6 Months to 6 Figures - Summary, Notes and Highlights

These are my notes and highlights from the book 6 Months to 6 Figures by Peter Voogd.

🤔 What Is This Book About?

This book is about setting yourself up to achieve your goals and make massive progress in the next 6 months.

Many of us have goals that we want to achieve but sometimes lack the motivation or the energy to actually achieve them. This book looks at what separates those that manage to reach their goals and those that don’t.

👤 Who Should Read It?

If you aren’t making progress towards your big goals in life whether that be to start a business, become financially independent, or get a six-pack, there are definitely some tips in this book that will help you.

📒 Summary & Notes

The Hidden Opportunity

You’re either building your dreams, or helping someone else build theirs.

I once heard the acronym JOB stands for Just Over Broke, and realized most people I was around who had typical jobs’ always complained about their boss, money, time off, being tired, or not wanting to work, and I was convinced I didn’t want to live like that. I wanted a lifestyle I was proud to live. I didn’t want my potential in somebody else’s hands, and I definitely didn’t want somebody else to tell me what I was worth.

“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.” - Seth Godin

“When we are no longer able to change the situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. - Victor Frankl

“You get paid for bringing value to the marketplace, and if you’re not very valuable you don’t make much money.” - Jim Rohn

You should only try and be better than who you were the day before.

You often hear people say “I have 20 years of experience, I should get paid more,” but in actuality, that person has 1 year of experience repeated 20 times.

Your job doesn’t get more valuable the longer you do it.

You need to work on yourself, you are the only constant.

“Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on your job you can make a living, but if you work hard on yourself you’ll make a fortune.” - Jim Rohn

“Time is more valuable than money. You can always get more money, but you can never get more time.”

Mastery vs Information Overload

• Start Small - focus on one or two skills at a time and break them down into manageable goals.
• Reflect along the way - reflect on your learning. It is better to master a few books than read many.
• Challenge Yourself to Teach it to Others - teach what you have learned to others. Most people forget what they read.
• Be Patient - Usually, it takes 6 months to develop a new skill

People around you will only notice 10% of every 100% change you make.

Be more intentional with what you read and make sure it is in line with your weekly, monthly, and yearly goals.

Money Matters

“Money isn’t everything, but it’s right up there with oxygen.” - Zig Ziglar

• Intelligence solves problems and produces money.
• Lifestyle, Legacy, and Loving what you do is more important than income.

Michael Materson - 4 W’s to lifestyle satisfaction

1. What do you do? - a lot of people say they love what they do but if they had the money would do something else.
   • Do you enjoy it?
   • Does it help/inspire other people?
   • Are you in control of your schedule or income?
2. Who do you do it with? - Life is too short to have toxic people around you
3. When you do it, and when you don’t? - If you don’t like what you do even a little bit it is time for a change. You should be excited to start the day.
4. Where do you work? - work where you want to work instead of being forced to work from somewhere else.

Use the Pareto Principle (the 80/20 rule) to work on income-producing activities.

You must first realize it’s not the money that will solve your problems. If people think money solves problems, I am afraid those people will have a rough ride. Intelligence solves problems and produces money. Personal growth solves problems. Money without financial intelligence is money soon gone.

Start placing a higher value on your time: Time is more valuable than money. You can always get more money, but you can never get more time.

“The moment you take responsibility for everything in your life, is the moment you can change anything in your life.” - Hal Elrod

The 6 Steps to 6 Figures

I realized a smart person learns from their mistakes, as all successful people do, but those who operate at a world-class level learn from other people’s mistakes so they can shorten their learning curve by learning from them and not wasting as much time making the same ones.

6 must to your first 6 figures

1. Absolute Clarity
2. Increase Your Confidence Account
3. Shifting Your Circle of Influence
4. Consistent Energy & Motivation
5. Creating International Result Rituals
6. Continually Focusing on Growth and Learning

Get crystal clear on what you want. Adapt minimalism - get rid of the noise.

I saw other entrepreneurs get pumped about new goals and achievements, and they would charge out of the gate with excitement, but they they never stayed consistent. I made a commitment to consistency and that gave me a competitive edge.

Lack of consistency is the subtle, but great stealer of dreams and desires. You must consistently improve your mindset, emotional intelligence, perspective, philosophy on how success is achieved, and how you view yourself. Not just when you feel like it, but consistently. This will bring the most powerful force in business, momentum, to your side. Once I saw progress and felt my mind growing, I started feeling more Consistent Energy and Motivation. There is nothing that brings you energy and confidence like progressing towards your goals.

They are the words, “I already know that,” or, “Yeah, I’ve heard that.” Those words have killed so many business goals, dreams, and income opportunities.

The questions you need to ask are:

• Am I doing that? Have I mastered it?
• Does my waistline prove I have mastered that?
• Does my wallet prove that I have mastered that?
• Does business success currently prove I’ve mastered it?
• Do my relationships prove I have mastered that?
• Does my daily attitude and perspective prove I have mastered all of these principles?

Go Against the Grain

“There is NOBODY like you, and once you realize that your entire future changes.”

• “Stay true to yourself” - stop trying to fit in and embrace being different.
• Stop taking advice from those who don’t practice what they preach (e.g. friends and family)

“If you really want success, and you don’t have any mentors or guidance, you can get a head start by looking at what everybody else is doing and do the opposite.”

One way to be outstanding and become more valuable is to do what others are unwilling to do.

I’d rather go broke building my dreams than just get by living somebody else’s.

• Why should someone do business with you instead of someone else?

Here is an insert from the bestselling book, The Millionaire Fast Lane, by MJ Demarco, that explains normal perfectly:

“Normal is waking at 6 a.m., fighting traffic, and working eight hours. Normal is to slave at a job Monday through Friday, save 10%, and repeat for 50 years. Normal is to buy everything on credit. Normal is to believe the illusion that the stock market will make you rich. Normal is to believe that a faster car and a bigger house will make you happy. You’re conditioned to accept normal based on society’s already corrupted definition of wealth, and because of it, normal itself is corrupted. Normal is modern-day slavery. Don’t be normal.”

The Power of Absolute Clarity

• Be clear on who you are and what you want in life.
• Am I thinking and acting like the person I need to be in order to achieve those goals?
• What is your ideal 6-month outcome?

Most people don’t know where they’re going, and if you ask them what they want, they are vague and not clear enough. With fuzzy vision comes fuzzy motivation. Have you ever wondered why you’re not always motivated or consistent? Part of the reason is you aren’t clear on why you’re doing what you’re doing. If you don’t know where you are going, then I can guarantee you’ll end up somewhere other than where you want to be.

This reminds me of the book Start With Why.

Only 5% of society have their goals written on paper, and that 5% make more than the other 95% combined.

Your Most Important Account

Your most important account is not your bank account but your confidence account. You need to have confidence in what you are doing to succeed and the best way to gain that is by doing it.

• Be confident in yourself and your abilities
• There is NO job security anymore.

So where does confidence=come from? It comes from self-esteem and self-esteem comes from doing the things you know you should do when you know you should do them whether you feel like it or not.

“Until you value yourself, you won’t value your time. Until you value your time, you won’t do anything with it.” - Scott Peck

The 5% make decisions first, regardless of how they feel:

• Most People: Feelings >> Actions >> Decisions
• The 5%: Decisions >> Actions >> Feelings

Most people follow their feelings and desires. I don’t feel like working out, I want to eat ice cream and binge-watch Netflix. The top 5% make the decision to do something in advance and stick to it.

Here’s the catch: They continue displaying that confidence even when nothing is going their way.

“If you don’t have confidence you will always find a way to lose.”

Having unshakable confidence will keep you level-headed when nothing is going your way. There is nothing more powerful than self-confidence in multiplying your income by two, by three, by five, and then by ten.

What choices can you start making today to increase your confidence account?

• What are the 3 areas that require more consistency?
• Don’t care what other people think of you.
• The only person you should try to be better than is the person you were yesterday.
• Surround yourself with confident people.

Once you gain clarity on your goals, who you are, and why you’re doing what you’re doing, your confidence instantly increases.

You must focus on the rewards on the other side of the tough decisions. Visualize how good it’s going to feel when you complete that activity you didn’t feel like doing

In this society, consistency will give you a competitive edge and will keep momentum on your side. More importantly, consistency will continually increase your confidence.

“If you have big goals and dreams don’t expect others to follow you, because you’ll represent the strength, courage and vision they don’t yet have.”

“Trying to get everybody to like you is the most common chosen road to mediocrity.” - Will Smith

“Your only real competition will always be the person in the mirror.”

Shifting Your Circle of Influence

“There comes a point in your life when you realize who really matters, who never did, and who always will.” - Unknown

Who are the top 3 people who are doing what you want to do?

Network with people who are doing what you want to do. They can not only help you get where you want faster but they can introduce you to their network too.

Biggest secret for improving results

• 22% - Waking up earlier
• 22% - Making a plan
• 16% - Writing down my goals
• 3% - Delegating
• 37% - Learning from other achievers

“Always give more than you think is reasonable. Most people hold back 5-10% because they’re afraid they might be taken advantage of.

They’re afraid to go over the top, or set themselves apart with the fear of possibly looking foolish. Whether it’s giving gifts, taking somebody out to dinner, or something as simple as opening the door, go above and beyond what others expect. This philosophy holds true to every area of your life.”

If you aren’t uncomfortable on a daily basis, you aren’t making much progress. This is an important attribute as a business owner because your business growth is dependent on talking to people and making connections. If you aren’t in business yet, building relationships before you start is just as important!

”How do I motivate others? How do I motivate my mom, sister, brother, friends, or girlfriend to dream again?” The easiest answer is to live your best life and become the best version of yourself. You can’t change people, but you can point them in the right direction and lead through your lifestyle, results, and action.

“If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” - Richard Tirendi

Consistent Energy & Motivation

“Those who don’t make time for exercise will eventually have to make time for illness.” - Edward Stanley

Create consistent energy and avoid negativity.

“It’s not about time management. It’s about energy management. That is everything.” - Dr Oz

• Work on getting maximum energy and enthusiasm
• Spend more time on the things that give you energy and less on the things that don’t.
• Physical Energy is 80% of your success
  • Nutrition
  • Exercise
  • Sleep

What you eat and when you eat greatly affect your energy levels.

• Non-processed
• Water-rich (60-70%), lettuce, fruit etc.
• Drink lots of water (add lemon)
• Don’t eat until you are full as it consumes too much energy to digest
• Don’t eat past 7:30pm

Energy-boosting foods:

Cucumbers, mixed greens salad, walnuts, almonds, trail mix, parsley, raw spinach, broccoli, celery, garlic, green beans, lima beans, carrots, beets, and zucchini.

Exercise 6 times a week. Doesn’t need to be 45 mins each day, even an intense 20mins can do the trick.

Fear is physical and it will lessen the more you strengthen your body. Exercise isn’t just good for your outer appearance; it also affects your inner ambition.

Don’t neglect working out and don’t neglect your body because when you feel stronger physically, you feel stronger mentally.

Work on your emotional intelligence:

If you have high emotional intelligence, you are able to recognize your own emotional state and the emotional states of others.

Unfortunately, part of the reason people don’t pursue their dreams, or go after opportunities with confidence is because they are tired. Are you starting to see how important energy is?

Be careful what you let enter your mind daily because what you think about starts everything.

You will always act based on what thoughts come first. Our mind is always being fed. It’s important to stand guard to the door of your mind and be very selective with what information you collect.

Note: Another reason not to read the news.

Mental Energy:

Give yourself a morning routine

1. Give yourself more courage, confidence, and conviction to start your day.
2. Working out your priorities for the day

Never start a day without writing down your priorities. Ruthlessly hold yourself accountable.

Hal Elrod’s book, The Miracle Morning:

“You close your eyes, or you look at your vision board, and you visualize.

Your visualization could include your goals and what it will look and feel like when you reach them. You could visualize the day going perfectly, see yourself enjoying your work, smiling and laughing with your family, or your significant other, and easily accomplishing all that you intend to accomplish for that day. You see what it will look like, you feel what it will feel like, and you experience the joy of what you will create”

Ideas to start your day

• Read a positive book to spark your positivity
• Journal what you are learning or your biggest lesson. Empty your mind on paper and start your day fresh.
  • What am I excited about?
  • What am I grateful for today?
  • What am I committed to making happen today?
• Positive podcasts such as Young Entrepreneur
• Exercise
• Write down your Most Valuable Priorities
• Write down your goals for the next 12 months
• Focus on gratitude - Focus on the good things versus negativity

Peak Performance, Secrets of the World’s Greatest

“If you have more than 3 priorities, you don’t have any.”

• Jim Collins

80/20 - Pareto Principle

• 80% of the outputs result from 20% of the inputs
• Work on the 20% first with your most energy

Most things don’t matter

• Figure out what you don’t like doing and delegate.
• Find people for the things you can’t do.
• Find people to do the things you shouldn’t be doing if your time is worth more.

Parkinson’s Law

A task will become bigger in importance and complexity in relation to the time you have to do it.

Give yourself a deadline.

Top Productivity Strategies

1. Refuse Interference - stop yourself from getting distracted
2. Stop Multi-tasking - focus on the one thing in front of you (The One Thing - Gary Keller)
3. Make decisions based on standards, not emotions - base the on your goals rather than emotions e.g. I can’t be bothered to work out.
4. Kill Procrastination - stop waiting for perfect conditions.
5. Write a Stop Doing List - write down the things you need to stop doing e.g. wasting time on Instagram reels.
6. Get In The Zone - You can get more done in 20 mins of focus vs 3 hours of distractions.
7. Sell Yourself - cut out any alternatives, and sell yourself on your goal.
8. Get Great at Reverse Engineering - work out the tasks needed to get your goals done.
9. Practise Productivity - practice what you know over and over again to build muscle memory. Practice doing work that matters.

Crafting the Perfect Results Rituals

“Obsessive consistency sends a signal to my mind to focus and deliver serious results.”

Stephen King

The most productive people (Stephen King, Oprah etc) follow strict routines and schedules.

• Action produces motivation for more action
• You can create rituals for anything

Habits will always trump inspiration. Inspiration is needed to create consistent action, but your habits are ultimately going to define your success or failure.

Mindset Rituals

• Don’t listen to or watch the news, ever
• Read every day, something in line with your goals
• Listen to personal growth/business audio
• Pause and reflect weekly

Health Rituals

• Eat foods that increase energy, rather than just for taste
• Work out 6 days per week
• Drink lots of water
• 60-70% greens per meal
• Don’t eat past 7:30pm

Productivity Rituals

• Clarity and look at goals daily
• Consistent early morning routine
• Look at 5 goals for 5 minutes morning and night

Each Month:

• What are the rituals and routines I’m committed to?
• What MUST HAPPEN to continue creating results in life and business regardless if I am there or not?

What are your non-negotiables?

Continual Growth & Learning

• Every successful person constantly invests in themselves
• You must grow into your goals before they can accomplish them.

“Stay humble, but never lose your hunger.”

What the successful do:

1. They protect and spark their mind daily
   • Be careful, what you think is what comes about
   • avoid filing your mind with useless information
   • Read a good book for 30 minutes a day
   • Journal Daily
     • What am I excited about?
     • What am I grateful for today?
     • What am I committed to making happen today no matter what?
   • Express Gratitude
     • What are you grateful for?
     • What opportunities lie ahead?
2. They get advice and increase the strength of their bodies
   • When you feel strong physically you will feel strong mentally.
3. They reach out to those playing the game at a higher level
   • When you stop growing you die

“Success is something you attract by the person you become.” - Jim Rohn

What could you do for the rest of your life that would keep you fascinated and engaged?

Now Matters

Most people spend the first half of their life saying they’re too young and the second half saying they’re too old.

• “Someday” mentality kills so many dreams and goals.
• For real change, you must change something you do daily
• Have the vision to live differently
• Take responsibility for your future.

Do you want to be living an exceptional life on your terms with flexibility and freedom, or do you want to build somebody else’s dream instead?

Become the best version of yourself

Make a concrete decision that you’re going to be the best person you possibly can be for those around you, and for yourself.

I Challenge You

There are two types of people in this world. Those who will do whatever it takes to create the life of their dreams … and everybody else. Choose who you want to become wisely.

“Sometimes not getting what you want is the best thing that could ever happen to you. - Peter Voogd

“Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a lifestyle you don’t need to escape from.” - Seth Godin

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” - Steve Jobs