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

A few weeks ago, I caught myself thinking "wow, that was a really good presentation" about someone I work with.

And then I just...didn't say anything.

I've been noticing that this happens pretty often. 

I'll think something genuinely kind about someone, yet I just keep it to myself. 

Why is that?

I think it's because saying something nice to someone feels a bit exposed. There's this tiny moment of vulnerability between the compliment leaving your mouth and their reaction. 

What if it comes off wrong? 
What if they don't take it the way I meant it? 

So we say nothing. 

We let a 0.001% chance of awkwardness win over a near-certainty of making someone's day.

To be honest, I think most of us are walking around with a backlog of unspoken kind words. Compliments we thought but didn't give. Gratitude we felt but didn't express.

So I don't know about you, but I'm embracing the Tell Them Theory.

No more keeping the good stuff to myself.

A reframe that changed my life:

Failure = Data.

Every time you try something (win or lose), you get valuable feedback.
A real-time report on what works—and what doesn’t.

Personally, I let the fear of failure hold me back for wayyy too long.

I would overthink. Overplan. Overperfect. Then never actually do anything.

But then one day I realized something:
The information I needed was in the reps I was avoiding.

The lessons weren't in the planning. They were in the doing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not out here actively seeking failure. But I understand now that it's an unavoidable part of the process. And if it's going to happen anyway, I might as well squeeze every lesson out of it.

So now, after every failure, I ask myself 3 questions:

1. What went wrong? (Be specific.)
2. What decision or action led to that outcome?
3. What can I do differently next time?

That's it. No spiral. No shame. Just data.

Fail forward.

———
image credit: valuethemind on IG

I've been thinking about this a lot lately.

Rejection can be terrifying.

So why, when someone frames it like this, does it suddenly not seem so scary anymore?

Here's what I've realized: 

We're not scared of the rejection itself. We're scared of the uncertainty.

It's not the volume of "nos" we can't handle—it's not knowing if the next one will be the "yes".

That's why I find this so interesting.

If you KNEW you were guaranteed success after 100 rejections, you'd be hunting them down. 

You'd be applying to everything, pitching everyone, practically begging people to say no because each one gets you closer.

And the funny part is that in reality, it usually takes WAY less than 100.

Most breakthroughs happen at like rejection #8 or #15. But people quit at #3 because they can't bear the uncertainty. 

So here's the trick: Just pretend you know it's coming. 

Treat every rejection like you're counting down to something guaranteed. Because honestly? If you keep going, you kind of are. 

It's basically tricking yourself into success by removing the thing that was going to stop you anyway—the fear that it might not work.

Hot take:

"Be grateful" is terrible advice.

Not because gratitude isn't powerful (it is).

But because this "advice" almost never comes with practical ways of actually doing it.

We've all heard the “write 3 things down in a journal” advice, but for me it's always felt a bit forced.

And besides, why would we expect one method to work for everyone?

That’s why I gave myself a mission:

Come up with a handful of gratitude practices that don’t involve writing in a journal (not that there's anything wrong with that).

Here's what I came up with:

1. Look for glimmers
Glimmers are the opposite of triggers. They're those tiny moments in your day that make you feel joy, peace, or gratitude. Once you train your brain to spot them, they start appearing everywhere.

2. Snap a joy photo
Take one picture per day of something that brought you joy. A cup of coffee, a funny street sign, the way the sunlight hits your desk. Not for social media, just for you.

3. The "Tell Them" Theory (h/t Vex King)
When someone does something you appreciate, actually tell them. Doesn't have to be profound. Just: "I'm glad you're in my life" or "Thanks for always making me laugh."

4. Practice future nostalgia
Throughout your day, pause and ask: "Will I miss this moment someday?" Your current morning routine, the commute you complain about, even your kid's phase of asking "why?" fifty times a day.

Which of these resonates with you?

Let me know your favorite ways to practice gratitude.

The 8 most dangerous words in the English language:

“I’ll do it when work gets less busy.”

I’ve caught myself saying this more times than I can count.

Trying to convince myself that one day everything will settle down. That I’ll finally have time for the trip, the hobby, the experiences I keep putting off.

But that’s just not how life works.

The reality is, you have to make time for those things. Otherwise, work will quietly take over your entire schedule.

It’s Parkinson’s Law in action:
​“Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.”

I’ve noticed this in my own life.

When I schedule work first, it expands to consume everything.

But when I schedule something meaningful first, the opposite happens. Work compresses to fit around it.

We’ve even seen this play out at scale with the four-day workweek experiments. Companies reduced working hours, yet productivity stayed the same or even improved.

That’s why I’ve started being more intentional about putting meaningful things on the calendar first.

One framework I love comes from my friend Ben Meer, originally popularized by Jesse Itzler:

The 1-6-4 Method.
​
1. Plan 1 big “year-making” event​
Something that defines your year. A marathon. A major trip. A personal challenge. Something that forces you to grow.
​
2. Schedule 6 mini-adventures throughout the year​
Lock in one small, exciting experience every other month.
A camping trip. A concert. A weekend away. Hosting a dinner party. Exploring a new part of your city.
​
3. Implement 4 positive habits, one each quarter​
Add one small habit every three months that improves your life.
Reading daily. Walking more. Waking up earlier. Being more intentional with your time.

♻️ repost this if you found it helpful.

I dealt with negative self-talk for years.

And trust me, it's no fun going through life as your own worst critic.

That’s why I love this GPS reframe.

You don’t need to turn a mistake into a story about yourself.
Just treat it like a missed turn.

Recalculate.
And keep going.

———

P.S. I share 5 ideas like this in my newsletter every Monday: 
percentbetter.com

We're all guilty of doing this (myself included).

Someone cuts us off in traffic, and we're fuming about it for hours.

A coworker sends a passive-aggressive email, and suddenly the whole afternoon feels ruined.

We allow five bad minutes to contaminate our mood for the rest of the day.

The best way I've found to combat this?

​Gretchen Rubin's Four Quarters Technique:

“Split your day into four quarters: morning, midday, afternoon, evening.
​
If you blow one quarter, you don't blow the whole day. You just reset for the next one.
​
Fail small, not big.”

Don't let a bad five minutes ruin a good 24 hours.

graphical user interface, text, application, chat or text message

5 ways to build unshakeable confidence (in work and life):

➊ Do what you say you're going to do
It really is that simple. Set achievable goals for yourself and follow through on them daily. As Alex Hormozi puts it, “You don’t become confident by shouting affirmations in the mirror, but by having a stack of undeniable proof that you are who you say you are.”

➋ Don’t play the comparison game
Comparison is the thief of joy and confidence. Define what success means to you, and tune out the noise. Be so busy watering your own grass that you don’t have time to notice if someone else’s is greener.

➌ Learn to say “no”
Saying “no” isn’t selfish, it’s self-respect. Do things because you genuinely want to, not because you feel obligated. The more aligned your choices are, the more confident you become.

➍ Build your body, build your mind
Taking care of your physical and mental health is one of the highest-leverage things you can do. Everything gets easier when you feel strong, capable, and energized.

➎ Surround yourself with people who lift you up
Confidence is contagious. The more you’re around people who believe in themselves, the more it reinforces your belief in yourself. They remind you what’s possible, even on days you forget.

Confidence doesn’t arrive all at once. It’s earned through small, consistent actions that build trust in yourself over time.

DISCLAIMER: This is just my opinion.

P.S. I made a list of 25 books everyone should read before they die. 

👉 Link in the comments.

Productivity isn’t just about “getting more done”.

It’s about spending the short amount of time you have on this planet intentionally, rather than losing it to distraction.

♻️ Repost this if you found it helpful.

how to finish 8 hours of work in 4 hours

A few free things online I think everyone should take advantage of.

What did I miss?

free things online everyone should take advantage of

I saw this post and loved it.

Credit to peakperformancewithjulia on IG.

Make sure to save so you can revisit it later.

12 work habits that will transform your 2026

How to rewire your brain to enjoy doing hard things:

How to rewire your brain to enjoy doing hard things

A step-by-step guide to decluttering your mind.

👉 P.S. I spent 100+ hours building a habit tracker—link in the comments.

A step-by-step guide to decluttering your mind

7 skills we should have learned in school but never did

7 addictions you need to break in 2026 to become your best self.

I've been guilty of every one of these.

Awareness is the first step, then you can start to do something about it.

Save this post and send it to someone who needs it.

7 addictions to break in order to become your best self

which of these resonates with you?

Let’s face it...

The modern attention span is cooked.

10-second TikTok videos.
18 tabs open at a time.
7 apps checked before getting out of bed.

This post is designed to help you fight back.

How to build your focus like a muscle

I'm an overthinker.

In fact, right now I'm overthinking what I should write for this caption.

Luckily, over the years I've gotten much better at choosing my overthinking battles.

Which is why today I want to share 7 things that aren't worth your spending your precious mental energy on.

Repost if it resonates!

7 things you're probably overthinking

Jay Yang

Head of Content to Noah Kagan

Deciding to drop out of college to join Acquisition.com changed my life.

But that's not where the story starts...

When I was 16, I cold-emailed Tyler Denk, the CEO of beehiiv, with a list of ideas on how I could help. That email turned into an internship where I built beehiiv 101 - a course that’s helped hundreds of users unlock the platform’s potential.

At 17, I sent Noah Kagan, founder of AppSumo, a 19-page pitch deck breaking down gaps in his social media and email marketing - and how to fix them. That landed me a role as Head of Content, where I led campaigns (like the one that made Million Dollar Weekend a New York Times bestseller).

At 18, I decided to try my hand at the game of business and scaled a boutique ghostwriting and creative studio to six-figures within its first year.

At 19, I dropped out of college to work at Acquisition.com on Alex & Leila Hormozi’s media team where I led the written content engine. I was their first and only internal copywriter and wrote across every major format including social, email, ads, VSLs, and YouTube.

I also helped run the marketing campaign that broke a Guinness World Record for most nonfiction books sold in 24 hours and generated $106M in three days. 

It's been a ride.

Today, I focus on three things:

First, I write books about building a career without waiting for permission. My first book, You Can Just Do Things, became an Amazon #1 bestseller.

Second, I publish The Spark, a weekly newsletter on marketing and strategy read by more than 10,000 people. It's where I test ideas before they turn into books, frameworks, or client work.

Third, I work directly with a small number of founders and CEOs on developing their brand positioning and creative strategy. If you're looking to elevate your brand, feel free to reach out :)

When I’m not working, you’ll usually find me lifting heavy things (roughly 10-12 times), playing pickup basketball, or working on my next book.

Content Strategist

this is honestly great career advice

(sorry linkedin)

Every day I see this handsome, successful-looking guy in his 20s, and I finally dared to ask what he does for a living...

While he was fixing his hair, he responded, "I'm a copywriter."

"How much do you make per month?" I had to know.

"Roughly $25k a month."

I was in awe. But that wasn't as shocking as what he told me next.

"You won't believe me, but I don't have a degree in English or business," he said.

I felt my heart beating faster. A copywriter, $25k a month, no degree... I had to get to know this man, pick his brain apart, and learn a thing or two about becoming as successful as he is.

I reached out to shake his hand and ask for his name, but my fingers hit the mirror.

The cost of not being surrounded by other ambitious driven people is way too high.

It has literally never been easier to win.
I just talked with a friend who’s making $100k/mo from an app him and his friend vibe coded with AI on a whim.

It’s been 5 months since they started it.

I mean… what the heck!

Every day, we’re constantly at the mercy of a never-ending bombardment of shiny objects, urgent news, and other people winning on our social media feeds.

I mean how can you not feel slightly jealous when you see…

• A 17 year old kid raise $3M for his startup
• A 19 year old scale a 7-figure agency
• A 23 year old become a millionaire selling a coaching program

The subtle message all around you is…
“You’re not doing enough”.

It’s so easy to feel bad about yourself and become discontent with your current path.

Which brings me to a lesson I’ve been reflecting on:

To create momentum, learn to say yes.
To sustain momentum, learn to say no.

Since leaving Acquisition.com, I’ve received dozens of insane inbound opportunities.

(Opportunities that me a few years ago would have JUMPED at).

It’s so easy to lose sight of your vision for what you want for your life these days.

But the older I get, the more I realize that sacrifice is fundamentally baked into every decision.

The Latin root of the word "decide" is "caedere", meaning "to cut".

If you want to focus, you literally have to cut off all other distractions.

So here's to saying "no" more in 2026.

Still figuring it out,
Jay Yang

I've written a newsletter essay, nearly every week since I've been 16.

I'm 20 now. I have FOUR YEARS of "public journal entries".

Sometimes I like to read them and reflect on how far I've come. I can't wait until I have a decade of them.

When I was in high school, I worked with 3 tech startups. 
How?


Cold outreach.

I would pick founders and companies that I admired, do a ton of research, and then send them a cold email pitching myself to them. 

I had a bunch of people ask me recently how to write a good cold email, so I figured I'd share a few things that I've learned. 

#1: Specific

Bad cold emails sound like a generic template that you mass-sent to hundreds of people. 

Good cold emails feel like you are talking directly to the person you're reaching out to. 

#2: Simple

Bad cold emails are long, convoluted, and hard to understand. 

Good cold emails are concise, skimmable, and to the point. 

#3: Strategic

Bad cold emails put the burden on the other person to figure out what you want and how you can help them. 

Good cold emails show pre-work and make it easy for the other person to say yes. 

Here's a template you can follow:

"Hey, my name is ____.

I understand your time is valuable. I'll only write three bullet points.

[Activity] since [time].

Have most experience working in [roles].

Want to intern for [company] this [time] as a [role]. How?

Thanks,
____"

For more resources on how to crush cold outreach and templates and AI prompts, my brother Max Yang and friend Jeston Lu  created this amazing resource called Cold DM Blueprint.

Check it out. It's free & useful: https://lnkd.in/gtvDtN4u

“Avoid working directly under somebody you don’t admire and don’t want to be like.”

— Charlie Munger

About halfway through the 1st draft of my 2nd book.

Should I share a sneak peek? 👀

went on a solo trip to SF this past week

so glad I went

reinforced and refined how I want to live & who I want to bring along for the ride

highly recommend

Never in my wildest dreams did I think I could have all these by age 20:

- A $20m real estate portfolio
- A 6 figure a month passive income
- A summer home by the beach
- A chef for home-cooked meals
- A well defined six pack abs

And yep... I was right, I don't have any of those.

Okie bye back to work.

If I could talk to my high school self,
I'd tell them this...

“Decide what kind of life you actually want. And then say no to everything that isn't that.”

It sounds so simple, yet no one ever does it.

There's this story about Alice in Wonderland.

And she's on this path that splits into two different paths, and she doesn't know which way to go.

So she looks up and asks the Cheshire Cat, "which path should I take?"

And the Cheshire Cat responds, "Well, where do you want to go?"

And Alice says, "I don't know."

And the Cheshire Cat says, "Well, then it doesn't matter. If you don't know where you want to go, then any path will take you there." 

To get what you want, you must first know what you want.

Here's what helped me...

I call it the "North & South Pole" Thought Experiment:

Make two columns on a sheet of paper.

1. Vision:
• What do you want?
• Get as specific as possible.
• Where will you live, what will you do for work (at a desk, outside, work with ppl, work alone, etc etc), who will you be with, what car do you drive, what’s your energy like?

2. Anti-Vision:
• What do you NOT want?
• What reality would make me miserable?
• Maybe being fat, broke, tired, easily angered, stressed, etc etc

This gives you something that pulls you (your vision).
And something that pushes you (your anti-vision).

Important Note: 
The goal isn’t to write out the perfect permanent plan that will never change.
The goal is to kickstart the planning process and get out a v1 draft.

Because again...
How can you hit a target you can't see?

When Steve Jobs was twelve, he called Bill Hewlett and asked him for an electronics part. Steve was part of something called the Explorers Club, where computer enthusiasts would get together to build computers. He had hit a dead end with one of his projects and needed a specific part that was only supplied by one company - Hewlett-Packard.

So he looked up the CEO, Bill Hewlett on the phone book, and called him at home. He spoke into the receiver and said, "Hi, I'm Steve Jobs," then asked him for the spare part. Hewlett-Packard was one of the world's largest technology companies at the time, and Bill Hewlett was a multi-millionaire with a packed CEO schedule.

Amused by the situation, Bill decided to lend him the spare part. But then Steve did something even more audacious, he said, "I'd also like a summer job." And Bill agreed to that as well.

"I've actually always found something to be very true, which is most people don't get those experiences because they never ask," Jobs recalled decades later in a 1994 interview. "I've never found anybody that didn't want to help me if I asked them for help."

I had the privilege of reading an early copy of Unhinged Habits and it landed harder than I expected...

Most productivity books tell you to add more. More systems. More habits. More optimization.

This book argues the opposite.

Design your life by subtraction. And by seasons.

The core idea is simple but uncomfortable: you cannot maximize money, health, and relationships at the same time. Anyone who pretends otherwise is lying or burning something important in the background.

Instead, Jonathan Goodman pushes seasons of intensity. Go all in on one pillar for a defined window. Then maintain it while shifting focus. It feels obvious after reading it. But most of us live in permanent half-effort mode and call it balance.

What I appreciated most is that the book is not anti-ambition. It is anti-accidental ambition. It’s about choosing your hard, instead of waking up in a hard life you didn’t consciously design.

As someone who's early in their career and still figuring out what a "good life" means to me, I really enjoyed this book. Jon is one of the clearest thinkers I know, and a damn great writer.

If you care about building a meaningful career without losing your health or relationships, this is worth reading. It gives you language and structure for tradeoffs most people feel but never articulate.

The person obsessed with reaching the summit as fast as possible will climb faster than those around them - but they also tend to miss the view, the wildflowers, the conversations at camp… all the reasons climbing is worth it in the first place.

I used to think that taking a break was a sign of laziness.

That taking a weekend off was a sign that I wasn't serious.

That going and spending time with family and friends meant I had to make up for that time by grinding harder afterwards.

I’ve since had two realizations:

1/ Rest, when taken strategically, can often be more productive than not continuing to take mediocre action.

2/ It's easy to use productivity as a benchmark to determine whether you're living a good life. But remember, not everything that can be measured matters, and not everything that matters can be measured.

The person obsessed with reaching the summit as fast as possible will climb faster than those around them—but they also tend to miss the view, the wildflowers, the conversations at camp... all the reasons climbing is worth it in the first place.

Some people are just inevitable. You can see it in their eyes, the way they move, the way they talk, the way they explain their goals. Life will delay them and distract them, but it can never stop them.

Covid-19 wasn’t 3 years ago, it was 7 years ago.

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The Battle

Colby Kultgen

Jay Yang

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taplio

The Battle

Colby Kultgen

Jay Yang

Followers

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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 ScoreJay Yang's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreColby Kultgen's LinkedIn Performance