Eric Thomas: Master the Way That Works Before Your Own Way

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Video by Eric Thomas, from his official YouTube channel, @etthehiphoppreacher. I'm not affiliated with him. I just love this message.

Have you ever wanted to do it your way before you learned the way that already works? In this short video, Eric Thomas talks about exactly that. As the video's description puts it, he explains how he humbled himself, studied successful people, listened, took notes and actually did what they taught. Then, after he mastered the system, he earned the ability to create his own.

It's a short one. Watch it first, then come back.

The idea in plain words

Everybody wants their own style. Their own system. Their own shortcut. But the message here is simple: master the fundamentals first, then make it yours.

The description sums it up in a few short lines:

• Study greatness.
• Follow the playbook.
• Master the fundamentals.
• Get results.
• Then make it yours.

And then a line that says it all: "You haven't won the Super Bowl yet."

In other words, don't let your ego make you skip the process.

Why this matters if you're building something online

It's an easy trap for beginners. Someone joins a program, gets handed a training that works, and on day two they're already changing everything. New headline. New page. New plan. They skip the steps because they think they know better, or because the steps feel too simple.

Here's how I think about it for anyone building something online, especially those of us starting later in life:

• Do the boring steps first. Set up the page. Connect the autoresponder. Send the first email. If you're not sure what a capture page even is, my plain-English guide on what a lead capture page is is a good place to start.
• Follow the training as written. If a program gives you a step-by-step plan, run it the way it's taught before you start remixing it.
• Take notes and actually do it. Watching another video isn't the same as doing the thing the last video told you to do.
• Earn your own style. Once you've done the work and understand why it works, that's when making it yours makes sense.

If you're just getting started, my guide to affiliate marketing for beginners over 50 walks through where to begin without the hype.

None of this promises results. You can follow a playbook perfectly and still not get what you hoped for. But skipping the playbook because of ego almost never helps.

One small action step for this week

Pick one training you already have access to. A program you joined, a course you bought, a video series you saved.

Find the very next step you skipped or put off. Just one. Then do it this week, exactly the way it's taught, without changing it.

Write it down: "This week I will finish ___ the way it's taught." When it's done, check it off. Then do the next one.

Frequently asked questions

What is the main message of this Eric Thomas video?

That you haven't earned the right to do it your way until you've mastered the way that already works. Study successful people, follow the playbook, master the fundamentals and get results, then make it yours.

Where can I watch the full video?

It's a YouTube Short on Eric Thomas's official channel, @etthehiphoppreacher. The link is at the top of this post.

What is Motivation Sunday?

It's a weekly post on this blog. Every Sunday I share a short video from a speaker I respect, from their official channel, and what the message means for anyone building something online.

Your turn

What's one step you skipped because you thought you knew a better way? Tell me in the comments. I read every one.

Results vary. Your results depend on your own effort, skills and situation, and many people earn nothing.