What temporary discomfort can you endure for a possibility of longterm pleasure?

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What temporary discomfort can you endure for a possibility of longterm pleasure?

I think about this question a lot.

A lot of questions bubble up to the top: how badly does your life currently “hurt” for you to evoke change? We want all these things, but to even move forward, you need to know what you’re optimizing for and what discomfort you’re willing to put yourself through.

Here are some examples of temporary discomfort for a better future:

I want to work on my side business, but need some sort of stable income so I’ll build my projects 5-9 pm every day of the week.

I have a year of runway so I can focus on my small business, but that means no more going out, no bars or restaurants, and no traveling.

I want to become a millionaire before XX age, so I will contribute 70% of my income every month and live below my means. Maybe I’ll even live with my parents for now.

I want better, stronger rooted friendships, so I need to distance or have honest conversations with friends that are toxic and negative.

I want to find a great partner who is kind, smart, and stable, so I need to whittle down what I really want, put up stronger filters or boundaries, even maybe go to therapy to understand my patterns or put myself out there more.

It’s easy to stay safe, to play it safe, or to feel safe. But unfortunately, growth doesn’t grow there; it builds in discomfort, in experience, in real action and outside of complaints.

When you are growing, here’s what has helped me:

• I minimize risks as much as possible, even when it looks like I’m taking a big risk from the outside. In my head, I have plan A, B, and C but also am ready to pivot when necessary

• I write down what I want, where I want to go, and who I am. By doing this, I reinforce the idea of myself and it helps me not veer away from what I should focus on.

• Be curious, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to look stupid. If you’re the one always speaking, you’re not learning anything.

Opportunities and Job Boards 📚

• Join a popular digital nomad program in Jeju Island - Emily Chang recommended this in the group! She went back in 2022 and had a blast; you will need to book your own flights and pay for your own meals though, but you’ll get to co-live, cowork, and network

• Become a tour guide at the United Nations New York - No work experience is required. Knowledge of the work of the United Nations is an asset. Experience in the field of communications, public information, or a related field is also an asset.

• 4 day work week remote jobs - Find your next role at the #1 job board for jobs with a shorter work week e.g. 4 day week at full pay

• Work in VC between the east and the west - Blue Startups is one of the first accelerators in Hawaii, Blue Startups has been essential in the creation of “Startup Paradise,” now a thriving new startup ecosystem in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

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Join us for our first-ever wellness retreat in Chiang Mai, Thailand on Nov 5-8th! 📍🇹🇭

Limited spots available! If you’re looking for a place to slow travel, to set mindful intentions, decompress from this entire year, and find clarity for the next year, then join us for 4 days of relaxation, experiences, and connecting with your Asian sisters.

We’ve planned over 50 meetups worldwide, hosted the first ever travel summit in Taiwan, and held business summits in Singapore. We’re doing the first of its kind, which is creating intentional spaces for Asian women to travel together and join retreats. This is us also experimenting if women from our community even need a wellness retreat—we’re also open to ideas! Feel free to email us.

We Started a Series Spotlighting Solopreneurs!

Listen to our latest interview with Christina Cheng, Founder of Tiny Oak Studio. Hosted by Ali Dunbar, this new series will be spotlighting the women in our community and how they’re building their businesses. Fun fact: Christina Cheng curls competitively and travels to train and compete, all while building her agency and working with clients remotely.

• how Christina started her own design and brand studio

• how to find clients through outbound and inbound leads

• how being multilingual has helped her business

Interested in being part of our series? Send us an email at [email protected].