Empty Your Cup Update (Finally!)

Want to beta-read the first 7 chapters?

Beta-read the intro + first 7 chapters here »

Hello there! It’s Nik! Been a minute, but still alive and kickin’! I hope life has been kind to you in the last 14 months.

When I hit pause on the Empty Your Cup newsletter early last year (again), I wrote:

When life throws an interruption your way, know which kind of disturbance you’re facing: Is this a hair in my soup or a bowl of soup in my face? Don’t be afraid to do a 180, and remember that giving up is also giving.

As it turned out, the problems I had with my business Four Minute Books were more like an entire ship crew’s weekly meal plan in my face. I probably could have fought tooth and nail to add up the scraps from various income streams and keep going it alone, but ultimately, after 10 years of self-employment, I decided to try something different: I got a job.

It’s my first “proper” one at 34 years old, but it has allowed me to stop trying so hard to squeeze money out of what is actually a labor of love: writing. Now that I’m three months into the gig (as a Business Course Writer for the Cardano Foundation, btw!), I’m starting to settle in, and the creative freedom I have in my (albeit reduced) spare time is utterly liberating.

Of course, the Empty Your Cup book was first on my list to get back to—and I’m happy to say that I have! I’m trying to dedicate 30-60 minutes each morning. Slow and steady wins the race I hear!

Here’s a quick recap:

• The book will work just like the newsletter, with short, daily chapters, based on 7 different themes, like Monday Zen, Gratituesday, Forgiveness Wednesday, and so on.

• My goal is for each chapter to fit on just one page and include 365 chapters for 52 weeks of balance, inspiration, and great ideas.

• Bruce Lee’s philosophy and ideas will still form the frame of the book and appear on a regular basis.

So far, that last bit has been the hardest part, and that brings me to today:

Can I ask you to read the first mini-draft and tell me what you think?

I found a cool tool that lets you give feedback as easy as 1-2-3, and completely anonymously, too. So far, I have prepared...

• The intro

• The "How This Book Works" section

• The 7 chapters for the first week (each of which is <300 words so it could fit on one page)

If you're up to read some or all of it, just hit the button below. You can do it on your phone or your computer, and there are some brief instructions as well.

If you've been around since 2019, thanks for waiting, staying, and helping bring this book to life! And if you haven't, watch this—I don't know how long it'll take, but I know the end result will be worth it.

Thank you, and don't hold back—any and all comments welcome! I’ll keep sending updates about the book through this newsletter every now and then. I hope the next time will be sooner rather than later. :)

-Nik