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The newsletter that provides actionable life lessons to a wealthier, healthier, and happier future.

The Academy Jar

I love systems!

Especially ones that don’t require a lot of effort to maintain.

I read a lot on frameworks, ideas, concepts, tools, and when I was listening to a podcast with James Clear the other day, something clicked inside my brain.

He mentioned that you are 2x-3x more likely to adopt a new habit if it is visual and he used the example of putting paper clips in a Jar evrytime you finish a task.

This got me thinking…..

I’d love to implement a system in the office that aligns with everyone so everyone feels accountable for their work, but also so we “speak the same language” with tasks, producticity and how we spend our energy.

Enter… The Academy Jar.

“The Academy Jar is a self-management system that builds accountability, awareness, focus, energy literacy, and execution discipline, without micromanagement or burnout. This system is an automatic feedback loop.”

I made that up. Sounds fancy and complex, right?

Wrong. It is actually a really simple but powerful system designed to solve a modern problem: we’re busy, but not always effective.

The Academy Jar combines four proven frameworks into one simple daily system. It helps you focus on what matters, manage energy instead of time, reduce procrastination, and make progress visible.

How the system works
The system is physical and visual, not another app to ignore. Tasks are written on sticky notes and placed into the Jar when completed, turning effort into something you can see. Visible progress builds momentum and follow-through.

Framework 1: The Visual Jar
Inspired by James Clear, this framework uses visual tracking to change behaviour. Seeing progress reinforces consistency and creates a sense of ownership over your work.

Framework 2: Energy Management
Based on Sahil Bloom’s Red/Amber/Green system, tasks are tagged by energy cost. This helps you sequence work better, avoid burnout, and protect time for meaningful tasks.

Framework 3: The 80/20 Principle
The system forces you to identify the work that actually moves the needle. It builds strategic judgment by prioritising impact over busyness.

Framework 4: Eat That Frog
The most important or avoided task is identified and done first. Removing resistance early reduces mental drag and creates momentum for the rest of the day.

Together, these frameworks create clarity before action, momentum through visibility, and accountability without micromanagement. Both individuals and organisations can use it, and better yet, it is essentially an automatic feedback loop!

The Academy Jar isn’t about doing more work.

It’s about doing the right work, with the right energy, in the right order, every day.

I’m currently trialling this in the office and will keep you updated as we go. All you need to get started is a jar and a few sticky notes. I’m sharing it exclusively with subscribers for a week to get some feedback before it goes public, let me know what you think.

If you’re a sucker for podcasts, you’re going to love this one.

A friend recently put me onto the Acquired podcast, and it’s quickly become a favourite.

These guys do deep dives into some of the world’s most iconic companies, unpacking their journeys from early inception, through critical decisions, acquisitions, near-failures, and all the way to where they are today.

The level of detail is unmatched.

You don’t just learn what these companies did, you learn why they did it, what almost broke them, and how small decisions compounded into massive outcomes over time.

This is for anyone interested in business, strategy, investing, or simply how big things are built.

Yes, it’s four hours long, but it’s four hours well spent. Break it up over a few walks, drives, or workouts.

Epic listen. Check it out!

Losses aren’t signs you’re failing.

They’re signs you’re in the game.

Every big outcome carries a few lessons along the way.

I’m almost a month into the 75 Hard challenge.

It’s a simple but demanding program built around daily discipline: Workouts, clean eating, hydration, reading, and consistency, no alcohol, no shortcuts.

One layer I’ve added is fasting.

I only eat after 12pm, usually finishing my last meal before 8pm (often earlier). Most days that puts me in an 18:6 window, though it flexes; some days are 16 hours, some less.

Life happens.

The benefits have been massive for me: deep sleep, sharp mental clarity, huge productivity gains, fat loss, and a noticeable sense of lightness.

I don’t think about food nearly as much, and the time I used to spend eating now gets redirected into focused work. It genuinely feels like a dopamine reset.

Some days are harder than others, but once you find the rhythm, it becomes surprisingly natural.

Fasting isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. I’ve found the real win is staying accountable without being rigid.

Flexibility keeps you consistent, not perfect.

Worth experimenting with if it fits your lifestyle.

Ambitious Question

If your life were a company, would you be proud of its strategy so far?

In case you missed last week’s newsletter, I spoke about:

TEACH: The Leaking Bucket Parable — why progress stalls when energy leaks aren’t fixed, and why removal often beats addition.

INSIGHTS: Tony Robbins on AI, people, and the future — and how to think clearly, act intentionally, and stay human as change accelerates.

MOTIVATION: Why starting matters more than perfection, and how action is the only way through fear.

EXPLORE: A light, insightful book (100 Life Lessons) that uses humour and stories to teach timeless truths.

Check it out here.

Feel free to share this if you gained any value from it. Feedback is also welcome.

THANKS FOR READING LEGENDS!