Yo work fun nation,

Real talk lang.

If using the same tools as the pros actually worked, you’d be rich by now.

You downloaded the apps, read the books. Tried the time blocks and pomodoros. Followed all the YouTube productivity experts. (some of them ako pa nag-recommend. hehe)

Pero waley pa din. Still stuck.

Here’s what I think is really happening:

You’re skipping the boring stuff.

The part that doesn’t get shared in highlight videos and reels. The part where real productivity is built — not shown.

I used to think productivity was about finding the right app. Or the perfect routine. Or “just getting motivated.”

It’s not.

It’s about systems. Yung tipong kahit wala ka nang gana, tuloy pa rin. Systems that survive bad sleep, lazy mornings, and mood swings. Heck, they even survive actual lazy people like me.

Systems that don’t care if you’re in the mood — they just work because they’re baked into how you live.

So here’s how I look at it now — like a video game beanstalk with three levels. Just like the one in Jack and the Beanstalk. Let's treat it as a metaphor where we move from where we are right now, to a higher level, different life. Nuks.

You also might remember that it’s thickest at the base. Or not. But let me tell you anyway.

It doesn’t just go up like a thin metal pole, that’s straight all the way. It's winding its way up, and really dug into the earth for maximum grip. 

The thing is, most of us only see level 3 right away. Then disregard the rest.

We’re obsessed when we learn about the tools and apps that our productivity experts share. Lahat ng mga AI sama na dito.

The thing is, they’re sharing their CURRENT setup and lifestyle na. Not so much about what it really took to get there. 

So let’s dig deeper. Instead of only looking at the top, let’s go down to level 1. 

Level 1: Fundamentals.

None of the advanced AI tools matter if you’re too tired, too sleepy, or too brain-fogged to function. Your Psychology is a slave to your Biology. Fix your sleep. Move your body. Eat healthy. These are the basics, but they’re also the first things we ignore.

Everything above them collapses without this layer. I admit, guilty din ako dito sometimes kasi kanin is life, lol. But I am taking steps to improve this. 

Level 2: Psychology.

Mindset isn’t a vision board. It’s your default setting under pressure.

Build habits. Set boundaries. Learn how to bounce back kahit bad trip ka sa asawa mo, annoyed ka sa kids mo na pasaway or pagod na pagod ka na from doing everything at home and you still need to work on your business.

This is the mental OS behind your life, mapa freelancing man o personal.

It decides if you keep showing up or quietly ghost your own goals.

Level 3: Details.

This is where your apps, hacks, and templates live. Eto na yung kinababaliwan nating lahat, myself included hehe.

Ideally, we shouldn't even touch them until the first two are in place. Otherwise, it’s just lipstick on a lechon. The tools can help, but they’re only really effective if you’re grounded. Without that, you’re just rearranging widgets habang nagpe-pretend ka na productive ka.

Most of us start from the details agad,. Kaya walang nangyayari.

I’ve worked with high level freelancers, agency owners, coaches, and CEOs. The ones who thrive don’t chase motivation. They build systems.

They treat motivation like a cold shower in summer. Masarap ang feeling, but mawawala din after a few minutes. 

They’ve planned for the low days. They know motivation goes away, so they stopped depending on it.

So if you feel stuck, don’t blame the tools.

Start with your system, .

Here’s what I’m doing right now to prove this to myself:

Last week, I quietly started a 90-day AI sprint. No fanfare. Every day, I’m building something small — no-code tools, AI prompts, actual working prototypes. Pero ang tunay na challenge? It’s showing up daily, kahit pagod, kahit tinatamad. Kahit I’m out on an actual assignment on the field. 

Here’s what it’s looked like so far:

Day 1 – Committed to the sprint. Built in public. No more waiting to feel “ready.”

Day 2 – Broke down prompt design as emotional instruction, not just commands. Hindi lang basta utos — kailangan may feels.

Day 3 – Created a tool to help video editors decode vague client feedback. Fewer revisions, less sakit ng ulo.

Day 4 – Pulled an all-nighter in an undisclosed mountain forest to shoot some concrete being poured into a hole. Literal foundation-laying. Narealize ko: unseen work holds everything up. (Yes I’m still a filmmaker who takes weird and interesting projects on a whim)

Day 5 – Hit my first wall. Was starting to feel overwhelmed with the apps. Just stayed pa din and finished. Minsan, showing up is already the win.

Day 6 – Admitted I’ve been avoiding prospecting. Not because I’ll fail — but because it might work. Scary ‘yun in a different way. Hehe yes I still feel this pa din even if I’ve developed a really strong Outreach Framework called RCBCC. 

This isn’t some shiny launch. This is the messy part. The part nobody Instagrams.

But if you want to see it unfold — the good, the weird, the honest, the fails din syempre— I’m sharing it on my Facebook wall every day. 

So yeah, you don’t need more motivation.

You need a better system.

Start there.

Shoden “Builder of Messy Things” San

ps. I mentioned above that 'psychology is a slave to our biology' and I actually wrote a whole ebook around this. It's around how we as freelancers often self-sabotage ourselves. And a core idea I discuss there is that our biology will win 100% of the time over our beliefs, mindset, will power and motivation. This leaves us often wondering why none of the online courses and tools work, and we continue to sabotage ourselves pa din.

I did a small pre-launch of it to people in this list, and it was really well-received. Salamat sa tiwala! Version 2 has a deeper dive on the biology part. Reply with "Sabotante ako!" (clever kasi election next week lol) and I'll share a FREE preview of the eBook in my next email. Enough replies make it real.

🎉 Pst. Don't Keep Me A Secret. refer this newsletter to your freelancer friends. This REALLY REALLY helps me a lot, thanks! Or if you're done referring and you just want to buy me some coffee, I won't stop you.