November 2, 2024

Read Time — 8 minutes

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Do you ever feel like you're putting in hours and hours of work but you aren't making any significant progress?

You put in the work, day in and day out, checking off one task after another, and it even feels like hard work!

But despite all of that effort, you feel like you're still so far from the goals you've set months ago.

If you're experiencing this, here's the truth about your situation:

You are stuck.

And I want you to know that it's okay to recognize that. In fact, that's the first step to getting unstuck!

I also want you to know that you aren't alone.

You see, a lot of entrepreneurs and high-achievers experience this exact same thing one way or another.

Heck, I've experienced this multiple times in my career back when I was still in sales.

And I've even experienced this a few times in the early parts of 2024 as I'm building my business.

You see, it’s easy to get caught up in the grind, thinking that more hard work and effort will eventually lead to results.

But I’ve learned from experience that this is a path that typically leads to burnout, not breakthroughs.

And we don't want that do we?

So you want to be able to notice and recognize when you're stuck, so that you can address the root of the problem.

But the problem is, being stuck isn’t always obvious.

It can hide behind long hours of work and a full to-do list, making you feel productive even when real progress isn’t actually happening.

In this letter, I’ll walk you through the 3 key signs that show that you’re stuck so that you can recognize it and address it.

I'll also show you how you can break free, get unstuck, and start moving forward towards your goals with a new sense of clarity and purpose.

Let's get into it.

3 Signs You're Stuck

When you put in the hours but you don't see results, it can get really frustrating and even confusing.

And common advice will tell you:

"Just work harder."

But the problem is that it isn't about the amount of effort you make — it’s about recognizing what’s really holding you back, addressing it, and then moving forward.

If there’s a 100kg boulder blocking your path, the answer isn’t to work hard to push that boulder until you reach your destination — it’s to:

• Find a way around it

• Remove it

• Or leverage the tools you need to clear the path.

Real progress comes when you acknowledge what’s keeping you stuck, work through it, and take aligned action.

It’s not about pushing harder; it’s about moving smarter.

So here's,

Sign #1: You're taking a Lot of Action, but Making No Real Progress

You're busy.

You have a never ending to-do list.

And you're constantly checking things off.

But when you take a step back, you realize that you aren't really moving closer to any of the goals you set.

You see, busy doesn't always equal progress.

You can join a fun run, run in place for an hour, get tired, and find yourself still in the starting line.

It's a silly example, but you get the point.

Sign #2: You’re Avoiding Certain Actions

You may know the right steps to take, you could have even purchased the perfect system that got your growth coach to $50k a month in revenue and 30,000 followers in their creator business…

But if you don't take those steps and you go off and do something else to feel "productive" instead, then you're still stuck.

When you avoid the right steps to take, that's a clear sign that you're resisting something.

Typically that resistance is because of fear of failure, some sense of unworthiness, or fear of judgement from others.

Sign #3 You're Always Waiting for "The Right Time"

You tell yourself things like:

"I'll take action once things settle down."

"It's not the right time yet, it'll be a waste to take action now."

Here's a reality check: There is no perfect time.

When you wait for the perfect conditions before acting, you end up not doing anything at all.

You make zero progress.

And you end up disappointed in yourself.

By the way, this was the story of my life back in high-school.

Whenever I wanted to talk to a girl that I liked, I told myself "it's not the right time."

I ended up never making any moves lol.

Good thing I learned from that mistake when I entered college – and years later, I'm now happily married to the woman of my dreams ;)

Cool how this idea applies not just in business but in any area of your life.

Anyway, I digress.

So be aware of these 3 signs:

1. You’re taking a lot of action, but making no real progress

2. You’re avoiding certain actions

3. You’re always waiting for the “right time”

They're red flags that signal that you are, indeed, stuck.

How to Break Free

Recognizing that you're stuck is a powerful first step. But you might be wondering:

"Now that I know I'm stuck, how do I break free?

…do I just work harder?"

No. The answer is no. We've been over this.

Kidding aside, breaking free isn't about working harder (as I've said multiple times already) – it's about creating a shift in perspective and taking aligned action.

Here's a four-step approach that I use personally for myself and with clients to get unstuck and to move forward:

1. Recognize

The first step to getting unstuck is to acknowledge that something isn't working.

It can be tempting to brush off frustration and tell yourself to "just keep going," but that's when you become prone to unhealthy behaviors like:

• Procrastination

• Food binges

• Alcoholism

• Doom scrolling social media

• Staying in bed all day and not doing anything and feeling like sh*t (yeah, I've been there)

These things are just an escape and not really a solution.

What's worse is that these things don't only keep you stuck, but they sabotage any momentum you've made.

Change can only start once you've actually recognized that you're caught in a cycle.

Pay attention to the signs, and be willing to confront yourself and recognize that there is a problem.

2. Release

Once you've recognized that you're stuck, it's time to release the emotional weight through release-work.

Personally, this is where I tap into NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) techniques which I facilitate for my coaching clients and for those that avail of Resistance Reset (shameless plug).

But there are free tools out there for you like:

• Journaling

• EFT Tapping

• Ho'oponopono

• Visualization Work

• and even plain and simple Physical Exercise

For the things you aren't familiar with, you can look them up on Youtube.

In essence, release-work is about understanding the source of fear, self-doubt, or frustration and then energetically and responsibly letting them go.

This creates space for new perspectives and new ways of seeing your situation. Which brings me to the 3rd step:

3. Reframe

By this step, you've already gotten unstuck since you've already released the emotional weight.

Reframing helps you by getting you to see the stuck state and situation that you were in as a stepping stone for you to move forward.

You see, in each time that you are stuck, there's a lesson hidden in there that can help you move towards your goals with more ease and fulfillment.

You can reframe by pondering on this question after you do release-work and you're emotionally clear:

"How is this situation helping me to move forward better and more efficiently?"

The insights you get from this question will help you take action in alignment with your goals and in alignment with the ideal version of yourself.

4. Rebuild

Finally, rebuild yourself into a better person by using the insights you've gotten from Step 3: Reframe, applying them and taking action from them.

You'll find that action at this point, won't be from hard work anymore. Action will come from a place of ease and flow bringing you towards your goals more effectively.

This is where true progress happens – when your actions are aligned with the results that you want to create.

You know how when you experience a tough workout, your muscles tear just a tiny bit, break down, and later build up to become stronger?

You also go through a similar process when you take this 4-step approach.

Tying It All Together

If there's one thing I want you to take away from all of this, it's that being stuck doesn't mean you're a failure – it's simply a signal.

It's an opportunity for you to take a step back, recalibrate, and then realign with where you really want to go.

I want you to know that it's completely normal to experience moments where progress seems to slow and even come to a standstill.

But remember, it's what you do after recognizing that stuck state that makes all the difference.

The four-step approach I shared is a framework I learned from one of the personal development workshops I've attended in the past (Shoutout to Discovery by I Am Plus Coaching).

And as this framework has changed the way I approach dealing with internal resistance, I hope it does the same for you.

I put it to you that real change doesn’t come from just working harder; it comes from shifting your perspective and aligning your actions.

When you’re clear on what’s holding you back and you're willing to let it go, you can see the possibilities to move forward with fresh eyes.

Because at the end of the day, it's not about forcing yourself to work harder and harder until you burnout just to reach your goals,

It's about learning to work with yourself so that you arrive at a place of ease and flow.

That way you enjoy the journey, not just the destination.

So the next time you feel stuck, don’t just push through it — take a step back.

Look for the signs, recognize what’s holding you back, and use the steps I mentioned in this letter to break free and move forward with purpose.

If you have any questions or would just like to chat about the ideas in this letter, feel free to write to me at [email protected].

All the love,
All the power,

— Zach Mar

P.S. Whenever you are ready, there are 2 ways that I can be of help to you:

1. Explore working with me on achieving your life and business goals if you are a founder, online entrepreneur, or sales professional — I’ll help you eliminate internal blocks and limiting beliefs so that action becomes effortless.

2. Follow me on X here where I share my leading edge ideas. X is my testing ground for which concepts resonate with the most people which I later turn into these newsletters.