Hey there,
Quick note before we dive in: we’re rebranding from Espresso Shotz into this new format, with a tighter focus on what we love most, personal development you can actually use.
Ever notice how the “right mood” never shows up until after you start moving?
This edition reframes motivation as something you earn, then gives you tiny starters like a five-minute “bad first draft,” a one-song reset, or a quick timer dare that your brain cannot argue with.
Take a moment to see how making the first step smaller can make the whole task feel lighter.
MINDSET
🧠 One Core Mindset Shift To Apply This Week
Most people wait for the “right mood” before they act. But motivation is not the starting line; it is the receipt. You earn it after you move.
The Shift: From “I need to feel ready” to “I just need to begin.”
When a task feels heavy, your brain tries to protect you with excuses that sound smart. The workaround is to go smaller than your brain can argue with.
The 5-Minute Mischief Rule
Instead of asking, “Do I feel like doing this?” ask:
“What is the easiest version of this I can do for 5 minutes?”
Five minutes is short enough to start, and starting is what unlocks momentum.
Try One Fun Starter Today
Bad First Draft: Write the messiest version on purpose for 5 minutes.
Two-Sentence Win: Point + ask, then stop.
Timer Dare: “I’m only doing this until the beep.”
Future Me Gift: Do one tiny thing that makes tomorrow easier.
One Question To Keep You Moving
What would this look like if it were supposed to be easy?
Pick one thing you have been avoiding, do the 5-minute version, and let momentum do the rest.
HABIT
The “1-Song Reset” Habit 🎧
One habit: When you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or procrastinating, you do exactly one song's worth of progress on the thing you’re avoiding. That’s it. When the song ends, you can stop guilt-free.
Why it works: Your brain hates “big starts,” but it tolerates tiny ones. A single song creates a clean finish line, lowers resistance, and builds momentum fast. Most days, you’ll keep going. If you don’t, you still win because you showed up.
How to start in 5 minutes:
Pick your “Reset Song.”: Choose one you like and keep it consistent.
Name the tiniest first move: (open the doc, reply to one email, wash five dishes).
Press play + start immediately: No prepping, no organizing, no “real quick” detours.
When the song ends, choose one: stop or play one more.
Bonus fun rule: if you stop, you must say out loud, “Reset complete.” (Yes, it’s corny. It also works.)
Try it on:
Avoiding a workout? One song = shoes on + walk.
Avoiding the inbox? One song = respond to just one thread.
Avoiding cleaning? One song = clear one surface.
Your turn: What’s your Reset Song today?
EXECUTION
The “Ugly First Draft” Challenge
If you are waiting to feel ready, you are waiting to feel fake-ready.
Rule: Create the ugliest version of the thing in 10 minutes.
Examples:
A landing page headline that is cringe but clear
A proposal with placeholders and broken sentences
A slide deck with only titles
A workflow with steps written like “do the thing.”
Ugly drafts are powerful because they turn “unknown” into “editable.”
One more thing
Waiting to feel ready keeps you stuck because your brain can always find a smart-sounding reason to delay. A short, defined start creates a finish line, builds proof that you can begin, and turns “unknown” into something you can actually edit.
Momentum is often just a tiny start with permission to be imperfect.
Until the next self-check-in,
