I. The Elite Mindset (12 ruthless rules)
- Non‑negotiable standards. Decide your floor, then live above it. If a draft, rep, or frame isn’t “publish‑worthy,” it’s not done.
- 10‑Star Vision. Define what “absurdly great” looks like; then back-cast the steps to hit it.
- Brutal prioritization. One hill per week. Kill everything that doesn’t move that hill.
- High‑velocity iteration. Short cycles: ship → review → sharpen. The compounding is insane.
- Deliberate practice. Train the boring fundamentals until they’re automatic. (Hard skills, not vibes.)
- Scoreboard obsession. Pick 3 metrics that actually correlate with winning (not vanity) and track them daily.
- Hard feedback loops. Build truth-tellers (mentors, peers, market) into your calendar.
- Environment design. Remove friction: preset your workspace, pre‑load tools, schedule “deep blocks.”
- Energy as a skill. Sleep, protein, sunlight, movement. Protect the machine that makes the art.
- Asymmetric bets. Take shots that, if they land, change your ceiling.
- Edge stacking. 1% advantages—workflow, gear, templates—layer into domination.
- Finish strong. When others coast, you sharpen. The last 10% is where greatness separates from good.
II. Legends who refused second place (steal these moves)
• Steve Jobs — ruthless focus as a superpower. On his 1997 return, he slashed Apple’s sprawl to a simple 2×2 product matrix and made “saying no” the operating system of the company. Translation: focus is subtraction, not addition. Steal it: define your “no list” for the next 90 days and protect it like oxygen.
• Kobe Bryant — obsession with the basics. The 4 a.m. workouts weren’t myth; teammates and trainers recounted marathon pre‑dawn sessions and shot quotas that ran into the hundreds before most people woke up. Steal it: schedule your personal “4 a.m.”—a daily 60‑minute fundamentals block, no interruptions.
• Beyoncé — year‑level prep for a two‑hour moment. For Coachella, planning began months out, with blocks dedicated to band work and separate multi‑month choreography rehearsals. Steal it: build “phase plans” that separate study, reps, and full‑run rehearsals.
• Jiro Ono — a century of refinement. The sushi master behind Sukiyabashi Jiro has pursued microscopic improvements for decades; his restaurant held Michelin’s top recognition for years and remains an icon of obsessive craft. Steal it: pick one tiny dimension of your craft to improve daily for the next 100 days.
III. Only‑the‑best gear (creator’s no‑compromise kit)
(Handpicked for power, reliability, and results—no runners‑up.)
Cameras (flagship tier)
• Canon EOS R1 (pro action king). 24.2MP stacked sensor, up to 40 fps, new cross‑type on‑sensor AF, pre‑capture, and Canon’s neural upscaling for 96MP JPEGs—built for moments you cannot miss. Also crowned Best Pro Camera in TechRadar’s 2025 awards. Use it when milliseconds and tracking win the day.
• Nikon Z9 (all‑around workhorse). A relentless hybrid machine: 45.7MP stills, 8K video endurance, elite AF—reviewers still call it one of the most capable pro cameras you can buy. If you shoot everything—sports, portraits, doc—this is your tank.
• Leica Q3 (street + editorial weapon). 60MP full‑frame with a razor‑sharp Summilux 28mm f/1.7, macro mode, IP52 rating, 8K video, and addictive “always‑with‑you” simplicity. If you want premium build and gallery‑grade files in a single lens package, this is the one.
Computers (edit anywhere, export fast)
• MacBook Pro 14‑inch (M5). Apple’s latest Pro silicon brings a big jump in AI and graphics performance—ideal for heavy photo/video workflows on the road. If your timeline stutters, this ends it.
• MacBook Air 13‑inch (M4). Featherweight battery monster with modern I/O and long life; crowned Laptop of the Year in 2025. Perfect as a travel writer/photo cull machine.
Audio (focus equals output)
• Sony WH‑1000XM6. Best‑in‑class ANC with a new processor and more mics; reviewers highlight stronger suppression of chatter/keyboard noise and stellar battery. Your portable deep‑work chamber.
Storage (trust is non‑negotiable)
• Samsung T9 Portable SSD. Consistent high throughput and robust build—rock‑solid for field edits and travel copies. Pair it with redundant backups.
• Avoid problematic external SSD lines that saw widespread failure reports and lawsuits in 2023; too many creators lost data. Don’t gamble your library.
Wellness & recovery (protect the athlete behind the art)
• Oura Ring 4. The smart ring still recommended for accuracy and experience; titanium build, improved sensing, and 100 m water resistance keep it on 24/7—from sauna to swim. Use Readiness + Sleep to time heavy creative pushes.
Carry (move like a pro)
• Peak Design Everyday Backpack v2 (20L). Durable, fast side access, rigid protection; repeatedly praised for build and real‑world usability. Daily carry that disappears on your back.
• Think Tank Retrospective 7 v2.0. Under‑the‑radar shoulder bag with smart dividers, quiet closures, and space for a body + primes—perfect for city shoots.
IV. Your 30‑Day “No Second Best” sprint (do this now)
Day 1: Write your 10‑Star standard for one output (shoot, article, edit).
Days 2–7: Daily fundamentals (60 min) at your personal “4 a.m.” time—same micro‑skill, every day.
Days 8–14: One hill. Ruthlessly kill everything except one mission that moves your career.
Days 15–21: Ship three times. Short cycles, public or to a trusted circle—then iterate fast.
Days 22–28: Edge stack. Build one template, one automation, one environment tweak that saves you 30+ minutes/week.
Days 29–30: Post‑mortem + raise the floor. What worked, what didn’t, and what becomes your new non‑negotiable.
Mantra to pin above your desk
“Second best is crowded. First place is quiet.”
If you want, I’ll tailor this into a personal Eric‑grade routine (shooting cadence, publishing calendar, and a minimal, indestructible kit list) built around your exact goals and constraints.