Man, we're going in a real dark place. I've never talked about this stuff out loud.

The American entrepreneur broadcaster Tom Billiut.

I'm about to ruin that fucking good mood.

I tried to believe I was special and either luck of the draw or the fact that I really am average,

I would always run into somebody better than me.

I was sliding rapidly towards depression.

The breakthrough for me was to accept that I was hopelessly average and that that was still going to allow me to be successful.

I can sum up personal responsibility in a single quote by Kobe Bryant.

Booze don't block dunks.

The most insidious thing about excuses,

you have a valid reason to feel like a victim.

But the question is, is that going to serve you moving forward?

When I reflect on how many people in our society

are feeling anxious these days,

is there something we are just fundamentally doing wrong

about the way that we're living our lives?

Yes. And what is that? I would lose respect for myself if I didn't say this. So here it goes.

So without further ado, I'm Stephen Bartlett, and this is the diary of a CEO, USA Edition.

I hope nobody's listening, but if you are, then please keep this to yourself. The story you tell yourself about yourself is the single most important thing you're going to craft.

Facts.

I was watching a compilation of things you'd set upstairs

before I came downstairs

...