Life Principles

DarkerthanDarc · Jul 5, 2025

expiated said:
Will -

By 28, I had a million bucks.

No trust fund. No lottery ticket. No crypto moonshot.

Just a few "timeless" rules that lead to success.

I've rubbed shoulders with billionaires at 50+ conferences.

They all follow the same playbook.

21 "rules", in particular:

Rule #1: Success leaves clues

The shortcut is always to find someone who achieved your dream, then reverse-engineer their first steps.

For example, instead of copying what top creators like Alex Hormozi or Patrick Bet-David are doing now, study what they did early in their journeys.

→ Replicate their foundational habits (e.g., niche content, daily routines, etc.) that got them where they are today.

Rule #2: Failure is your best teacher

Failure gives you the data you need to get better.

When something goes wrong:

Ask: What specifically caused this outcome?

Identify: What you'll do differently next time.

Test: Apply the revised approach and see if it works.

Rule #3: Start with the end in mind

"I want to be rich" tells you nothing about what steps to take.

"I want $50,000 in monthly passive income to support my family while traveling" gives you a clear target to work toward.

→ Define your goals clearly.

If you don't know where you want to go, there'll never be a clear path to get there.

Rule #4: Lifestyle > retirement

Society tells you to work for 40 years, save everything, then maybe you can enjoy life if you're still healthy.

Successful people design their ideal life first, then build the income to support it.

Think about:

→ "What would I want my life to look like 5 years, or 10 years from now?"

Once you have that vision, reverse engineer the business model, income streams, and choices needed to make it reality.

Rule #5: Creativity is a skill

Creativity isn't something you're born with.

It's a muscle.

You have to train it every day.

→ Start by writing 5 ideas daily (business ideas, writing ideas, etc.)

This skill becomes incredibly valuable as AI automates more tasks. The one thing AI can't replace is original thinking.

Rule #6: Superhuman protocol

Become your best self with this formula:

→ Energy + Clarity + Discipline × Focus

Energy means optimizing your health, sleep, and nutrition so you have the physical capacity to perform at your peak.

Clarity means knowing exactly what you're trying to achieve and why it matters.

Discipline means doing what needs to be done even when you don't feel like it.

Focus is the multiplier.

Rule #7: Lie about your future

If you constantly say "I'm terrible with money" or "I'm not good at sales," your brain accepts that as truth and stops looking for evidence to the contrary.

Start describing yourself as the person you want to become:

→ Replace "I'm bad with ___" with "I am really good with ____ "

"I'm building wealth consistently" or "I'm improving my sales skills daily."

Rule #8: Understand leverage

Jeff Bezos lying by a pool generates more value than someone digging holes.

Why?

Because he leverages systems, people, and capital.

→ Always ask: How can I get more output from the same input?

That's the path to real wealth.

Rule #9: Fix your weak links

Your life has four key areas:

→ Business (bank balance), Body (health), Being (spirituality), and Balance (relationships).

Ignoring one (like working nonstop while neglecting health) is like driving with a flat tire — you'll move slowly and damage yourself.

→ Rate each area from 1-10 monthly.

→ Whatever scores lowest gets your attention first.

Fixing weaknesses will NOT slow you down... it'll help you move faster over the longrun.

Rule #10: Speed to action

Money doesn't flow to the perfect plan It flows to those who move first.

The market will tell you what works better than any amount of planning.

But only if you get your ideas in front of customers quickly.

→ Launch, get feedback, iterate, close deals, and make $$$$.

Rule #11: Compound everything

Compound growth is the 8th wonder of the world.

It turns small, consistent actions into massive results.

→ Invested money, consistent habits, or quality content — these compound exponentially.

But here's what's important: You have to be consistent long enough for the compounding to become visible.

Most people quit during the linear growth phase, just before the exponential phase begins.

Rule #12: Repeat what works

Once you discover something that works, resist the urge to change it.

Found a morning routine that gives you energy and focus? Do it every day, not just when you feel like it.

Discovered a sales process that converts prospects into customers?

Clone it and train your team to use the exact same system.

Innovation is important, but consistency with proven systems is how you scale success.

Rule #13: Question everything regularly

When a project/job/relationship isn't working, ask yourself — "Knowing what I know now, would I make the same decision?"

If not, pivot immediately.

Don't fall for the sunk cost fallacy.

Rule #14: Control your perspective

Situations are neutral. It's your perspective that defines them.

When stuck:

Instead of: "This is unfair."

Ask: "What can I control here?"

And then turn the situation into something good.

Rule #15: Build systems, not dreams

James Clear said, "You fall to the level of your systems."

When your systems are dialed in, the results become inevitable.

This removes the emotional rollercoaster of constantly checking metrics and allows you to focus on execution.

→ Focus on the daily actions (systems) that make the outcome inevitable.

Rule #16: Ask better questions

Vague questions get vague answers.

Specific questions get specific solutions.

For example, instead of "What should I invest in?" ask, "I'm 30, risk-tolerant, and seek cash flow—what assets align with X, Y, Z?"

This principle applies to AI tools, mentors, advisors, and even your own problem-solving.

Rule #17: Three ways to wealth

The only reason someone will ever give you money is you if you provide value for them.

And you can do it three ways:

1. Trade your time (limited)

2. Sell products (scalable)

3. Sell creativity (infinite)

Only #3 offers infinite leverage and helps you build wealth. Focus on that.

Rule #18: Relentless optimization

All growth comes from optimization cycles, and the speed of your cycles determines how fast you improve.

For example, someone who optimizes monthly gets 12 cycles per year.

Someone who optimizes weekly gets 52.

Who do you think will grow faster?

Rule #19: Die with debt

Debt is a tool.

Use it to build wealth. Follow these two tips:

Take good debt (cash-flowing assets like businesses) that makes you money.

Avoid bad debt (e.g. taking debt for a luxury car you don't need) that costs you money.

The key is ensuring the asset produces enough income to cover the debt service plus a profit margin.

Rule #20: Income beats savings

Everyone tells you to save for retirement – put money in your 401k, build up your IRA, wait 40 years, and hope you have enough to live on.

Saving looses to inflation.

→ Invest in cash-flowing assets (real estate, businesses) to build perpetual income.

Rule #21: Hunt big game only

Lions hunt antelopes, not mice.

Always ask: "Is this (task) a field mouse or an antelope?"

Then, prioritize and focus on high-impact things.

(Bonus) Rule #22: Play to win

Most people play not to lose: they save obsessively, avoid risks, and delay gratification indefinitely.

Winners play to win: they define what victory looks like, then attack that goal with everything they have.

Playing not to lose might keep you safe, but it won't make you wealthy or fulfilled.

Define what winning means for your specific situation, then reverse-engineer the fastest path to get there.

To your success,

Mark Moss
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"Rule #19: Die with debt"

Sounds like the Trump philosophy of going Bankrupt 42 times and leaving others broke.

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Life Principles

DarkerthanDarc