Follow the energy

Following your energy sounds like "woo" advice but I've actually found it to be incredibly useful in several ways.

• It gives you clues to what activities you should pursue, and most importantly, the activities you should stop pursuing
• It makes you more productive naturally, without crazy productivity systems
• It will make you feel better

If your W2 job drains of you of energy, that's a clue something needs to change. This could mean going 1099, if that idea gives you energy. Or it could just mean getting a different job. You'll need to find the right solution, but the primary data point is your energy level.

If you want to be more productive, do more things that energize you. You will naturally find the time to do them. You won't have to rely on discipline. I always find time for writing because that energizes me. I almost never find time for data analysis because that drains my energy, so I have to rely on discipline during work hours.

Following your energy means doing things that feel meaningful to you. If you feel lethargic, it's probably because you've ignored your own energy sources. Once you follow the energy, you'll feel better and more like an active participant in your own life, rather than a sad, passive observer.

Following your energy is a bit of a nuanced thing. The idea of going 1099 energized me when I was a W2. It wasn't the fact of going 1099 that inherently interested me, but rather, having more autonomy and getting away from corporate nonsense.

But staying a 1099 no longer energizes me because I got what I wanted, and now I want different things. I have to follow new things that energize me.

So pay attention to and follow your energy. It's a great shortcut to making big changes, becoming productive, and more satisfied with your life.

Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.