One Podcast, One Video, One Book #1

Your Monthly Curation for Growth and Transformation

14 months ago, I wouldn’t have believed how much my mindset, ambition, and understanding of business and entrepreneurship could shift—until I immersed myself in long-form content.

Podcasts, YouTube videos, and books have rewired my thinking. The impossible started feeling possible. New ideas flowed. My attitude toward work, creation, and opportunity changed.

The Hidden Power of Long-Form Content

The environment we surround ourselves with deeply affects our productivity, ambition, and ability to dream. If we only consume short-form content—memes, TikToks, fleeting dopamine hits—we drain our attention and creative energy.

But here’s the problem: When you're at the early stages of your journey, you don’t have direct access to top entrepreneurs, value creators, and high achievers. So how do you bridge that gap?

You build your environment by choosing what you consume.

• Podcasts: Deep, nuanced conversations that expose you to high-level thinking and those who already made it.

• YouTube (mid-to-long form): Focused learning on topics that matter. It became my go-to guide for strategy, processes, and product-building.

• Books: The most underrated resource—condensed decades of knowledge in a few hundred pages.

This approach has completely changed my trajectory. That’s why I’m launching this monthly curation series: One Podcast, One Video, One Book. Every month, I’ll handpick these three resources to help you level up.

The Challenge

If you commit to this series—listening, watching, and reading everything I share—by One Podcast, One Video, One Book #12, I guarantee you’ll feel 100% more satisfied with your life.

• You will see the path toward financial freedom.

• You will understand value creation.

• You will create more value than you ever have before.

I can’t promise you’ll have a thriving business or be a key person of influence by the end of the year. But I can promise that if you complete:
✅ 12 podcasts (~24 hours of listening)
✅ 12 YouTube videos (~10 hours of watching)
✅ 12 books (~72 hours of reading)

…your mindset, knowledge, and outlook will be transformed.

By December, if you stick with it, I want you to email me and tell me how much you’ve grown. I’ll be waiting for those of you who make it to the finish line.

Now, let’s start Month #1. 🚀

Introduction: Why This Is the Most Important Episode You’ll Watch

Over the past three years of following The Diary of a CEO, I have listened to countless episodes filled with insights. But this episode with Daniel Priestley is by far the most eye-opening, practical, and transformational conversation I’ve come across.

Why?

Because it breaks down the fundamental shift happening in the world today—a shift that is rendering old economic models obsolete while opening up unprecedented opportunities for individuals who understand the new game.

This episode is about:
✅ The Industrial Age vs. the Digital Age—why the old career paths no longer work and how digital leverage is creating exponential wealth.
✅ How to introduce yourself, position yourself, and become a Key Person of Influence in your niche.
✅ Why you don’t need to have everything figured out before you start—you just need to step into the game.
✅ The 5Ps Framework (Pitch, Publish, Productize, Profile, Partnerships) as the roadmap to influence, impact, and financial freedom.
✅ The Power of Compounding—why consistency leads to exponential results, and how small efforts accumulate into massive success.

At the core of this conversation is a simple but powerful truth: The window of opportunity is open right now. The question is—will you step through it?

The Industrial Age vs. The Digital Age: The Shift You Can’t Ignore

Priestley explains that we are no longer in the Industrial Age, where success was tied to degrees, job security, and hierarchical progression. Instead, we are in the Digital Age, where individuals can bypass traditional gatekeepers, build their own audience and business, and leverage digital assets to create financial freedom.

Let’s break it down:

🚨 Old Rules (Industrial Age)

❌ Go to school, get a degree, and find a secure job.
❌ Work your way up the corporate ladder.
❌ Your value is determined by your job title and years of experience.
❌ Success is tied to stability and hierarchy.

⚡ New Rules (Digital Age)

✅ Build a personal brand instead of relying on an employer.
✅ Develop intellectual property (insights, methods, content) instead of just skills.
✅ Leverage scalable digital models instead of trading time for money.
✅ Position yourself in an exponential (Power Law) market, not a traditional (Bell Curve) job.

The bottom line? The game has changed.

This means that whether you are an entrepreneur, a freelancer, or someone stuck in a job looking for more freedom, your success is no longer dictated by old institutions. Instead, your ability to build influence and leverage digital assets is what will determine your future.

The Name, Same, Fame, Aim, Game: How to Stand Out

Introducing yourself effectively isn't just about saying what you do—it’s about making an instant impact so people remember you, trust you, and see your value. Daniel Priestley’s Name, Same, Fame, Aim, Game framework provides a structured way to do just that.

1️⃣ Name: Clearly State Your Name and Business Name

First, keep it simple and clear.

👉 Example:
"My name is Zyad Hatquai, and I founded SustainaTrend and now SustainaEarn, two newsletters focused on empowering others in the digital age."

2️⃣ Same: What Are You the Same As? (The Mental Folder Concept)

People categorize information quickly. If they don’t know how to "store" you in their mind, they’ll forget you. To fix this, compare yourself to something familiar so they instantly understand what you do.

👉 Example:
"I’m an online writer and strategist, just like other content creators, but my focus is on helping people navigate the digital economy and escape the Industrial Age mindset."

3️⃣ Fame: What Makes You Interesting or Unique?

This is where you establish credibility by sharing an impressive fact, achievement, or recognition. Numbers, big brands, and key accomplishments work well here.

👉 Example:
"I grew my audience from 0 to 10,000 in a year while managing a full-time job and even getting promoted in the process."

4️⃣ Aim: What Are You Working on Right Now? (90-Day Focus)

This keeps your introduction relevant. People need to know what you're focused on today so they can connect with your current mission.

👉 Example:
"Right now, I aim to keep the certification program I’m leading performing at its best, while growing my LinkedIn and newsletter audiences. This will allow me to compound value over the coming months."

5️⃣ Game: What Is Your Bigger Vision? (3–6 Year Dream)

Your big vision shows ambition and gives people a reason to follow your journey.

👉 Example:
"I’m focused on guiding others to create their unique value proposition, build a personal brand, and secure long-term financial freedom (no ‘get rich quick’ scams here!)."

🚀 The Power of This Introduction

This framework ensures that you:
✅ Make a strong first impression.
✅ Position yourself as an expert in a recognizable field.
✅ Showcase credibility without bragging.
✅ Clearly communicate what you’re working on and where you're going.

The 5Ps Framework: The Roadmap to Influence and Financial Freedom

Priestley’s 5Ps Framework provides a clear and actionable path to do this:

1️⃣ Pitch – Develop a powerful way to communicate your value.
2️⃣ Publish – Start creating content that establishes your authority.
3️⃣ Productize – Turn your expertise into scalable digital assets (courses, memberships, books, software, etc.).
4️⃣ Profile – Build your credibility by increasing your visibility (social media, PR, speaking engagements).
5️⃣ Partnerships – Form strategic collaborations to expand your reach and revenue.

The biggest misconception? You don’t need to have everything figured out before you start.

If you’re still learning, start by publishing content—documenting your journey, sharing insights, and engaging with others.

If you already have expertise, but lack visibility, then apply the 5Ps immediately to position yourself as a thought leader.

🚀 What I’m Doing with SustainaEarn

This is exactly the journey I’m on with SustainaEarn.

I don’t have all the answers yet, but that’s not stopping me from taking action:
✅ Providing free value through curated insights, content, and my newsletter.
✅ Positioning myself in a high-value niche (monetization strategies, content creation, digital entrepreneurship).
✅ Building a parasocial relationship with my audience by sharing valuable insights without immediate monetization.
✅ Understanding that with time and consistency, my influence will compound, opening up opportunities (courses, community, partnerships).

And this brings us to one of the most powerful concepts of the episode:

The Power of Compounding: How Success Becomes Inevitable

Most people fail not because they lack skills or opportunities—but because they quit too soon.

Priestley explains that success follows an exponential curve, meaning that small, consistent efforts compound over time.

Think about this analogy:

📈 If you double a grain of rice every step on a chessboard, the last square will contain more rice than all previous squares combined.

The same is true in business, content creation, and influence-building:

✅ Your first 100 videos or posts may not get massive traction.
✅ Your first clients or customers may come slowly.
✅ But once you hit critical mass, every new opportunity will eclipse everything before it.

Consistency is the secret weapon.

If you show up every day, publishing, refining your message, and growing your influence, the results are inevitable.

Final Thoughts: Your Challenge Moving Forward

This episode is a masterclass on positioning yourself for success in the Digital Age.

If you apply the insights—building your personal brand, leveraging digital assets, and following the 5Ps—you will move from being an invisible participant to a Key Person of Influence in your niche.

🚀 Your challenge now?

✅ Start the challenge—implement the 5Ps in your own way.
✅ Surround yourself with people who are growing, not those who stay stuck in outdated models.
✅ Understand that you don’t need millions of followers to be a Key Person of Influence—5,000-50,000 engaged people in a high-value niche is enough.
✅ Overcome fear by focusing on progress, not perfection—learn along the way rather than waiting until you feel "ready."

🌱 Success is about playing the right game, staying consistent, and letting compounding do the work.

🚀 Now, the question is—are you ready to take action?

The week Video by Ali Abdaal my favorite youtuber ;)

The Journey, Not the Shortcut: Writing as a Business & the Path to $10K/Month

Too many aspiring online entrepreneurs chase “get rich quick” schemes or believe that success is simply about becoming an influencer overnight. The reality? Sustainable success requires embracing the journey. This video breaks down how digital writing can be a highly lucrative business—without needing a massive audience or viral content. But it requires patience, strategic thinking, and an understanding of where your unfair advantage lies.

Key Takeaways & Ideas:

1. Success Comes from the Journey, Not the Destination

• Want to “go big”? Sacrifice short-term comforts—write, work with clients, and build your experience.

• Don't fixate on becoming instantly successful by mirroring others. Your path will be unique.

• Enjoy the process—otherwise, you won’t sustain it.

2. The Fastest Path to Making Money as a Writer? Selling a Service, Not a Product

• Most people assume they need thousands of followers or a best-selling book to make money writing. Wrong.

• Selling services (ghostwriting, content creation, consulting) is the fastest way to $10K/month.

• Writing books, selling e-books, or creating courses takes time—you need volume, which requires an audience.

• Instead of chasing followers, find one high-paying client willing to pay for your expertise.

3. Focus on Your ‘Unfair Advantage’—Not Something New

• Many people make the mistake of wanting to start in a completely new field.

• Researching and writing about an unfamiliar topic from scratch is time-consuming and makes it harder to compete.

• Instead, leverage what you already know. Your unfair advantage is in your existing experiences, industry knowledge, or background.

• Example: Instead of becoming a generalist freelancer, a former doctor can write for biotech companies, health tech startups, or medical executives.

4. Sell to Businesses, Not Individuals

• The biggest mistake writers make? Selling low-ticket offers to individuals instead of high-value services to businesses.

• Businesses and executives have budgets—getting a $5K/month retainer from a company is easier than selling 1,000 $5 e-books.

• Example: A doctor offering LinkedIn content for a spine surgeon is more profitable than tutoring med students.

5. Do Free Work to Gain Leverage

• Many argue, “Never work for free.” But at the start, experience is more valuable than money.

• Free work removes friction, helps you gain confidence, builds credibility, and allows you to ladder up to paying clients faster.

• The right free project opens doors to referrals, testimonials, and eventually high-ticket clients.

6. The ‘Problem Pitch’ – How to Sell Without Feeling Salesy

• Most people sell backward—they pitch their solution before the client even understands the problem.

• Instead, use the problem script:

  1. Identify the problem the business has (e.g., “You’re struggling to get high-quality patients for your private practice.”)

  2. Explain why the problem exists (e.g., “Your website isn’t optimized, and you have no content educating potential patients.”)

  3. Show the negative consequence of inaction (e.g., “Without content, your competitors will dominate the search results.”)

  4. Introduce the solution (e.g., “With weekly LinkedIn posts and a newsletter, you’ll attract patients instead of chasing them.”)

• Selling doesn’t feel like selling when you frame it as education.

7. Talk in Education, Not Sales

• The best salespeople never feel like they’re selling.

• Instead of pitching, educate and provide value first. When people understand their problem, they will ask you for the solution.

• Example: Instead of saying, “Hire me to write your LinkedIn posts,” say, “I noticed your practice isn’t attracting patients online. Have you considered educating them through LinkedIn?”

8. Generate More Leads Than You Think You Need

• Success in business is a numbers game—most people give up after five outreach attempts when they should be making 100+.

• Start with 50 warm leads (people in your network who might need your service or know someone who does).

• If you go cold, reach out to 100 high-quality leads, personalize your messages, and follow up.

• Instead of asking, “Can I help you?” ask, “Do you know someone who might need this?”—this opens doors to referrals.

9. You Can’t Automate What You Haven’t Done

• Many people want to use AI to automate their outreach before they’ve even learned how to sell.

• Master the manual process first. Only then should you use tools to scale.

• Just like training with ankle weights before a race, doing things manually first gives you the depth of knowledge to optimize automation later.

Final Thought: Start Where You Have the Advantage

This video isn’t just about writing—it’s about thinking strategically about online business.

Instead of:

• Trying to “get rich quick” or chasing trends,

• Copying influencers who have spent years building their audience,

• Jumping into an entirely new niche and competing with experts,

Do this instead:

✅ Start with what you know (your unfair advantage).
✅ Offer a service that solves a business problem.
✅ Educate, don’t sell—be a guide, not a guru.
✅ Charge businesses, not individuals.
✅ Generate more leads than you think you need.

It’s not about luck or overnight success. It’s about taking calculated steps that build real leverage over time.

As a proud Beehiiv user, I can confidently say that starting my SustainaTrend newsletter early in my online journey was one of the best decisions I’ve made. If you’re considering diving into content creation, I highly recommend starting with a newsletter—you can begin for free and build as you go. And if you ever decide to upgrade, feel free to reach out for an exclusive 20% discount on your first three months: https://www.beehiiv.com?via=Zyad-Hatquai

This Month’s Book: Atomic Habits

If there’s one book that truly transformed the way I approach productivity and consistency, it’s Atomic Habits by James Clear. This book didn’t just teach me about habits—it completely shifted how I see myself and my daily actions.

Before reading it, I struggled with breaking bad habits and staying consistent with the things that mattered. But when I understood the power of identity-based habits, everything changed. I didn’t just quit smoking—I became a healthy person, and my habits started to reflect that. I didn’t just set a goal to create content—I became a creator, which is why I’ve posted on LinkedIn every day for 9 months and sent a newsletter every week for the past 24 weeks.

What Makes Atomic Habits So Powerful?

James Clear presents a highly practical and science-backed approach to habit formation. He explains how small, 1% improvements each day compound over time to create remarkable long-term results. Success, he argues, isn’t about drastic changes—it’s about the tiny habits that build momentum over time.

The book is structured around the Four Laws of Behavior Change, a framework for building good habits and breaking bad ones:
✅ Make it obvious – Design your environment to make good habits easy and bad habits hard.
✅ Make it attractive – Use temptation bundling and social reinforcement to make habits appealing.
✅ Make it easy – Focus on small, effortless actions that build consistency.
✅ Make it satisfying – Reinforce habits with immediate rewards to keep motivation high.

One of the most impactful concepts is identity-based habits—instead of saying, “I want to run a marathon,” you say, “I am a runner.” The shift from focusing on goals to focusing on systems is what creates lasting change.

Clear also dives into strategies like:
📌 Habit stacking – Linking new habits to existing ones for effortless adoption.
📌 Environment design – Structuring your surroundings to encourage good behaviors.
📌 Tracking & accountability – Using small wins to reinforce consistency.

Why This Book Is My #1 Recommendation

The principles in Atomic Habits have shaped who I am today—not just what I do. If you’re struggling with consistency, productivity, or breaking bad habits, this book will change the way you approach personal growth.

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