Why embracing resistance is the fastest way to wealth.

“If it’s hard, good—now we know where to dig.” — M.C. Salmon

The Uncomfortable Truth

Getting rich isn’t mysterious. It’s a sequence of actions done consistently toward a clear target.
People don’t fail from lack of information; they fail from emotion-caused inconsistency.

  • Simple ≠ easy. The work is straightforward; the hard is emotional: fear, doubt, resistance, procrastination, shame, overwhelm.

  • “Hard” is not a bug—it’s the filter that preserves value. Unlimited demand for wealth, limited supply of people willing to keep going when it sucks.

Reframe: Hard Is the Way

  • Every time you move outside your comfort zone, “old self” throws up resistance to keep you the same.

  • When you act through hard, you weaken the old self, generate compelling evidence for new beliefs, and your identity shifts toward the person for whom success is inevitable.

  • Therefore: seek the path with the richest resistance. It’s the breadcrumb trail to your next level.

The Hardship Operating System (HOS)

Use this when the day fights back.

1) Name the “Hard” (30 seconds)
Write the exact friction: “cold outreach dread,” “publishing anxiety,” “pricing panic.”

2) Switch to Thank-You Mode (10 seconds)
Say (out loud): “Thank you, Hard. You’re the doorway.” Gratitude removes the victim frame.

3) Shrink to Now (10 seconds)
Breathe 3 times. Ask: “What’s the smallest needle-moving action I can do in the next 60 seconds?”

4) Micro-Move (60–180 seconds)

  • Type the first sentence.

  • Press “publish.”

  • Send the first DM.
    Momentum > mood.

5) Identity Vote (5 seconds)
Tally one ☑ in your Hard Wins counter. You just taught your nervous system: “We act anyway.”

Run HOS every time resistance shows up. You’ll rewire faster than any pep talk.

The Hard-First Decision Rule

When in doubt between two options, choose the one that:

  • Creates visible stakes (shipping > tinkering)

  • Triggers mild fear (contact > consumption)

  • Moves money-relevant metrics (offers, calls, ads, pitches) over vanity metrics

If it tingles your spine a bit, it’s probably the one.

The Gratitude Protocol (Daily)

Morning (2 minutes)

  • Write today’s Top 3 Inputs (no outcomes).

  • Pre-commit the Hard you’ll welcome: “I will feel and thank outreach dread at 10:00.”

During work

  • When discomfort spikes, whisper: “Gatekeepers—thanks.”

  • Run HOS. Log the ☑.

Evening (3 minutes)

  • Note 3 Hard Wins + 1 lesson.

  • Pre-pick tomorrow’s first hard micro-move.

Spiritual Edge (why this works under the hood)

Gratitude dissolves the illusion that hard is an enemy. It becomes initiation—a sacred training that sculpts the self that can carry bigger outcomes without collapsing. You’re not avoiding the fire; you’re learning to cook with it.

IMMachines Cross-Links

  • From Chaos to Clarity GPT → surfaces the one Hard-First input to do now.

  • £3K GPT → converts your Hard-First rule into a 90-day revenue sprint.

  • Thought-Leader Engine → publish while the gratitude state is warm (turn Hard into authority).

  • Creativity Engine → instant first lines when resistance freezes you.

Printable: Hard Wins Card (wallet-size)

Hard shows up as: __________________________________
My micro-move: _____________________________________
Gratitude cue: “Gatekeepers—thanks.”
Today’s ☑☑☑: ___ / 3