Feb 15, 2025

Read Time — 5 minutes

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Most people struggle to reach their next income level because they hold on to what got them to their current level.

They rely on old strategies, habits, and paradigms that once worked.

And when things start to get tough, they double down.

More effort.

More hours.

More pushing.

But the truth is, what got you to your current level isn't necessarily what will get you to your next level.

If you're building a business, things like massive action will only get you so far.

It's good when you're a beginner and you're just building momentum.

But at one point it's not about doing more things, but removing what could be weighing you down.

In this letter, I'll be sharing with you my 3 phases of business growth so you can see which phase you're in, and what to do to reach the next level.

Phase 1: The Launch

I like to think of building a business like launching a rocket ship into space.

The first layer of the atmosphere is called the troposphere.

And in this layer:

• The air is dense

• Earth's gravity is strong

• Wind resistance slows you down

To move past this layer, a rocket needs maximum thrust and uses massive engines and boosters to build that initial momentum.

Similarly, I've found that in business, this stage is where massive action is truly necessary.

If you're starting from 0, you need to put in the hours.

Taking an idea and turning it into reality isn't an overnight project.

It could take weeks, months, or even a couple of years.

But once you get things off the ground and you're looking to scale, it becomes less about action and more about efficiency.

The problem is that most people never leave this phase.

They hold on to the old strategies that got them their initial wins but results start to slow down.

This is where most people burn out.

This is also where most people end up quitting.

Because they keep increasing the effort levels but results don't seem to match.

Which is definitely disheartening.

The ones who break through move on to the next phase:

Phase 2: Removing The Baggage

When a rocket ship breaks past the troposphere and enters the stratosphere, something interesting happens.

The first stage of the rocket is released.

For reference, here's the anatomy of a rocket:

The first stage of a rocket refers to the part with massive engines that help the rocket break through the troposphere into the stratosphere.

But once it's past the initial layer of the atmosphere with all that resistance and gravity?

Holding onto the extra weight would only slow it down.

So it lets go of those massive and heavy fuel boosters so that the second stage boosters can take over.

Similarly, at a certain point in building a business, just raw effort stops producing more results.

If you've already build the initial momentum but you feel like you've hit a plateau, I would focus on taking a step back and looking for the baggage that could be weighing you down and removing it.

And baggage could be in the form of:

• Limiting beliefs

• Fears, doubts, and worries

• Unhealthy paradigms and worldviews

Because most people don't realize that they're carrying dead weight, so they keep trying to force their way forward.

When you let go of the baggage, you become lighter and more efficient.

As a bonus, you even get better and better ideas on what actions to take because you're no longer weighed down.

So you get clarity of the right actions to take AND you feel lighter and have an easier time taking action.

At this phase, when you reach a point where you're scaling the business, all that's left is to make sure that you stay on course.

Phase 3: Staying in Alignment

When a rocket ship nears the outer layers of the atmosphere, air resistance is almost non-existent and gravity is a lot less.

The focus in this phase is all about staying on course through small adjustments to remain in alignment.

At this phase, what matters most is precision and direction rather than effort and speed.

Similarly, in business, in this phase success is about staying in Alignment.

At this phase:

• You operate with clarity

• The right opportunities naturally flow to you

• There's less resistance and work feels lighter

The real work here is all about staying in alignment.

This is why you see a lot of successful entrepreneurs spending most of their time golfing, relaxing, and doing things that give them life.

That's their way of staying in alignment so that their mind stays clear for when the next big idea comes.

In Conclusion

What got you to your current level isn't necessarily what will get you to your next level.

And most people make this mistake.

They keep applying the same level of effort, strategy, and mindset that worked before but get frustrated when it’s no longer producing the same results.

Just like a rocket ship, different phases require different approaches.

• In the launch phase, massive action is necessary to break free from stagnation.

• In the baggage drop phase, holding on to old ways of thinking and working slows you down.

• In the alignment phase, it’s about precision, clarity, and making space for effortless success.

So, if you’re feeling stuck at your current phase, ask yourself:

What do you need to implement in your business to reach the next phase?

Is it still all about massive action?

Is it about taking a look at letting go of the baggage that's weighing you down?

Or maybe is it about staying in alignment to make space for effortless success?

Either way, I’m rooting for you, bud.

Aligned Work. Effortless Success.
— Zach Mar

P.S. One of the baggages that weigh people down is a lack of closure.

So this month, I’m hosting a special workshop for the Freedom Founders all about freeing yourself from heartbreak and finally moving on—so you can let go of the emotional baggage that’s been weighing you down.

I’m giving you the option to join the workshop and I’ll be dropping the official details soon.

But there won’t be infinite spots since everybody will get personalized help.

So if you want to save your spot, reply “waitlist” and I’ll give you early access.