A Work In Progress

by Joey Cofone

Note: This is a personal document I read each Monday. Enough folks ask to see it so I’ve published it here. I hope it inspires you to make something similar for yourself.

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"The unexamined life is not worth living." —Socrates

You know who you want to be. Will you do what it takes?

I am the master of my destiny. Through hard work, diligence, and love of myself and others, I can do anything.

Don’t take any of this for granted. Don't hold it precious to my chest—if I treat it too daintily it won't grow—but don’t handle it willy-nilly, either.

Enjoy the process. One day all of this will come to an end.

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BEING

☀️ Be positive.

Focus on the good. Don’t fuel negativity by speaking bad thoughts. Become a beacon of positive expression that lifts up others and creates a place of safety for all.

⚡️Be electric.

Maintain a high level of energy and infect everyone around me with it. Vibrate my beliefs, excitement, and appreciation from the depths of who I am.

🍃 Be present.

Remember to spend time outside my head. Zoom out, see the whole picture, and pay attention to what's around me. The now is all I have—make sure to appreciate it.

🤖 Be myself.

Take my uniqueness—the things that make me who I am—and put them into my work. Be happy when people call me weird, underneath it means I’m original.

DOING

📚 Learn, every day.

The mind must be exercised, just like the body. Read a chapter, an article—anything that can inject knowledge and inspiration into the brain.

🎨 Make, every day.

Creating is at the core of who I am. It's why I do what I do. Take time each day, no matter how short, to make something new—pull it from deep within.

🧘‍♂️ Meditate, every day.

It’s easy to forget that the mind itself needs to be exercised. Take just a few minutes each day to sit and be. Tend to the mind and it will in turn tend to me.

🙆‍♂️ Exercise, every day.

When it’s sunny, we forget what the rain is like; but when it’s raining, we can’t imagine the sun. Be thankful for every day that my body works for me instead of against. Take care of it.

KNOWING

🎯 Stay disciplined.

Discipline is the one major factor that I have control of. Keep myself organized, stick to a schedule, and be a person of my word. Start early, finish early—and with less stress.

🏆 Push mental endurance.

Be diligent, don't cut corners, give my full self to what I'm doing. Always go the extra mile that makes the difference between them and me.

🚀 Lead by example.

I am the standard bearer. I cannot expect of others what I will not do myself. Be the north star: provide direction, encouragement, and support. Be patient—progress takes baby steps.

💛 Embody the golden rule.

Always treat others as I would have them treat me. It creates the best of all scenarios, a win-win where everyone is respected and given equal opportunity for happiness.

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Final Thoughts

My personal mission is to use creativity and playfulness to leave the world better than I found it.

I can achieve this by letting my original self—my inner child—show through to the outer world.

I must always operate with love and respect.

Sometimes I will doubt myself. I will be afraid. I will want to quit. But I won’t, because I can do this, one step at a time.

I am a champion.

“This is the man who showed us how to become children again.”