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The last 4 months have been so transformational for me that I've struggled to put it into words.
I'm spending more time with family. Not just in actual time, but in quality of time and presence when I'm there.
My business is growing rapidly. We've hired 3 full-time people to support growth. Added a completely new line of business. Yet the day-to-day execution is so calm that I've literally experienced little micro-doses of anxiety from the lack of chaos.
I'm more conscious of sleep, diet, and exercise with far fewer tools and spreadsheets and rituals to maintain.
But the biggest transformation of all has been internally.
My intuition is sharper and clearer. When I need advice or an answer to something, my first instinct is to sit with it and listen to my gut, not seek outside advice.
I have more personal agency and care less what other people think. Not in a prickish way, but in feeling perfectly comfortable disagreeing without needing the validation from someone else that I'm right.
And it's coming through in content. I'm creating content that gives me energy in a format that's more natural for me instead of creating for a single, specific niche audience within the scope of a few narrow "pillars.”
Hell, I've recorded a podcast every day for more than 2 weeks now on topics ranging from strategic sales to dealing with your inner critic.
So, what happened?
Good news and bad news. I can tell you what I did and why I think it works. But truthfully, there’s still a lot to it I don’t completely understand (yet).
I wasn't going to share this for that exact reason. Why share something that I can't give you specific, tactical, play-by-play advice to recreate it.
I also don't want to come across as if I have it all figured out. I'm only 4 months into this. I know that 4 months from now, I'll have a slightly different perception of things. I'll likely be a different person 4 months after that if history is any indication of what to expect. I can only share how far I've progressed without even knowing what the future holds. I haven't reached some destination—I've only just begun.
So, back to the question: what happened?
4 months ago I was in a good spot that I knew could be better.
Business was good, but grinding 7 days a week on low leverage work, back to back calls every day, knowing I didn't have the margin in my day to think strategically. Not great for someone responsible for the strategic direction of a small growing company.
I was having dinner with the family and spending some time on the weekends, but it wasn't as much time as I wanted to be spending with them and I wasn’t fully present when I was there.
Health and fitness was the same. Checking the boxes, far better than average, but far below my standards. It was a path to "I'm just getting old" talk 5 years from now.
But the biggest issue was internal. I felt like I had more clarity and confidence in decision making as a 30 year old executive than I did 15 years later with more expertise and experience.
I'd developed a habit of leaning on others for advice and input rather than getting in tune with what my gut was telling me—and trusting it.
That likely stemmed from being 100% new to online marketing, business, and branding 6 years ago and pouring $200k into various coaching and mentorship programs. Much needed direction at the time, but looking to others for answers became a crutch
That's the spot I was in 4 months ago when I heard Chris Walker had launched something new—ENCODED.
I'd known Chris for years and we'd talked several times as built an exceptional brand, voice, and business at Refined Labs. I had a ton of respect for him and his thinking process and knew he'd successfully sold his business recently. So I was curious what the new thing was.
I checked it out and saw some stuff about “frequency.” I didn't know what it was, and candidly, it sounded a little woo-woo to me.
But I've heard a few people I admire talk about it over the years and knew enough about Chris to at least explore the concept.
I reached out, got a little more intel on it, and without knowing very much about what I was getting myself into, joined a beta program to run a new system—ENCODED. Purely on the basis of trusting Chris and being a wildly curious and experimental person, I started “frequency training.”
And I've not been the same since.
My relationship with my boys and wife began to evolve. As did my relationship with money, my business, my team, my time, my health… and most dramatically, myself.
I did a few exercises of inner exploration he provided directions for. Deep thought practices that required sitting with myself and my thoughts for extended periods of time.
I installed a few regular practices of clarity and reflection. These aren't things that come with strict requirements and pressure. But ever the overachiever, I did everything, every day.
And I trusted the system to work.
Since then, I've had more "weird" serendipitous events happen in 4 months than I can count.
I'm more confident in myself, my intuition, and my voice than I've ever been.
I'm holding myself to higher standards and beating myself up less, which I didn't know was possible.
Fundamental beliefs have evolved naturally, not through force.
Hell, I didn't even realize how much scarcity I had in my thought patterns until they started to change.
Or how little clarity I was providing my team and compensating for that with workaholic tendencies.
And the thing is, no part of this requires leaning on anyone else for answers. While I joined on Chris' credibility, he isn't the guru. He created the ENCODED framework, but it's entirely about finding your voice and trusting it. No gurus, no looking for outside validation or input.
How does “frequency training” technically?
I don’t claim to be an expert here. What I know based on my own research, it’s got shades of many things I’ve explored over the years that seem to work in harmony better than any one of them on their own.
Some mindfulness. Some cognitive behavioral therapy. Some tapping into reticular activating system. Some simple self reflection. Some habit stacking. And more.
It comes together in a very unique way to tap into something that’s different than the independent tactics themselves though.
It’s legitimately identify changing.
Chris explains far more eloquently than I do on his podcast, so if there’s any curiosity whatsoever, have a listen to this podcast.
Not fully grasping it though is why I was reluctant to share this.
But I chose to share this anyway. Because if it leads even one person to explore the concept further, incorporate it into their lives, and achieve a similar transformation, I know it won't just be life changing for them. It'll have a ripple effect on everyone around them.
The concept of frequency is still a little abstract to me. But the experience isn't.
I have nothing to gain from this beyond spreading something incredibly impactful for me with you. No referrals. No affiliate links or partnerships. No credits or point system.
But if you have the sense that there's some misalignment, despite everything appearing to be good, maybe it's worth respecting that feeling and exploring.
If you care to, I'd start with the We Are ENCODED podcast here.
Have questions for me about it? Drop ‘em in the comments below and I’ll do my best to answer them.