The ONE Lesson

Good evening there,

Have you stopped working yet?

Ready to join me for a well-deserved Monday break. 😃 

This week, I’m sharing my ONE lesson of 2024 that helped me from homelessness and exhausted to 5-figure clients and peace of mind in 4 months.

It’s a story about giving up, to not have to give up on your dreams, desires, and aspirations - and most importantly, your true self.

If you identify with being ambitious, hard working, and committed to giving your aspirations your all - oftenby yourself.

Yet, feeling that you aren’t seen and valued for all you do, and all you can do - then this newsletter was destined to find you.

Let’s jump in where we left off (read last week’s edition).

How did I do it?

A looong, deep sigh leaves my chest.

It feels more accurate to ask, “How am I doing it?"

I’m still rebuilding, feeling the aftermath, and yet, in the words of a dear friend of mine, “Don’t you dare downplaying what you’ve done Erik”.

No, I won’t.

• Living life with zero debts - instead of under constant pressure to pay back and worrying if I’ll make it…

• Living life looking ahead - instead of continuously catching up and not having time…

… is peaceful.

And in that peace, a freedom that has opened up for creativity, laughter, relationships, growth, and confidence.

It’s early March…

My ex-girlfriend is calling, catching up, and somewhere between the lines she finds out that I haven’t eaten for days - and that I don’t have money for food.

"Join me for lunch tomorrow," she says. "I invite you."

"No, I’m ok," I say.

"Come one Erik, let me help you."

I’m noticing an inner war between two voices in my head; one softly nudging me to say "yes", another, much stricter, saying, "No way, I don’t need her help”.

"No“, I say. “I can make it myself.”

"Don’t be so stubborn now,” she replies. "You know that’s just your ego."

I’m biting my teeth.

“Ok, but if you help me, I don’t want you to use it against me later,” I say.

“Of course not,” she replies. “How can you even think that?”

I can think that…

And maybe you can too, because you’ve been burned, your generosity has been taken advantaged of, and you’ve felt used.

So, what do you do?

I used to do more by myself and keep, especially, my struggles to myself.

Just reflect on my story above, despite not having had a real meal for days and no money for food, I preferred to keep going alone instead of asking for help.

Why did I? And what do so many do that?

(if you want to know - reply to me with the word“Identity” in your email).

But it wasn’t asking for help that was the ONE lesson of the year, the one that helped me move from depending on friends for buy food to being debt-free.

What I learned

It was receiving help.

And if you feel a bit uncomfortable by just hearing or saying the word “help” - read this slowly. 🤗 

To achieve your aspirations, feel seen for who you truly are, be valued for the worth of what you do, and have wonderful relationships…

Yeah, I know. Stay with me now.

I’m known as, “Erik always figures it out”, and I loved it.

My resilience has taken me from working in China to USA, from scruffy startups to the luxury offices of Louis Vuitton.

Resilience is what has made me reach success, and it’s one of the key topics I’m paid to give speeches and workshops on.

So, giving up, no way.

Until I learned:

• To not have to give up on our true selves…

• To stop self-sabotaging our dreams and desires…

• To invite abundance, accelerate growth, and step into our full potential…

We have to give up resisting.

I gave up fighting, I gave up following my ego, I gave up my identity to resilience, and gave up a mindset that said, “Resilience means being able to do it all, myself, I don't need help”.

And I received plenty.

People love to help

Being helpful comes with a lot of meaning and fulfillment.

Most of the time you say, "No, I can do it myself”, three things happens:

1. You limit yourself.

2. You rob people from experiencing fulfillment.

3. You block loved ones from showing their love and care for you.

Yes, you can do many things, but you can do, be, and feel even more, when you let people in (and overcome the cringe).

When I said “yes, thank you” to receive the help offered by clients, friends, and strangers:

• I got to spend a summer in France, in a beautiful apartment, for free.

• I got to spend time with friends and family.

• I got to eat and never go hungry again.

Today, I enjoy a deep sense of peace because I know that I will never end up on the streets (which I was so afraid of).

I have people around me that want to help, and I know how to receive their help.

What used to be so intimidating, challenging, and scary - don’t exist in my life, I don’t even think about it.

And that s a gift I would love to share with you.

2025 and beyond

Let’s make it a year of embracing abundance so that you can stay true to yourself, your dreams, desires, and aspirations.

Let’s make 2025 the time when receiving (and asking for) help became normal.

And if you think receiving my guidance or inspiration could be helpful - let’s get on a call.

Next…

There were many BONUS lessons connected to this one, so instead of me deciding the next topic - tell me what you would like to hear more about .

I was considering:

• Ego: A tip on how to invite ease and build confidence by getting ego out of the way?

• Identity: The power of identity and how to align it with your authentic self.

• Asking for help: How to make it ease by attracting it instead of feeling needy or incapable.

• Super move: the one question I learned having an answer for always benefits you - especially if ease and abundance are your desires.

Or is there something else that comes to your mind?

👉️ Just reply with your questions or ideas.

Let’s make 2025 a year of opening up and embracing the answers, guidance, tools, money, love, laughter, and care all around you - often disguised as people. ❤️ 

TL;DR

I remember my energy teacher Jeffrey Allen tell me, "Life is not about finding answers, it’s about receiving them”.

Lo and behold, I used to go about life striving to find ways, unaware of that the gold was in the receiving and embracing.

Hopefully you are already doing fantastic receiving and embracing people, lessons, and things, but if you are not, why not giving yourself a better chance?

My ONE lesson of 2024:

• It wasn’t asking for help, it was receiving help.

• To not have to give up on myself, my aspirations and my desires, I had to give up resisting; I had to give up following my ego and my identity.

• People love to help, it brings meaning and fulfillment, let them in so that you can feel seen and valued.

Just say, “Yes, thank you.”

You may be surprised by how many people there are in your life TODAY that want to help AND have the solutions you’ve been looking for. 😃 

With love, jazz and sass,
/ E and little e

_{Written 100% human, 100% AI-free.}

P.S. Was there something you found helpful today? Or is there something you would you have liked to hear more about?

Tell me in a reply to this email - I love reading your messages, every question I receive motivates and inspires next newsletters.