This is a story…

Better yet, this is the documentation of a story—my story. A story of hitting rock bottom and bouncing back. Only to hit rock bottom, again.

You see, life is suffering—it’s the price we pay for being lucky enough to live. Because of that, we are all going to face challenges, big and small, and suffer in ways we never thought possible. So this is a blueprint for those who have chosen to pick up the heavy-ass burden of responsibility that comes when you decide to take back control of your life.

Man with a friendly smile, wearing a light grey sweatshirt, standing confidently in front of a podcast microphone
scotts signature in green writing
  • I disagree with most of the traditional “self-help” advice.
  • I give science-backed advice.
  • If I haven’t tried it out myself, then I won’t talk about it.
  • I’m here to help you change your life.

I’m Scott. I Started This Blog In 2022, Out Of Curiosity…

That led to reading hundreds of books on health, neuroscience, habits, and all things self-improvement. I have made a rule to implement at least one thing from each book I read.

I try the techniques, methods, and advice that is laid out in each book to see how it works for me. Then, I share what works, and what doesn’t, so you can see if it’s worth a try.

I share what I’ve learned, so that you might adapt it for yourself. I also point you in the right direction for the best books to read to get you started, wherever you are on your journey.

I share my thoughts, contrarian perspectives, and all of my book summaries here—books were what sparked me to change my life—and I hope to return the favor back to the world.

My life’s mission is to make change easier for anyone who has decided to improve themselves. I approach this by giving research-backed, evidence-based activities, tools, tips and tricks to stay consistent and accountable with yourself.

I lead first and foremost with my #1 value: Integrity—I always do what I say I’m going to do.

We’re all in this together, and that’s pretty cool.

My Story: What Makes My Content Unique?

It’s been a long and windy road to get here…

April 2006
Near-Death Experience (#1)

After making a poor decision to get behind the wheel after drinking, I almost end this thing called life. The car gets totaled. I walk away without a scratch. (Miracle #1 of too-many-to-count).

Jan 2007

Move to Seoul, South Korea

Everyone said I was crazy for moving to South Korea, especially since I had made the decision after only one (iffy) phone call. (Hey, it was 2006—we were still using dial-up back then.) Best decision ever.

Jan 2020

COVID Hits: The Fun Ends

In 2020, my beautifully chaotic life of world travel came crashing down in a sea of hazmat suits, masks, and fear. For the previous 13 years, I had been running from country to country, from exciting adventure to more exciting adventure.

July 2022

Finally, I’m Forced To Change

After a road trip in 2021, I finally had to stop. I had to stop running from myself. It was then that I became fascinated by the human mind and the untapped capabilities many of us are so unaware of—I became obsessed with human potential.

Today
Helping Others Find Meaning

I help others get healthy, stay accountable, and find a purpose that lights their belly on fire—the fire that has you jumping out of bed each morning.

Need Some Inspiration In Your Life?

You’re intelligent. You’re capable. You know things. But you find yourself incapable of doing what you know you need to do and for long enough. You struggle to take the right actions, consistently.

You can do great things, but you don’t.

Today, there’s a lot of noise and nonsense in the health and self-improvement space, with different “Experts” telling you different, seemingly contradictory, things to do to improve your life:

  • You need a “Dopamine Detox” because you’re addicted to screens
  • Eating sugar gives you cancer
  • Wake up at 3:00 AM for ultimate productivity, focus, and success
  • Find your passion and purpose with this “Super Secret Saucey Serendipity Course”
  • Drink this green extract powder (only $999, per month) every morning while outside in your Pokemon underwear and stare at the sun with your eyelids forced open with non-toxic tape (just $19.99) for 18 minutes while visualizing all of your dreams coming true and simultaneously imagining all the obstacles you will face along the way, then plan (in our “Special Journal:” $24.99) each step you will take. And you must be fully immersed in an ice bath…

Yeah, it’s exhausting. If you’re feeling confused and overwhelmed with the endless stream of How-Tos and Don’t-Dos, trying one new thing after another, I don’t blame you. I was, too.

It’s hard enough just trying to improve your life. You don’t need people making it more complicated than it needs to be.

This blog, my articles, content, newsletter, and courses are for those who often find themselves stuck in what I call, The Cycle of Doom: Overthinking —> Indecision —> Inaction.

It’s for those who are starting, or already trying, to carry the heavy-ass burden of responsibility that comes tethered to your back as you begin the climb out of the Darkness.

It’s for those who know that, deep down, they are meant for something more—those who are committed to improving their health, optimizing their lives for meaning and happiness, and have an all too curious mind for how the world, and the people in it, work.

You need to change your thoughts and beliefs, reinterpret your emotions, and figure out which direction you want to go. You need to change who you are: your identity.

It’s for those who know that they have more to give but struggle to Always Do what they say they are going to do.

(And books. Many, many books. I am obsessed with reading books that make me better and I want to share my love of learning and knowledge with you. Books changed my life.)

YouTube

Facebook

instagram

TikTok

+ Bonus Sessions

My Personal Feedback 1-1 Introductory Call.

Courses Give You A Shorter Learning Experience From Someone Who Has Gone Through What You’re Going Through.

A course, done correctly—with the right instructor, community, and accountability measures—can, and will, lead to a lifetime of wonderful change.

  • Learn from someone you trust.
  • Learn from someone who truly cares..
  • Learn in a place where accountability is Priority #1.
Coming Soon!

Popular Questions

You’ve got questions and I’ve got…well, questions as well. But I can do my best to answer some of yours before you’ve even knew you had any.

Geez. No need to be so aggressive right off the bat. I’m joking of course, if you couldn’t tell that yet. I joke often, and I think I’m humorous. Although, I might be the only one.

I’m Scott. I lived a pretty normal life until I was 22, then I flipped and totaled a car, nearly killing myself—missed a telephone pole by a few feet. I had been drinking.

After that, I knew there was more to life than my small town, and my even smaller beliefs about the world. I moved to Seoul, South Korea in 2006, planning to live abroad for one year. I lived abroad for over a decade.

Books. Self-improvement. And travel. I’m obsessed with the world and all it has to offer. Experiences truly are priceless. I’m also obsessed with human potential and what we are truly capable of if we stay consistent.

Simply, this site started from following my curiosities.

I fell in love with reading when I returned to the United States and was going through the lowest point in my life, so I wanted to create this site to help others out there that might be going through a tough time—it’s for those who need that little spark to realize that they can turn their life around.

So, I taught myself how to create a website, and now, here we are.

It’s best to explain this through the origin story:

I took a six-month road trip around the States in 2021. One morning, I was hiking the Grand Canyon and it was still freezing cold when I got to the bottom of the first section where I found a gorgeous waterfall.

Prior to my trip, I had told myself I would hop in all gorgeous waterfalls on my road trip. Problem was, I was really not in the mood. And it was freezing.

So, what did I do?

I jumped in the ice-cold waterfall and swam around like a crazy man. It was painfully cold, but I loved it! I got out and said to myself, “Always do, Scott. Always do.”

“Always Do” reminds me that after I do the thing that I know I want to do, even though I might not feel like it in the moment, I will always be glad I did it. That if I “Always Do” the things that I know, deep down, that I want to do, and that I know are right, then I will have the life I’ve always dreamed of.

“Always do” means always doing the thing that you said you were going to do…especially when you don’t feel like it.

People from all over the world have been rolling in.

Truth is, I started this blog at the end of 2022 and was on a roll, shooting up to over 1,000 visitors in under 30 days.

Then, I fell off.

It is this strange thing I do (one that I am learning to master about myself)—I just stop things I enjoy doing after a certain point. But as I learn more about myself and what truly lights me up, that issue has faded (slightly). Consistency is still tricky.

I re-engaged with the site in April 2023, and again in March of 2024. I am in 100%, so I will continue to grow this into a sort of super-awesome-rad-book-and-self-improvement-and-travel blog.

Hope you stick around.

100%.

I am going to share my massive collection of book summaries that I’ve organized in Notion with you all. The whole database will be available for anyone to buy, if anyone wants full access to all the summaries, plus bonus content.

I’m currently writing a book, and that I will probably sell for a few bucks.

“This comeback is personal. It’s an apology to myself.”

—Unknown

1. It changed my life.

2. You get access to the greatest minds of the past and of today—you get years of the author’s creativity, passion, well-formulated and researched opinions, intellect, and thought-provoking insights packaged into a few hundred pages. Not a bad tradeoff for investing a few of your precious hours.

3. Reading opens up passageways in your brain that are imperceptible to you until you start reading and connecting the dots.

4. Books really are the “cheat code” to life.

5. I’ve found it’s not so much about reading in and of itself, but about having the words, content, and ideas constantly streaming into your mind that changes you.

1. I love the classic paper book.

2. With that said, the Kindle has proven to be incredible for simplicity: go anywhere with it, battery lasts weeks, books instantaneously, and easy to read at night.

3. And with that said, I do about 80% audiobooks. I love them. I listen to them during every free moment: exercising, showering, cooking, eating (if I’m alone), walking. I love walking with an audiobook playing.

4. Find what you love.

Ooooooo, you ask such good questions. (Wait, what?)

Okay, I ask good questions.

So good, that I don’t think I can answer it.

Actually, I loved Thailand for the smiling people and beautiful beaches, Australia for it’s unique beauty, and Turkey for its strong culture. (And Brazil…Brazil during Carnival is a spectacle to behold.)

All over Southeast Asia—I lived in Seoul, Hong Kong, China, and a few places in Europe for several years, each.

In 2024, I traveled across South America.

I’m actually hoping to transition this website into a place that provides inspiration to get people to travel (especially if they are like me, a bit older, and struggling to find a place in a world that doesn’t fit everyone perfectly—and, sometimes, we just have to make our own path).

And of course, this will still be a website devoted to books, self-improvement, and health. That doesn’t change.

Damn, you do ask some great questions!

Alright, here it is:

1) If you haven’t started meditating, do that. You need to learn self-awareness and “watch yourself” before anything else.

2) Pick a really great book, like 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and do everything it tells you to do.

3) Start an exercise/movement routine daily. This is non-negotiable.

4) That should get you started.

5) And oh yeah, if you say you are going to do something, like “I’m going to exercise tomorrow for 15 minutes,” then no matter what, you had better show up for yourself.

Always Do.

5 Minutes Could Change Everything

Experiments in Life, Health, and Meaning

You’re not here to live a life you’ll regret. Neither am I.

Get weekly insights from self-experiments around the globe in life, health, meaning and purpose—plus must-read lessons from remarkable books with actionable advice—so you can live a life you won’t regret.

No spam. Ever. Bad jokes. Often. Opt out anytime.

Collage of productivity templates, AI prompts, and book summaries by Scott R. Nicoll, featuring motivational content, morning routines, and writing tools.