I receive thousands of letters to my cell.

70% are from men.

The most common question in my pile today was,

"Tate how can I be happy"

My answer to them is to conquer.

Because the reality of being a man is conquering.

I say this and most men think I'm talking shit.

As most men out there have been conditioned to be weak.

No life force flows through them.

No will to be the best they can be and build a legacy.

They'd rather sit around playing their video games. Smoking their weed.

Talking about "How it'd be cool to do something in the real world."

But if you have got any amount of drive in you.

If you want happiness?

Start conquering everything.

Go after it relentlessly.

Waking up to the work ahead of you that day.

Set your fucking target.

And do everything in your human power to make it real.

Making money from the power of your own mind by pulling it from thin air.

Then use this money to buy assets that earn you money while you sleep.

Lift weights to make yourself hard to kill.

Learn how to fight by joining a fight gym and getting your face punched in.

And then before long, you'll start beating your opponents.

Fall in love with beautiful women.

Break some hearts and have yours broken too.

Buy one or more of the cars others can’t afford.

So you can drive around the world smiling blasting music with a hot girl next to you.

Conquer.

Attack.

Win.

This is the only way to be happy while alive on this earth.

Even in this cell, I am happy.

All I do is WORK.

Every day I write lessons.

Every day I further prepare for my release.

Their lies cannot hold me forever.

The day I am released, the universe will split in two.

If you knew what would happen to every student of The Real World as soon as I am released

you would already be inside.

I only warn you to hurry.

Their lies are breaking.

Locked in a box.

Blistering cold.

Three cement walls and a steel door.

You hear how your family misses you.

You do not know what tricks your enemies will pull.

Completely innocent.

But no freedom.

Yells and screams are the only music in here.

You're given a pencil, paper and a single book.

24 hours a day.

Everyday.

You wake up in the same familiar place.

But it could always be worse.

Depression isn't real.

Jail is a fantastic way to see who is actually on your team.

Most men in here have phone calls but no one to call.

No letters to read.

All of them have a family.

Every inmate had some friends.

But Jail is a strong test.

And most men chose their team poorly.

They failed.

Every one of you reading this,

Ask yourself.

How would your team perform if you were imprisoned?

If they would perform poorly.

Work to change that.

You cannot be rolling with cowards.

Everyone has friends when the sun shines.

But you will need your friends most when it rains.

You cannot conquer the world alone.

I will emerge from jail as a better person.

But a better person needs better people.

My team may be enjoying freedom,

But the burden to increase in diligence, competence and professionalism is shared by us all.

Such is The Way of Wudan

There is one story that visits me very often in this cell.

Atop Wudan in the year 109, Master Po took me to the cliff’s edge.

“The first lesson in Zen is about mortality,” he said.

“When you reach my level of power, you know exactly when you will die.”

He produced a handful of pink apple blossoms from his robe and threw them into the wind - they floated upon the breeze, scattering into the valley two miles below.

“Retrieve every last blossom.

And when you have picked up the very last one, you will know that I have passed to the next life.”

I bowed and shed a tear.

Then began my walk down the mountain.

I found the first blossom two weeks later.

Laying in a rock pool, bright pink contrasting violet blue.

I lived in the wilderness, hunting wolves with handmade weapons, and spent every waking hour searching for the blossoms.

I had no desire to hasten his passing, yet I understood to always obey.

After 21 years, I had found 99 of the 100 blossoms.

I had walked over 3000 miles through wilderness.

The mountain winds had blown them far and wide.

I spent another 60 years, looking for the final piece.

I would meditate at night to keep frustration at bay and spend my days sifting through dirt,

climbing trees and swimming lakes - knowing the blossom could be anywhere.

The final blossom eluded me.

I dreamt of it. I hallucinated. I saw it permanently in my mind, but could never find it.

And then... 81 years after first descending from the mountain, I came across a large flat rock.

Upon it was the perfect imprint of an apple blossom.

The piece must have landed here many years ago, and the blistering sun had all but obliterated it - leaving nothing but the perfect print on hard stone.

I was furious.

So many years wasted. Elements endured.

And it’s now clear, I could never complete the task.

I returned to Wudan with 99 blossoms to find Po meditating.

I knelt before him and began to cry through frustration.

“I have failed. I did not move quickly enough for the sun. I will never have all of the blossoms.”

He smiled and replied. “Then I will never die.”

Such is The Way Of Wudan

The human mind is not well adapted to absolute boredom.

This makes jail the ultimate training ground for emotional control.

I've seen men cry happiness over a coca-cola.

I've seen people get angrily attacked over a cigarette.

Emotions are the original entertainment.

In the outside world, you do not realize how entertaining emotions are.

How addicting the feeling is

Being happy,

Sad,

Angry,

You feel them, but your constant external distraction of work, your phone and other stimulus diminishes the extent.

It is very easy to be stoic when you are entertained by something else.

In jail,

Where distractions are so limited.

Emotions become the entertainment of choice for most.

Inmates ENJOY feeling anger,

They entertain themselves with pure feelings of happiness or sadness.

I've seen men fight the guards for pure fun.

Men argue in blistering anger over the pronunciation of a name.

Men crying for hours then laughing in hysteria.

It is an animal house.

I am grateful

It is the perfect testing ground for my zen.

Day 53.

My Iron Mind remains unphased.

The entire world is a game.

A battle of ideas.

Jail is what can happen to people who try to change the world.

An unfortunate possible outcome of playing the game.

When you make a roll of the dice

Sometimes it will go well

Sometimes it will not

It's Monopoly.

You put it on the dice,

Sometimes the dice roll good,

Sometimes they roll bad,

Go directly to jail, do not pass Go, do not collect $200.

The spectator may laugh.

But the player has another chance

It's part of the game

An unfortunate possibility of being a player in the Arena.

Spectators never need to worry.

Jail won't happen to the man stacking grocery shelves,

Jail won't happen to the man cleaning cars.

Jail won't happen to the men who don't play the game.

Jail is an unfortunate possible outcome for men trying to make a change.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Malcolm X

Nelson Mandela,

And more.

They were given some bad rolls,

But you still remember their name.

Great players of the game.

The spectator will cheer and boo, watch the entire show.

But no one will remember him,

He's not playing the game, he's only watching it.

One day I will be released because I've done nothing wrong.

I'm not a criminal, I have not broken the law.

I'm a player of the game trying to change the world for the better.

The Truth will win.

And I will continue to positively influence the world.

Who do you fight for?

Everybody is fighting for something.

If you're employed, you fight for your company.

If you work hard to be in fantastic shape, you fight for your reputation.

You fight to have control over the way others perceive you.

If you tell the truth, even to your detriment, you're fighting for God.

War is everywhere.

Believe.

And you are a combatant whether you like it or not.

There are admirals like myself with massive influence and unknown footsoldiers - but the fact remains.

Every move you make, every word you speak, every view you hold.

These are the bullets and shells spent shaping the battlefield.

Your actions are affecting the overall consciousness of humanity.

Even at a micro level, it is micros that build macros.

The real question is.

Do you know what you’re fighting for? Do you know which side you’re on?

Do you know exactly how your existence affects everybody you interact with?

What would the world look like with an extra 1 million people just like you?

What if there were zero people like you, then what?

Do you think about these things?

Do you understand how people feel when they see you?

Are they impressed? Self-conscious? Repulsed?

Most of you are invisible and people don’t notice you at all.

What happens when people listen to you speak?

Do you know how that will make them feel and act?

Do you understand cause and effect?

Do you track the ripples you create in space-time with a friendly hello to an unknown?

Do you have ANY IDEA WHAT THE FUCK YOU ARE DOING WITH YOUR LIFE?

You’ve been fighting for the enemy this entire time. On accident.

Every time somebody views you in your brutally offensive meritocracy, the absolute lack of merit sticking to your skin like a stench, they think it’s ok to be just like you.

Well, he’s a nobody, so I guess being a nobody isn’t so bad.

To be another useless slave in the machine.

A pawn who is ready to die for a war he doesn’t understand.

The decisions of kings you can’t even name guide your entire life path.

They decide where you live and how you eat and who you love.

And your distinct averageness is lending firepower to an enemy which is intent on crushing you into absolute submission.

You will only fight for the good guys when you become remarkable. Excellent. Exceptional.

When people see you and realize that they must BE better and DO better because your presence lights the burning feeling of inferiority in their hearts.

You must BLIND. Like the SUN. Without saying a word.

Whenever I walk into a room THE WORLD STOPS SPINNING.

Everybody feels it.

Until you can do the same you’re simply an enemy combatant, fighting a war you don’t even know is raging.

Waiting to be shot in the head and forgotten about.

When you die, nobody will care.

We all have our favorite emotions.

The ones we default to and seek.

This is why junkies are junkies.

Why athletes are athletes.

Why winners win and losers lose.

Everybody wants that familiar feeling.

Whether it’s a good feeling.

Or a bad one.

My default feeling is proud.

I enjoy feeling better than everyone around me with undeniable empirical evidence.

Hottest girl, strongest team, iron minded, whatever.

I love to FLEX.

Searching for my favorite feeling has built me an EXCEPTIONAL life.

It's FORCED me to make something I can be proud of.

What’s your feeling?

If it’s “happy” that’s just as destructive as “sad”

And trust me. Some people WANT to feel sad.

Perpetual victims.

But happiness is the hedonistic highway to addictions. Short-sighted.

Drink this vodka, take this pill, eat that cake, I want to feel HAPPY YAY.

Society has conditioned men to believe we should be happy.

We are not children. Life is not a playground.

“There’s something wrong with you if you’re not happy”

WRONG.

I know successful dedicated brilliant men who are not giggling like little girls.

Fuck happy. Chase more.

Be more.

Be great.

A lot of the letters I receive are questions.

One of the most common ones I get is

“Tate, what can I do right now to become financially free?”

My answer is simple.

Try Harder.

You think you are trying because you leave each day exhausted.

But I assure you,

Most of you aren’t trying at all.

Most of you believe that your job and some half-assed investing will lead you to financial freedom.

You’re trying to force a square peg into a round hole.

When I yell TRY HARDER.

Your frustrated mind pushes the peg with even more effort to no avail.

You completely misunderstand the definition of TRYING.

Someone who actually was to TRY hard would use brains to accompany the brawn.

You’re doing the same things you’ve always done, trying harder than ever, but you are STILL lazy.

Is that amazing?

EVERYONE AROUND YOU has failed to force that square peg into the round hole.

You must grab a knife and change the shape. Carve new holes in space-time.

Create pegs that go through with ease.

If you’re not trying new things, you’re not trying at all.

Truly trying hard, involves creativity.

It's the only way to achieve the seemingly impossible.

It's why it's a pillar of what we teach.

God tests his favorite creations with the hardest battles.

It is an opportunity to show God how strong you are.

It's an audition to showcase your brilliance.

I am human,

I miss my family,

I miss my freedom.

But I also understand.

Life as a man is struggle and pain.

I will continue to write and work in this cell.

I will continue to prepare for my eventual release.

My ancestors are watching me.

I will show them.

I am outstanding even in the rain.

To all of you with your own trials and struggles.

I recommend you do the same.

Perform exceptionally despite the rain.

Look at you.

Praying Crypto continues to go up.

Thinking "This might be it"

You’re saving every dollar you have from your wage job to buy Crypto

“Dollar-Cost Average”

“HODL”

PATHETIC.

How are you okay with your life being run by some price?

Your whole hopes and dreams are dependent on some shit you can’t control.

Don’t you feel deep shame?

Like some beggar on the street PRAYING a rich man comes and gives you some food?

You should be WORKING.

BUILDING AN EMPIRE

Your life should have only two possible outcomes.

1. You become SUPER RICH

2. You become MEGA RICH

YOUR PLAN SHOULD LEAVE NO ROOM FOR ANYTHING ELSE.

What are you working on to bring in money, TODAY?

What’s the project you’re working on?

What empire?

What brothers do you have working at your side?

WHERE IS THE ACTION?

Crypto isn’t going to save you.

Finance isn’t going to save you.

You should be focused on only one thing.

WHAT WILL YOU DO TODAY TO GET WHAT YOU WANT.

Action is the only thing that will save you.

The only way you get to control your path.

Do you have a plan?

A set schedule of actions to perform every day?

Only action can save you.

CASHFLOW.

Money making.

If you don't have a bulletproof plan to get you where you want to go.

Get one.

I write my letters to men who were like me when I was younger.

Hard-working, smart men who cannot sleep because they have not conquered every dream and aspiration they’ve ever had.

Men who will force the universe into compliance.

Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk.

The richest men on the planet are mortal.

They bleed just like you.

They were born,

They lived,

They will die.

They are just men, not gods.

Hard-working and disciplined, sure.

But why can’t you be the same?

Why can’t you conquer Earth?

Why can't you reach your goals?

Why can't you build your dream life?

I write to those of you who understand that you can, too.

Wake up Neo…

The most detrimental improvement "advice" is

Love what you do

or

Do something you're passionate about.

It teaches people to not try at things they don’t enjoy.

"This isn’t for me"

YES IT IS

HARD WORK IS FOR EVERYONE.

Life isn’t a fucking cupcake. HATE it and EXCEL regardless.

"Tate, I don't like school"

SO???

EXCEL REGARDLESS.

Sit down, complete the assignments and get the task done FLAWLESSLY.

Outside of the 1% who get to be athletes or movie stars, you’re never going to love your job.

Do it anyway.

Jobs are shit. That’s why they PAY you. If it was fun, YOU would pay them.

I hated every second of getting rich. But I did it. And here I am.

Be passionate about being successful. By any means.

The Chinese concrete billionaires aren’t passionate about concrete.

They don’t masturbate over cement mix.

They’re passionate about HARD WORK and FINANCIAL FREEDOM.

If you’re passionate about those two things you’ll do ANYTHING.

Do you understand?

YES OR NO

You are being programmed.

You cannot stop it.

Everything you ARE stems from what you’ve experienced.

It’s an unstoppable force like gravity.

You cannot stop the programming but,

YOU can CHOOSE what you hear and experience.

You can choose WHAT and WHO programs your mind.

No one takes advantage of this but you can,

Mainstream media, news, teachers, parents, friends, everyone and everything is defining who you are on a fundamental level.

Average people aren’t selective, they think nothing of it.

They just allow programming.

But they can only program into you the programming they have in them.

Have THEY been selective of who they allowed to program them?

Or are they just like MOST people,

Mindlessly allowing the world to keep them as slaves.

Watch the news, go to school, la di da, du do dooo.

Mindlessly accept WHATEVER programming you come across, good or bad, in your best interest or not.

Your parents want what’s best for you,

Your friends and teachers, they most likely do too.

I ONLY associated with men who had programming I wanted.

I’ve always been selective with who and what programs my mind.

I let the law of association take care of the rest.

Programming is happening every moment of every second.

Even now.

Select wisely.

On my 407th year atop Wudan began a period of terrible nightmares.

Scenes of death and destruction.

I did not sleep for 20 human years.

Despite embarrassment, I sought the council of Master Po.

“Master. You teach me the hidden styles of Wudan, in a bid to make me a great warrior.

Yet I can not sleep due to the sight of death, of destruction.

I feel uneasy. I simply lie awake.”

He replied in a whisper:

“You feel awake... alive, at the sight of battle, and you doubt your skills as a warrior?”

Such is The Way Of Wudan

In chess, the Check forces you to move.

If you didn’t - you’d be dead the next turn.

So you waste a move, waste a precious moment in time.

You lose tempo.

You fall behind.

Your opponent seizes the momentum.

Then you die.

Life has been checking you your entire life, you haven’t protected yourself.

A Check is a consequence of failing to preempt attacks.

CHECK.

Now you can’t travel.

CHECK.

Now you can’t use your bank account.

CHECK.

Your girl leaves you.

CHECK.

Your employer fires you.

CHECK.

You could’ve stopped all of these if you protected yourself.

In chess, the King protects himself with Knights, Rooks, Bishops, Pawns, and the Queen.

He would die if he played the game alone.

Do you understand?

Everybody wants the same things.

Those who have them, deserve them.

They suffered the burden of wanting them more than everybody else.

The agony of absence.

The sleepless nights.

HOW can I MAKE myself a superhero?

HOW can I GET THAT MONEY?

I can’t accept this mediocre life.

I MUST become a king.

Remember…

The mediocre perish.

Only a KING lives forever.

Take a brief moment of deep introspection and answer me:

Are you one of the few who truly DESERVE excellence,

Does the above describe you?

Or do you sleep just fine in your mediocrity?

You have to give up the peace of mind for an extraordinary life.

Learn to be at peace with the chaos.

Own a company? Work never stops.

Own multiple cars? One is always in the shop.

Leave “peace” for the weak who can’t handle pressure.

When old, they’ll wish they lived harder.

The only true peace of mind is to care about nothing

Achieve nothing and be nothing.

If you want to do something that MATTERS.

Or want to have what others DON’T.

Be at peace in the fog of war.

HAVE IT ALL.

How HARD do you live?

What did you even do yesterday?

Reply to this email, write down your answer, press send, then look yourself in the mirror and ask.

WHERE IS THE ACTION?

When I was flying on private jets

Sailing on Yachts

And driving in sports cars

Living every man's ideal existence.

I decided that depression wasn't real.

I used the good times to prepare myself for the worst which could possibly happen

In my jail cell, this decision has proven ultimately useful.

You must prepare for the eventual storm when the sun shines.

The summer will never last forever.

Winter will come.

Prepare now.

You’ll thank yourself in the future.

The preparation is what will allow you to outlast the storms that are guaranteed to appear.

Have you been preparing?

I am up to 1,000 squats per day.

750 push-ups.

20km walks.

I've had thousands of correspondences via letters to the outside world.

My Tiger claw technique, unmatched.

My daily readings of The Quran continue to bless me.

I can play chess in my mind for up to move 21 without losing the position.

I can stop my heart for a beat at will.

You've had the same 85 days without any of the limitations of being in a Romanian jail.

Have you improved?

Have you gotten better as a man?

Do not be outperformed by a man in a jail cell.

If you want to write to me.