Founder of 1% Better™ | Former accountant, future author | Follow me for the best self-development content on LinkedIn

Former accountant.
Future author.

I share actionable, educational, and entertaining self-development content to help my readers live their best lives.

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Colby Kultgen

I dealt with negative self-talk for years.

And believe me when I say, It's no fun going through life as your own worst enemy.

That's why I love simple reframes like this.

They’re the tiny course corrections that, over months and years, can completely transform the way you speak to yourself.

Source: Coral Santoro on Instagram

The only way to become the kind of person who can do the thing…is to start doing the thing before you feel like that kind of person.

Read that twice.

Most people get this backwards.

They wait until they feel like a "real" writer to publish.
They wait until they feel like a leader to speak up.

But here’s the thing: 
Identity doesn’t come first, action does.

The evidence you're searching for only shows up after you start.

So if you're feeling stuck right now.

Overthinking. 
Overpreparing. 
Overconsuming.

Ask yourself:
1. What would the “qualified” version of me do today?
2. What small move could I make in that direction?

Then do that.

Act like the person you want to become.
Eventually, you won’t be acting anymore.

End-of-year reminder:

You’re allowed to be proud of things that have nothing to do with income or promotions.

The friendships you strengthened.
The habits you kept.
The boundaries you honoured.
The health you protected.
The person you’re becoming.

Success is a much bigger pie than job titles and salaries.

If you grew, healed, learned, showed up for people, or protected your energy this year—that counts.

Celebrate the parts of your life that don’t get LinkedIn announcements.

Image credit: 6secondseq on IG

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a study everyone should know about:

Your brain is lying to you about the past.

Research shows we overestimate how predictable past events were by 30-50% (hindsight bias).

Translation: 
You think you "should have known better" way more often than you actually could have.

When you catch yourself spiraling about a past decision, run it through this filter:

1. Information gap - What did I not know then that I know now?
2. Resource gap - What didn't I have access to? (time, money, support, tools)
3. Awareness gap - What emotional patterns or blind spots hadn't I recognized yet?
4. Growth gap - What skills or wisdom hadn't I developed?

Your brain rewrites history to make past outcomes seem obvious. 

The reality is:
You did the best you could with what you knew. Now you know more. 

That's not failure, that's the whole point.

Remember:

It's better to admit you walked through the wrong door than spend your life in the wrong room.

I see this everywhere. 

The soul-crushing job we keep because it sounds impressive on paper.
The toxic relationship we cling to because leaving feels like giving up.
The outdated belief we defend because we've already invested so much of ourselves into it.

The hard part isn't recognizing this, it’s admitting it.

Because admitting you're in the wrong room means admitting you made a mistake. It means backing out. Confronting the sunk cost. Disappointing people. Starting over.

But here's what nobody tells you: staying costs more.

Every day in the wrong room is a day not spent in the right one.
It's not just wasted time, it's the compounding loss of what could have been.

The opportunities you'll never see. 
The version of yourself you'll never become.

Sometimes the bravest thing you can do in life is simply say: "This isn't right for me anymore.”

And then move on.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again:

Developing a bias for action is one of the most valuable things you can do in life.

This advice isn't anything new, Rumi was preaching the same thing almost 1,000 years ago: "As you start to walk on the way, the way appears."

As far as making this part of your every day working process goes, here are a few ideas:

1. Start every morning with one “move it forward” task. Pick the single smallest action that will advance your most important project, and do it before checking anything reactive.

2. Shrink every task to the next physical step. Not “write the article” but “outline the first three points.” Not “launch the product” but “draft the landing page headline.”

3. End the day by setting tomorrow’s first action. Before you close your laptop, write down the exact task you’ll start with in the morning.

♻️ Repost if this resonates.

graphical user interface, text, application

An idea that genuinely changed my life…

The Average Tuesday Rule:

The quality of your ordinary Tuesday is the best measure of your life satisfaction.

Think about it.

We spend 80% of our lives on these “nothing special” days, yet we obsess over optimizing the other 20%—weekends, vacations, milestones.

We tolerate miserable Tuesdays while dreaming about spectacular Saturdays.

But when your average Tuesday is an 8/10, everything changes:
↳ You stop counting down to Friday.
↳ Small moments start mattering more than big events.
↳ You start enjoying the entire ride, not just the peaks.

Most self-improvement advice focuses on reaching the ceiling.

The Average Tuesday Rule flips this approach: focus on raising your floor.

Here’s where to start:

➊ Design your ideal ordinary day:
 From wake-up to bedtime, craft a realistic blueprint for an 8/10 Tuesday.

➋ Take small steps to close the gap: 
- Identify one daily friction point and solve it permanently. 
- Add one small joy to your routine and protect it fiercely.
- Subtract one energy leak that consistently drains you. 

❸ Keep doing this until your reality matches your ideal.

Because life isn’t made up of mountaintop moments.

It’s made up of average Tuesdays.

How to remember almost everything you learn (science-backed):

how to remember almost everything you learn

I’m 34. 

Here’s what I would tell my 24-year-old self:

I’m 34. Here’s what I would tell my 24-year-old self.

How to do a hard reset on your life before 2026:

How to do a hard reset on your life before 2026

How to unrot your brain (step-by-step)

Reminder:

You don’t have to wait until January 1 to change your life.

Here are 6 questions to close out 2025 strong and hit the ground running in 2026:

6 questions to answer during the last 6 weeks of 2025

30 short habits with a massive return on life:

What would you add to this list?

30 short habits with a massive return on life 

Well, it's that time of year again.

Before we rush into 2026 with a fresh set of goals and big plans, there's something important we should do first:

Reflect on the 12 months behind us.

Wins, losses, lessons. The stuff most people skip over in their rush to plan what's next.

I originally created this set of 7 questions for myself, but after seeing how impactful they were, I knew I had to share them with you.

2025 Personal Year-In-Review

5 non-negotiable daily routines every person should have:

5 non-negotiable daily routines every person should have

A "razor" is a rule of thumb for simplifying complex decisions.

Here are 8 everyone should know:

8 decision-making razors everyone should know

How to get more done in less time (8 daily non-negotiables):

How to get more done in less time 

How to do a digital declutter before 2026:

How to Do a Digital Declutter Before 2026

abdussalampopoola.com

Webflow Developer

I help startups and small businesses build products or improve the current ones to have an optimal user experience while solving business problems

UX Designer

HNG Tech

As a UX Design Intern, I had the opportunity to immerse myself in a fast-paced, startup-like environment where I contributed across the full spectrum of the design process. I designed user-centered interfaces for both mobile and web applications, ensuring they were intuitive and visually appealing. My work included creating interactive prototypes and micro-interactions in Figma to enhance the user experience and drive engagement.

I collaborated closely with product managers and developers, bridging the gap between design and development to ensure that our vision was effectively implemented. My role involved conducting user research, translating insights into wireframes, and iterating on designs based on feedback and testing.

This hands-on experience not only strengthened my technical skills in UI/UX design, prototyping, and interaction design but also honed my ability to thrive in an agile and collaborative environment. I'm excited to bring this expertise to new challenges in the UX/UI design field.

Product Designer

Rvysion

As a Webflow Developer at Rvysion, I specialized in transforming static designs into dynamic, user-friendly websites using cutting-edge Webflow frameworks. With a keen eye for detail and a focus on user experience, I meticulously converted designs into live sites that not only captivated visitors but also optimized for search engine visibility and seamless collaboration.

Collaborating closely with design managers and cross-functional teams, I have contributed to a collaborative and dynamic work environment. My responsibilities include developing and implementing design concepts, conducting user research, and refining UI components. The role has been a platform for continuous growth, allowing me to thrive under tight deadlines and deliver impactful designs.

This experience has not only enhanced my technical skills but also polished my attention to detail, making me adept at creating polished and user-friendly designs.

Product Design Intern

Hotels.ng

As a Product Designer at hotes.ng, I played a pivotal role in crafting exceptional user experiences across a range of platforms, including dashboards, websites, and forthcoming projects. Leveraging my expertise in UI/UX design, I collaborated closely with cross-functional teams, including developers and the founder, to ensure alignment with business objectives and user needs.

Key responsibilities included:

UI/UX Design: Conceptualized and designed intuitive user interfaces that enhanced usability and drove engagement. Employed industry-leading design principles and methodologies to deliver visually compelling experiences.

Collaborative Development: Worked closely with developers to translate design concepts into functional, responsive interfaces.

User-Centric Approach: Conducted user research and gathered feedback to inform design decisions, prioritizing user needs and preferences.

Agile Methodologies: Operated within an agile environment, participating in sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives.

Feedback Integration: Demonstrated a proactive and receptive attitude towards feedback, actively seeking input from stakeholders. Maintained a growth mindset and continuously sought opportunities for improvement.

Here's what the CEO says about my work:
Abdussalam is an excellent designer and works great with feedback. He has been a great addition to our team and collaborates well with developers.

HNG Internship

As a UX Design Intern, I've had the privilege of working on diverse projects and gaining valuable skills:

Design Systems: Contributed to building and maintaining design systems, ensuring consistency across projects.

Project Portfolio: Actively engaged in various projects, conducting user research, wireframing, and prototyping.

Collaboration: Worked closely with developers and designers, fostering effective cross-functional teamwork.

User-Centered Approach: Applied user-centered design principles to deliver exceptional user experiences.

These experiences have allowed me to grow as a UX designer, ready to take on new challenges and create impactful designs.

User Experience Designer

I taught business owners and creators how to grow on Instagram through content creation

Instagram Growth Coach

I helped small business owners improve their branding flyer designs and marketing campaigns to help them get more sales

Brand Strategist

Hi, I’m Abdussalam 👋🏽
A Web Designer & Webflow Developer helping brands bring bold ideas to life through beautiful, functional websites.

I specialize in building high-converting websites for creative agencies, AI startups, SaaS companies, and entrepreneurs—combining clean design with seamless Webflow development.

With years of experience and a focus on visual storytelling, performance, and responsiveness, I help businesses stand out online and drive real results.

Here’s what you get when we work together:
✔ Custom Website Design tailored to your brand
✔ Full Webflow Development—from scratch or migration
✔ Advanced interactions (GSAP, Finsweet, custom code)
✔ Seamless Webflow CMS integration
✔ Pixel-perfect Figma to Webflow conversion

🔥 Whether you need a full site, landing page, or MVP—I’m here to bring your vision to life. Let’s build something great together.

🎨 Portfolio: www.abdussalampopoola.com
📬 Let’s connect: contact@abdussalampopoola.com

Abdussalam Popoola

Working on a website project for a friend.

Initially recorded to make it a YT video, ended up making a time-lapse.
The design is coming together nicely.

Would you like to see a YouTube tutorial/breakdown on it?

Design Engineer | Certified Webflow Developer | Penultimate Computer Science Student @University of Chester

Always love watching a design come to life!

Here's the process of how i created the clone shot with Affinity.

HACKATHON UPDATE: I couldn't join a cool team. 

So i'm going solo.

Yesterday was a blast!

My 2nd hackathon ever; hosted by Accelerate ME.
We worked on the Lovable challenge to bring an idea to life in 6hrs.

The team and I built a peer-to-peer mentoring platform for students to skill up fast and get hired. Heard we got 4th place btw.

Overall it was a great experience working with Ibad Ali, Surya Ramakrishnan & Dithik on this.

Oliver Ulvebne mentioned we should apply for Accelerate ME Cohort 12.
I'll do that :)

Also huge shout out to the winners & the new friends i made; Elizabeth Fenwick. Fidel Ehirim, Yousuf RizwanOsama Alnajar, Peace Kiariki, Rachael Lam and many more...

I'm excited to see us all blossom beyond our wildest dreams.
Cheers!

PS. Stay tuned for updates on the side-projects i'm building 
Abdussalam Popoola

Did some design work for an upcoming event at school.
I enjoy these making timelapse of my process, how's the final design??

Tool used: Affinity
Time taken: 1hr

My first hackathon in London!

I was in c++ class at 9am when I found out there was a hackathon hosted by Encode Club.

I immediately applied and booked a train to London.

Being a designer that aims to be as technical as possible, there’s so much I don’t know about Web3 and smart contracts.

So, there’s a lot of soaking up to do this weekend.

Here’s to learning something 🥂

I need to make friends and get going.
Stay tuned for hackathon updates.

Less than 4 hours left.
Here's how my project is looking

                 Before                  →                  After

It's been over 24hrs since the Encode Club hackathon in London.

I thought I should take a moment to share a demo of what I built.

Meet Savvy, your personal AI partner for blockchain investment.
Check it out here: https://lnkd.in/eCdep54V


I still have a lot to learn, nevertheless I'm glad I was able to bring this idea to live in 48 hours and had a great time in the process.


Here's "My Tech Stack" for anyone wondering:

Frontend:
- React + TypeScript
- Tailwind CSS for styling
- Framer Motion for animations

Backend:
- Flask (Python)
- SpoonOS Agent Framework for AI orchestration

Blockchain:
- Neo X Testnet for DCA transactions
- Turnkey Wallets for secure custody
- Web3.py for blockchain integration

AI & Voice:
- ElevenLabs Conversational AI SDK for voice-to-voice interaction with custom AI agent with DCA investment expertise.
- Real-time speech-to-text transcription

Deployment:
- Vercel (frontend)
- Flask server & Ngrok (backend)

Had a meeting with the stakeholders today.

Who says hackathons aren't fun?

Day 2 hacking in London

Hello Internet,
I built this app over the weekend with one goal in mind.

To help you find a time for everyone?
Think Study groups, Meetups and much more.

Stack used:
React for the frontend
Google firebase for the backend.

https://lnkd.in/dxCTKwXb

Here's a demo on how it works, this is version 1 (more updates coming!)

Personal win: Met Ben Lang  today at cursor cafe.

The chat made the trip worth it.

My first hackathon was a blast.

Won a prize
Made friends &
Learnt a lot that altered my perspective as a designer.

I wrote all about it here:
https://lnkd.in/dCB7Zqcz

I hope you find it valuable.

Hello Internet,

I'm building an invoice creation software.
Here's a quick demo on how it works: (feedbacks are appreciated)

What if failure could mean something different on our journey to mastery?

Here are a few tips on optimising your LinkedIn profile for better opportunities.

My first long run since the Marathon in October.
I'm handling the cold much better 🙂‍↕️

Reflecting on last Thursday's Black UX & UI Designers end-of-year meet-up

Thankful for the turnout and the constant reminder that spaces like these are so important.

The aim was networking - for Senior/Leads to connect with newer designers on their journey, so each person can learn from each other, no matter their level.

We also spoke about setbacks and how people have overcome them, which was really interesting - you never know what someone is going through.

Thank you to everyone who helped on the day and behind the scenes.

God bless and see you at the next one 🙏🏿

Photography by Abdussalam Popoola 

Sonia Bello Kathy Kavan Gabrielle Austen-Browne (she/her) Abdussalam Popoola Rafiu Onalaja Maryann A. Jenai Edwards Vikas Assudani Anindita Mukherjee Aaron Russell-Bragg Ema A. Tumi Edun Michael Kibedi Kevin Pearce Tessya Bianca-Samou Renee Washington Bauer Media Group

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The Battle

Colby Kultgen

Abdussalam Popoola

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taplio

The Battle

Colby Kultgen

Abdussalam Popoola

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Colby Kultgen's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreAbdussalam Popoola's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreColby Kultgen's LinkedIn Performance