gets tough.
Harnessing the Problem / Purpose Paradigm... NOW.
1. Identify the Problem:
Look for pain points in your industry or personal life. What frustrates you? What could be improved? What do you hate? For me, "I'm tired of [blank]" always spotlights problems! Keep your eyes and ears open—problems often disguise themselves as everyday annoyances.
2. Define Your Purpose:
Reflect on what truly matters to you. Is it making a positive impact, achieving financial independence, or creating something beautiful? Your kids? Your purpose should be a guiding light, not a fleeting fancy.
3. Marry the Two:
Once you have a problem and a purpose, let them focus your actions. Use the problem to create a roadmap of goals and milestones. Join GoalSumo.com and map out a plan or download a 1/5/10 Planner. Let your purpose infuse those goals with meaning and significance.
4. Stay Adaptable:
Life is unpredictable, much like those surprise plot twists in your favorite TV series. Be ready to pivot and adapt your problem-solving approach while staying true to your core purpose.
5. Adjust Expectations
Life is full of problems. Expect them. Solve one at a time and you'll move forward one at a time. Oh, and what is the best book you should read next? It's the book that will solve the front-facing problem that is stopping your progress. From Latin to English, remember?
6. Celebrate Progress:
Recognize and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Every step forward is a testament to your problem-solving prowess and purpose-driven intensity.
Fastlane success isn't complicated.
Or don't.
Either way, a train is coming.
Best wishes,
MJ DeMarco
How to Tap Into Unlimited Motivation and Give Yourself a Laser-Like Focus. Every. Single. Day.
Imagine you're chained to a railroad track.
In the distance, you hear the ominous clatter of an approaching train. Your heart pounds like a jackhammer, and every beat is a desperate reminder that time is slipping away.
The lock mechanism trapping you on the tracks can only be solved if you decipher the Latin passcode etched on its surface.
Death is around the corner if you don't take action and translate the code from Latin to English. As a bonus, a ten-million-dollar suitcase sits next to the tracks if you solve the code and set yourself free.
Unfortunately, you don't know Latin, and your smartphone isn't in your pocket. However, behind you is a stack of books piled 6 feet high and 3 feet wide.
Now let me ask you something...
What would you do as the moments count down to your tragic, grisly ending?
Would you...
- ...take a nap?
- ...examine the books and decide to read $100M Offers?
- ...examine the books and decide to read The History of 19th Century Trains?
- ...comb your hair?
- ...whistle Dixie?
- ...pick up the large rock next to you and do bicep curls?
Or would you...
- ... scream at the top of your lungs for help?
- ... pull vigorously at the chain and its lock, looking for a weakness?
- ... examine the books and read the one titled Latin to English Made Simple?
You see, when you're faced with a problem as clear as the sound of the train's whistle and the death it represents, everything becomes clear.
Your problem. Your purpose. Your motivation.
Suddenly, none of these things are ambiguous, and your next actions become crystal clear.
The waffling ends.The action-faking ends.The tepid motivation ends.The purposeless reading of books with no application of them ends.Problem: Set myself free and avoid a tragic death.
Purpose: To live, and live well.
Motivation: Permanently on fire until you die, regret-free.
This powerful combination of PROBLEM and PURPOSE is the key to drawing unlimited motivation and focus and creating your best life.
Become Laser-Focused With A Problem
Now, let's switch tracks—pun intended—to the Fastlane. Motivation is like a patient on Prozac, up, down, and everything in between. However, the same principles that drive you to survive on the railroad tracks can be translated into a Fastlane with remarkable usefulness.
Ironically, the most common problem I read at The Fastlane Forum is that the user has no problem.
Where do I start? What do I do? What's next?
With no problem to solve, the user wanders aimlessly, reading book after book, watching podcast after podcast, and doing nothing with their precious time.
Find a problem, put yourself on the tracks, and make everything clear.
Every successful business starts with a problem. It's the itch that needs scratching, the fly in the ointment, the burr under the saddle.
I cofounded GoalSumo.com.com because I was tired of using a paper-and-pen "to do" list for my 1/5/10 strategy. I founded the Fastlane Forum because I was tired of visiting other business forums littered with scammers and promoters. I write Fastlane books because I'm tired of people being misled down a path of financial mediocrity where financial freedom awaits them in a wheelchair and diaper.
Consider the story of Airbnb. The founders, Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, faced the problem of being unable to pay their rent. Train anyone? Then, during popular conferences, they saw another problem/train in travelers' difficulty finding affordable lodging. Their solution? They rented out air mattresses in their apartment. What started as a minor fix for a personal problem spiraled into a global business, solving a universal issue for millions.
Identifying a problem isn't just about finding something broken; it's about spotting an opportunity to improve something. This could be anything from a gap in the market to a pain point that no one has adequately fixed. If you read Unscripted or The Great Rat Race Escape , value skew—doing one thing better than the competition—is the key to starting a business with gravitas. Skew multiple attributes—ingredients, price, convenience, packaging, delivery, shipping—and things really magnetize.
To learn more about VALUE SKEW visit this forum thread.
The Purpose
While a problem refines focus with that of a laser, a purpose keeps it in motion. The purpose is the compass that guides your efforts, the North Star that keeps you on course. It's the reason you jump out of bed in the morning (or crawl out, if you're not a morning person) and the driving force behind every decision you make. When you're chained to the railroad tracks, the purpose is clear: To live. To avoid tragedy.
Yet, how is life any different?
Millions of people poison themselves daily with the food they shove into their mouths, eroding their health and vitality. They don't see the train.
According to the latest research, the average teenager spends nearly 5 hours on social media daily. They don't see the train.
A clear purpose can vary widely—from helping others and creating positive change to achieving financial freedom or leaving a lasting legacy. The important thing is that it resonates deeply with you and aligns with your core values.
For me, I found my purpose early. After watching my divorced mother struggle every month to pay the bills, I knew I wanted financial freedom. When I saw that Lamborghini as a teenager, I knew I could do it, not just the Slowlane way, but fast.
This was my purpose— a purpose to live, and live well.
Armed with this type of purpose, you'll do anything for it.
Cold call.
Ring doorbells.
Learn code.
Speak in front of an audience.
Read a book on how to translate Latin to English.
Suddenly, "I don't like that," or "I'm not good at that," becomes completely irrelevant.
Unlike the ill-advised "passion," purpose gets things done and has no prerequisites. If you "followed your passion," you'll never read the book From Latin to English because it's boring, bland, and not blanketed by your comfort zone.
A great blending of PURPOSE and PROBLEM comes from Tom's Shoes. Founder Blake Mycoskie identified a problem: children in developing countries lacked shoes. His purpose? For every pair of shoes sold, a new pair would be given to a needy child. This "one for one" model addressed a significant problem and established a purpose that inspired both customers and employees, leading to a thriving business.
The Synergy of Problem and Purpose
This death train metaphor can be applied to real life with astonishing effectiveness. Death's train is indeed approaching, and one day, it will arrive.
Question is, have you lasered your focus and found your problem? Have you given your life clear, actionable direction?
Have you defined a purpose that will make you crawl through a sewer pipe for freedom, like Andy Dufresne from Shawshank fame?
When a compelling problem meets a powerful purpose, motivation isn't, just an occasional visitor; it takes up permanent residence. The problem keeps you grounded in reality, ensuring your efforts are practical and necessary. The purpose, however, fuels the right passion and keeps the fire burning, even when the going gets tough.
Harnessing the Problem / Purpose Paradigm... NOW.
1. Identify the Problem:
Look for pain points in your industry or personal life. What frustrates you? What could be improved? What do you hate? For me, "I'm tired of [blank]" always spotlights problems! Keep your eyes and ears open—problems often disguise themselves as everyday annoyances.
2. Define Your Purpose:
Reflect on what truly matters to you. Is it making a positive impact, achieving financial independence, or creating something beautiful? Your kids? Your purpose should be a guiding light, not a fleeting fancy.
3. Marry the Two:
Once you have a problem and a purpose, let them focus your actions. Use the problem to create a roadmap of goals and milestones. Join GoalSumo.com and map out a plan or download a 1/5/10 Planner. Let your purpose infuse those goals with meaning and significance.
4. Stay Adaptable:
Life is unpredictable, much like those surprise plot twists in your favorite TV series. Be ready to pivot and adapt your problem-solving approach while staying true to your core purpose.
5. Adjust Expectations
Life is full of problems. Expect them. Solve one at a time and you'll move forward one at a time. Oh, and what is the best book you should read next? It's the book that will solve the front-facing problem that is stopping your progress. From Latin to English, remember?
6. Celebrate Progress:
Recognize and celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Every step forward is a testament to your problem-solving prowess and purpose-driven intensity.
Fastlane success isn't complicated.
- Find a problem to clearly define your next actions.
- Be driven by an overarching purpose that forces you out of your comfort zone.
- Repeat.
- Progress.
- Live well.
Or don't.
Either way, a train is coming.
Best wishes,
MJ DeMarco
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