How do you know if you're in the one-foot-in prison?

Here are the 5 signs:

1. You're always "almost ready" to start. Learning more. Building skills. Waiting for the right moment. But somehow, you're never actually ready. There's always one more thing.

2. You negotiate with yourself every day. "Do I feel like it today?" "Should I take a break?" Stop. Committed people don't ask these questions. The decision was already made.

3. Your excuse arsenal is impressive. "The timing isn't right." "I need to be strategic." "I have other responsibilities." Every excuse sounds logical. That's what makes them dangerous.

4. You've been "working on it" forever with nothing to show. Look at your actual output over the last year. Not your intentions. Your results. Big gap? You're half-in.

5. You keep your backup plan warm. "If this doesn't work, I can always go back to..." That's not wisdom. That's pre-negotiated surrender.

Count how many you hit.

1-2: You're on the edge. Course-correct now. 3-4: You're in the prison. Time to get honest. All 5: You've built a home in there. The wake-up call is coming.

Reply and tell me your number. I read every response.

Done negotiating.

-Joel