Self-Awareness Bonus: The Hedgehog Concept

Over the course of my journey into the world of personal development, I’ve repeatedly seen and experienced how the best piece of advice really is to just get started.

It’s something I’ve shared again and again in my writing, podcast, and coaching.

But for a lot of people, this only solves half the problem. The other half? Knowing what to get started on. They know they need to take action, but they don’t know what action to take.

This is why I strongly believe the starting point for anyone looking to step off of the conventional conveyor belt of society and create an exponential life is self-awareness. 

As with any journey, we cannot determine how to get to our destination if we don’t know our starting point. You need to know where you are before you can work out how to get to where you’re going.

In order to help you figure this out, I’ve created a 5-part series of articles to help you develop more self-awareness. In this series, I’ll share a new exercise each day to help you get clear on who you are, what you want and why you’re here.

I suggest doing these in a journal over the course of a week (1 each day) or longer if you wish. The point is not to rush through them, but rather to give each exercise (and yourself) the attention it deserves.

Simply find yourself a quiet place with no distractions (cellphones not allowed!) and allow yourself to really get into it.

Here are the links to all 5 parts in the series:

Part 1: Know Your Strengths

Part 2: Your 110-Year-Old Self

Part 3: The Best Self Diary

Part 4: 100 Questions

Part 5: 50 Life Experiences

BONUS: The Hedgehog Concept (below)

If you’d prefer to get all 5 exercises immediately in a pdf guide, you can download my ebook ‘Do You Know You’ below:

Self-Awareness Bonus: The Hedgehog Concept

I couldn’t let a series on self-­awareness go by without including this bonus exercise.

I personally do this one and revise it every quarter. I’ve found it incredibly powerful in getting clear on how I want to create value in the world and, when done properly, I believe it has the ability to shed light on anyone who is feeling confused and stuck.

The Hedgehog Concept involves drawing three circles which intersect in the middle. You can draw this in your journal and then start jotting down some ideas which fit.

In the first circle, you’ll write down the things you love to do or enjoy doing. What would you pay to do for a living? What things, when you do them, make time seem to fly?

In the second circle, jot down the things you’re good at (exercise 1 comes in handy here). What could you become truly great at (perhaps the best in the world)? Also include any competitive advantages, resources, connections, etc. that you have.

Finally, in the third circle, write down what people need. What are people willing to pay for? What problems need solving?

The intersection of these three areas is where your golden opportunities lie. I used this very exercise to come up with my idea for The Quarter Life Comeback podcast, and still do for any new projects.

That’s your exercise for today: What do you love to do? What are you great at? And what does the world need? 

If you’d like to get all 5 of these exercises in a pdf guide, you can download my ebook ‘Do You Know You’ below.