Topic #1: Avoiding & Getting Out Of Ruts
K. Deep
You spent your 20s taking consistent action on different ventures, and eventually, you made $500k with your ghostwriting agency. We’ll talk more about consistency later.
What I want to focus on first is your phase before it, in high school.
You once mentioned that in high school, you had a mushroom trip so bad that you almost committed suicide.
You have also mentioned that you were 50lbs overweight. Too depressed to get off the couch.
Can you tell us more about that phase? What led you there and how you made the shift to being consistent in your 20s? What strategies, insights, or mindsets helped you change?
Taylin Simmonds
In high school, I was a nihilistic person who would rather play the victim than take personal responsibility for my actions.
The mushroom trip was so bad because it made me hyper-aware of how terrible my thought patterns were.
And how terrible I was towards other people.
It wasn’t until a bad breakup that I hit the gym daily, got in better shape, and moved to a new city to start my life over.
Never underestimate the power of a new environment and a fresh start.
Also lean into the growth mindset where you have faith positive change is possible for you.
Mindset alone won’t make you rich.
But without it, you will never get rich.
K. Deep
Thanks for sharing that Taylin!
Looks like a bad breakup has been the tipping point in many of our lives, haha
How do you think moving to a new city helped you start your life over? Cause people can move to a new city and keep their old patterns. What made the difference for you?
Taylin Simmonds
Moving to a new city leads to new opportunities. You get to leave everyone’s judgements and opinions of you behind, making it easier to create identity change – change the way you see yourself.
I also come from a small oil town where there is little opportunity and support digital entrepreneurs. Moving to Kelowna, Canada – the tech hub of Canada – gave me access to a life-changing network that was out of reach for me before.
Topic #2: Finding Motivation During Difficult Times
K. Deep
Makes a lot of sense—especially leaving behind everyone’s judgements and opinions.
I remember Alex Hormozi talking about something similar on Modern Wisdom podcast. The people around you can’t easily adjust to your new identity, and they try to bring your old self back.
To a certain extent, I think I felt that during Covid lockout. There weren’t enough people telling me what I couldn’t do, so it was much easier to change.
Though, one problem I see a lot of people face is that their old identity and fears come back as soon as they hit a roadblock.
You have hit many roadblocks as well, right?
You were once so broke that you had to survive on leftover lemons for three days.
Your real estate investment venture lost you $20k.
Your music career left you broke with $30k+ in debt.
Ran the CAT Learning Pod which didn’t get much views.
When you worked at a post office, you almost filed bankruptcy.
At one point, you couldn’t get through work without a panic attack.
Yet, from what I have learned, you never really completely quit.
Even Dakota once mentioned that he coached you because of how fast and consistently you take action.
What kept you going? What kept the growth mindset alive? Is there a strategy you have? Things you tell yourself?
Taylin Simmonds
The only reason I kept going is because the pain of staying the same was greater than the pain of change. It’s trite but true.
I remember when I almost filed for bankruptcy, I went home and cried myself to sleep.
I thought “If I have to go the rest of my life like this, I’d rather just kill myself now.”
This thought seems very dark. But really, it was extremely motivating.
And a pivotal moment in my life.
Because without hitting such a low low, I wouldn’t have realized I needed to change.
Nassim Taleb, says the dangerous drug is a monthly salary – paraphrased.
My takeaway from that is: it’s better to experience extreme discomfort in a single moment than a little bit of discomfort every day.
We can tolerate a little discomfort. Not realizing, overtime it adds up to more suffering than extreme short term pain that if channeled correctly, can motivate you to change the direction of your life.
Lastly, when you’re at a low you only have 3 options.
- Things get worse.
- Things stay the same.
- Things get better.
My low was so bad that option 1 and 2 scared me to death.
I do my best to remember this every time I experience hardship, setbacks, or failure.
No matter how bad it is, I have no good options except for doing everything I can to overcome it.
Like, I’m not going to stop going after my goals and dreams.
I’m not ever going to settle for a mediocre life.
So aren’t the setbacks just an inevitable part of the journey?
Looked at through a different lens, they’re actually the most defining moments of our lives.
All great movies have a 2nd act where the hero is defeated.
Without these moments the story wouldn’t be an inspiring story.
Everyone wants a legendary story. But few people want to experience the pain, setbacks, or failure required to create it.
Why would you actively seek to avoid the most defining moments of your life?
Why would you rob yourself of the chance to become an inspiration that people turn to when they lack hope?
A sane person, wouldn’t.
Whenever you’re at your lowest, say “good.”
Once I overcome this, I’ll have the most legendary story.
Topic #3: Overcoming Clouds Of Negative Thoughts
K. Deep
Fucking love it man
A little earlier you mentioned your terrible thought patterns.
You have even often talked about overthinking… how it made it difficult for you to talk to people (something I have struggled with a lot as well) and make you feel like you aren’t valuable.
How did you overcome the overthinking and self-doubt to being able to go on an Ayahuasca trip with your Twitter friends and pay $5k for Dakota’s coaching when you were making 25-30k as a teacher?
Was it the same mindset that we talked about or there have been other strategies, tools, steps, etc that helped you?
Taylin Simmonds
The main strategy I use for overthinking is outward focus creates inward calm.
Overthinking happens when you’re focusing on your thoughts.
As opposed to the task at hand.
Stop identifying with your thoughts and giving them so much power over you.
You don’t have to listen to them.
You likely didn’t even choose them.
Your subconscious mind is throwing them into your conscious awareness.
Which of them you choose to focus on is a conscious choice.
Once you realize this, your inner voice will become quieter
Topic #4: The High Achiever’s Routine
K. Deep
Love it Taylin
“Your subconscious mind is throwing them into your conscious awareness”
Thinking about it, that’s so true. And those thoughts don’t even last. They always disappear unless you focus on them.
Shifting the gears again…
What does your daily routine look like now to stay productive and disciplined? And what role do the key habits play?
Taylin Simmonds
My daily routine isn’t anything crazy.
No visualization, affirmations etc…
I prefer to overindex on discipline.
And just do what I know I need to do.
Wake up, go to the gym, cold plunge, sauna.
Get a protein shake.
Work for a few hours.
Take a break for lunch.
Some days I get back at the grind for a few hours.
Other days I’ll do something I love.
Depends on how busy I am at that stage in my product launch sequence.
K. Deep
Awesome. Do you have any rituals for your focused work?
Taylin Simmonds
Mainly pulling my attention back when it drifts.
I try not to allow myself to focus on internally. Or to give any energy to the self critical voice.
To be focused, you must be outward focused.
If you’re critical on your lack of ability to focus, you cannot focus – you’re too internally focused.
When your attention drifts to distractions, critical inner dialogue, or how good your chicken sandwich was.
Just pull it back.
Overtime the focus will get easier.
It’s a mental habit
K. Deep
Love it. And it’s one thing I truly believe in—focus isn’t built by trying to focus for 60 mins. We just can’t. It’s by reducing time between getting distracted and refocusing.
And that was the last one!
Thanks a lot for your insights! Some of the best I have come across in a long while. Am glad we did this man.
Hope you enjoyed it.
Taylin Simmonds
Eh, thanks man. Was fun to get the chance to think these through.
It was like forced guided thinking haha.
Great questions and I hope the answers crush!
About Taylin Simmonds
Taylin is an ex-music teacher and music ghostwriter turned Twitter ghostwriter and coach.
He grew his agency to over $500k and made $138,916 in 4 days with his first product launch.
Before getting to where he is now, he overcame a suicide attempt, survived on leftover lemons for 3 days, and almost filled bankruptcy.
Now he helps build and monetize an online audience.
Taylin on X: https://twitter.com/TaylinSimmonds
Newsletter: https://taylinsimmonds.com
