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- Alive Time vs Dead Time
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You’re either using your time to build something meaningful.
Or waiting around, hoping life changes for you.
There’s no in-between.
Ryan Holiday put it best:
“There are two types of time: alive time and dead time. One is when you sit around, waiting for things to happen to you. The other is when you take control and make every second count.”
Most people live in dead time:
scrolling endlessly
waiting for “the right moment” to start
talking about their goals instead of executing
But winners live in alive time.
Using every second to learn, grow, and move forward.
(even when conditions aren’t perfect)
That’s the difference between success and failure.
1. You’re Either Growing or Stagnating
Malcolm X is the perfect example.
When he was sentenced to prison, he could have wasted years waiting for his release.
Instead, he read constantly, copied entire dictionaries by hand, and educated himself.
That decision (to treat time as an opportunity instead of an obstacle) completely changed the course of his life.
So what about you?
If I asked you right now:
What have you done today to get closer to your goals?
Would you have an answer?
Or are you just waiting for life to hand you something better?
2. Stop Talking So Much
You probably have something you want:
→ More money
→ A better physique
→ Greater satisfaction in life
But here’s where most people screw up:
Instead of working on it, they talk about it.
They tell people their plans.
They fantasize about success.
They convince themselves they’re ‘getting started soon’.
…and every time they do that, they get a small dopamine hit.
Which makes them feel like they’ve actually accomplished something.
But they haven’t.
Nothing has changed.
Like Bruce Lee said:
‘If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.’
So stop talking.
Start doing.
Because the people who shut up and execute are the ones who get ahead.
3. You’re Running Out of Time
Most people act like they have unlimited chances to get their life together.
They say things like:
🚫 ‘I’ll start next week.’
🚫 ‘I’ll take it seriously from now on.’
🚫 ‘I’ll be ready when the time is right.’
And before they know it…
Another year is gone.
Winners understand that time is the only resource you can’t get back.
They don’t wait for the ‘perfect moment.’
They just act.
The Bottom Line
Every second of your day is a choice.
You’re either moving forward or staying stuck.
🚀 Alive time = Progress, growth, success.
💀 Dead time = Wasted potential, regret, failure.
Which one are you choosing today?
Reply to this email and let me know.
Mason - Founder of New Mentalities