The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth

“Don’t be afraid to be different – being a freak might just be your best route to success in business.”

1. Define "freak" as a strength, not a flaw

“Freak” is not an insult—it’s an emblem of independence and creativity. Freaks are people who think differently and resist conformity, choosing to live ambitiously and authentically. The book encourages readers to identify and embrace what sets them apart.

Freaks don't follow traditional rules of conformity. Instead, they find unique paths to realize their dreams. For instance, Marie Forleo left a finance job to become a life coach and created a thriving enterprise she shaped according to her own style and values.

Society once dictated that sticking to rigid career paths was the only way forward. Now, due to cultural shifts, diverse career trajectories are seen as valid. Individuals like construction-worker-turned-fashion-entrepreneur R.J. Diaz demonstrate how embracing differences opens new opportunities.

Examples

• Marie Forleo transitioned from Wall Street to life coaching, earning a seven-figure income.
• Tony Hawk built a business empire out of a teenage obsession with skateboarding.
• People use the internet to carve career paths that didn't exist decades ago.

2. Clearly define your version of success

Success differs from one person to another. What matters most is defining it for yourself and aligning your actions to achieve it. Knowing your goals ensures you work with purpose and clarity.

Freaks often have great ideas, but many fail because they don’t grasp basic skills like finance or marketing. To convert dreams into reality, it's crucial to identify what success looks like to you—be it financial freedom, creativity, or work-life balance—and then actively pursue it.

Mark Ecko, creator of Ecko Unltd, redefined his success by staying goal-oriented. He merged graffiti culture with fashion, building a strong customer base by connecting his designs with communities. His self-discipline and understanding of his aspirations were key.

Examples

• Mark Ecko developed graffiti-inspired fashion for specific audiences.
• Setting daily or long-term goals prevents stagnation and gives direction.
• Personal success could mean working fewer hours to spend time with family.

3. Write down your plans to stay accountable

Planning is the roadmap to achieving your goals. Writing down your ideas and creating structured timelines help to bring them to fruition. It builds accountability and ensures you stay organized daily, weekly, and yearly.

A daily plan provides clarity. You know what you’re aiming to accomplish when you start your day. Beyond short-term goals, outlining a long-term vision gives meaning to everyday tasks and ensures steady progress over time.

Businesses also benefit from structure. Clear communication, such as newsletters or group alignments, ensures teams stay informed and organized. Written plans act as anchors for continual growth whether for personal success or business ventures.

Examples

• Creating a daily to-do list boosts productivity and focus.
• A two-year language learning plan can segment progress into smaller milestones.
• Company newsletters align employees with organizational goals.

4. Learn the basics but don’t aim to master everything

It’s important to equip yourself with essential knowledge about finance, sales, and operations if you’re launching a business. At the same time, it’s perfectly acceptable to leave certain specialized tasks to experts.

A step-by-step approach works best. Set reasonable targets to focus on specific skills, such as mastering basic accounting this month, before moving on to other areas. Dividing learning into smaller segments prevents overwhelm and keeps momentum.

The author advises outsourcing when needed. For instance, instead of learning complicated web design yourself, you can hire a professional or use tools like WordPress templates so you can focus on growing the actual content of your business.

Examples

• Learn critical business concepts like budgeting or legal basics progressively.
• Outsource a website designer rather than spending months trying to code yourself.
• Use practical tools like templates to save time while maintaining quality.

5. Embrace challenges as opportunities to grow

Challenges might seem like barriers, but they can teach valuable lessons. Facing tough situations pushes you to innovate, grow, and develop resilience. Challenges aren't roadblocks—they’re stepping stones.

Reframing failure is key. Thomas Edison humorously noted he didn’t fail a thousand times; he simply found a thousand ways that didn’t work while inventing the lightbulb. Shifting your perspective to view mistakes constructively allows personal and professional growth.

Quitting isn't inherently wrong either. If something isn’t yielding results or feels misaligned with your overall goals, it may be better to move forward with a fresh idea rather than sticking with one that doesn’t work out.

Examples

• Thomas Edison viewed failed lightbulb prototypes as steps toward success.
• Seek alternate investors when banks reject funding requests.
• The author moved from writing fiction to nonfiction, refocusing on a more achievable dream.

6. Build your community or “tribe” for support

Going at it alone is rarely the best option. Creating and engaging with a like-minded community helps foster growth and opens the door for collaborations. Freaks are rarely alone—there’s always someone who shares your passion.

This "tribe" offers mutual support. You help each other thrive, like the Okinawan concept of monchu, where people form close-knit social groups resembling chosen families. Fostering a network helps ensure nobody feels isolated in their endeavors.

Find people who see value in your talents and can amplify your goals. Communities that cheer successes and tackle failures together can significantly enhance growth.

Examples

• Seek fans or peers who share similar interests, like a Star Wars collectors' group.
• Use the Okinawan concept of monchu to build a professional support system.
• Collaboration within your tribe leads to shared visibility and opportunities.

7. Use media to share your story and find your tribe

Good storytelling brings people together. Leverage communication tools to tell a compelling story about your offering, creating an audience and marketplace simultaneously. Media bridges connection gaps.

Social platforms, blogs, or creative content are powerful tools. They build connections between businesses and customers by sharing relatable personal stories. These stories appeal to a target audience's emotions, fostering loyalty and trust.

Take UFC, for example. The organization generates buzz not only through events but by sharing reality-show-like stories of their fighters, creating a strong connection to their brand. It’s about forming emotional links with an audience.

Examples

• Start a relatable blog highlighting your challenges and victories.
• Use videos to showcase human stories behind your brand idea.
• UFC uses storytelling to establish customer loyalty among fighters and fans.

8. Don't fear failure—learn from it

Fear of failure often holds people back. The book emphasizes that most failures are temporary and are actually valuable experiences. As long as you reflect and adapt, failure is never final.

Failures often lead to unexpected innovations. Challenges push people out of comfort zones, sparking new ideas or approaches. For example, early versions of major products like cars or planes failed repeatedly, setting crucial foundations.

Rather than fearing missteps, make peace with them. It’s part of every success narrative, such as Edison’s experiments or startups that evolve over failed iterations before finding the right formula.

Examples

• Early airplane designs continuously failed until breakthroughs happened.
• Thomas Edison’s lightbulb success followed many failed attempts.
• Accept each failed venture as important feedback and move forward.

9. Take action and avoid waiting for perfection

Many people procrastinate, waiting for "perfect" timing. However, there's never a flawless moment to launch an idea. The key is starting wherever you are, with whatever you have.

Action brings clarity. You’ll learn on the go by stepping into the arena rather than endlessly theorizing. Most businesses evolve in response to real-world feedback.

Start small if needed. Even creating an outline for a business or side project is an excellent first step. Movement ignites momentum.

Examples

• Begin your project even if resources seem limited—adjust as you progress.
• Learn while implementing rather than waiting for comprehensive knowledge.
• Don't aim for perfection—start messy if it means starting at all.

Takeaways

1. Sit down today and define what success looks like for you in specific, measurable terms.
2. Write a basic weekly schedule to map out tasks, goals, and progress checkpoints.
3. Embrace challenges as opportunities to learn, adapt, and innovate rather than avoiding them.