Chapter 1
The Audacity to Be Fucking Awesome: A Path to Unapologetic Success
In a world where countless self-help books promise quick fixes and magical formulas, Dan Meredith's "How to Be Fucking Awesome" stands apart as a refreshingly honest, no-bullshit guide to creating an extraordinary life. This Amazon bestseller has developed a cult following among entrepreneurs and self-development enthusiasts, with readers praising its raw authenticity and actionable advice. Unlike traditional personal development books, Meredith doesn't pretend to have all the answers or promise overnight success. Instead, he shares his journey from being broke and directionless to building multiple successful businesses and a community of thousands. His approach combines brutal honesty with genuine compassion, delivered with the colorful language of someone who refuses to water down his personality for mass appeal. Whether you're stuck in a soul-crushing job or already on your entrepreneurial journey, this book offers a roadmap to becoming, as the title suggests, fucking awesome.
Chapter 2
Embrace Selfishness: Put Your Oxygen Mask On First
The journey to becoming awesome begins with a counterintuitive first step: be selfish. Not the kind of selfishness that harms others, but the essential self-care that allows you to show up fully in the world.
Most of us have been conditioned since childhood to believe that putting ourselves first is wrong. This industrial-age thinking trains us to follow orders, work for others, and delay our dreams until some arbitrary retirement date-one we might never reach. The result? Countless people leave this world without ever making their unique mark.
True selfishness starts with taking care of your health-physical, mental, and emotional. When Meredith struggled with stress, he'd reach for vodka or junk food despite his background in fitness. He pretended to be happy while dying inside. His turnaround began with making exercise non-negotiable, eating real food instead of following fad diets, and addressing mental health through building a support network and professional help when needed.
Equally important is removing toxic people from your life-those energy vampires who leave you feeling drained after every interaction. You don't need to make a dramatic announcement; simply unfollow them on social media or gradually distance yourself. If they persist, block them completely. Your time is precious-be selfish with it. The same goes for places that trigger negative behaviors. Since removing these toxic elements, Meredith's productivity, happiness, and bank balance have skyrocketed.
Finally, make time for yourself, especially if you have dependents. Balance work with family time, date nights, and activities you enjoy just for their own sake. Schedule these weekly. You are not defined solely by your commitments-you owe it to yourself to remain the person your friends and family love. Meredith lost someone he deeply cared about because he put work above everything else, a mistake he urges readers not to repeat.
Being selfish isn't about disregarding others; it's about recognizing that you can't pour from an empty cup. By prioritizing your well-being, you become capable of giving more to those around you and to the world at large.
Chapter 3
Shameless Hustle: The Freedom to Look Foolish
Being shameless is liberating-it's the freedom of not caring what others think about you. When you stop worrying about looking foolish, you reach new heights of possibility. Meredith achieved his biggest successes when he simply thought "fuck it" and gave things a go without worrying about failure or embarrassment.
This shamelessness led him to do the thankless jobs no one else would. Like when he was broke and had to create a "biohazard suit" out of bin bags to unblock a toilet at a club. That experience earned him a 10 note from a dancer-money he kept as a reminder to never let his life sink that low again.
Being willing to do the grunt work opened doors. Meredith worked for free for one of the biggest names in online marketing, handling customer care calls from 8pm to 4am after his full-time job. This shameless dedication led to coaching from world-class marketers, explosive network growth, and eventually a high five-figure monthly contract. The key was doing the work without expectation, putting in the hours that others wouldn't.
Shamelessness also means getting over yourself. The worst that usually happens when you put yourself out there is looking foolish or hearing "I'm not interested." Stop creating horrific scenarios in your mind and just do what you've been putting off. Ask for help when you need it-it makes others feel good to assist you, just as you feel good helping others. Don't struggle alone when people are willing to help you over the hump.
This mindset shift is powerful because it removes the biggest barrier to action: fear of judgment. When you embrace shamelessness, you'll find yourself taking opportunities that others pass up, building connections that others miss, and developing skills that others never acquire-all because you're willing to look foolish in the short term for awesome results in the long term.
Chapter 4
Embrace Your Weirdness: Authenticity as Your Superpower
Being unique is valuable-it's what makes rare collectibles, exclusive art, and one-of-a-kind items worth so much. The same applies to you. When you embrace your authentic self, you become irreplaceable because there's literally no one else like you.
Meredith isn't suggesting becoming an oddball-just embracing your natural quirks. For too long, he tried being someone he wasn't-pretending to be a badass tough guy when really he's quite geeky, loving aquariums, classical music, and painting miniatures. As entrepreneurs, we're all a bit odd already-we've rejected society's standard path of school, job, mortgage, retirement.
The more Meredith revealed his authentic self in his content and business, the more his audience grew, the more people he connected with, and the more money flowed in. People can smell fakery from a mile away, but they're drawn to genuine uniqueness. Your quirks, flaws, and personal story are your greatest assets-"your mess is your message." People bond with you through shared humanity and imperfection. Like when Meredith went from hiding behind a lectern to presenting in a Mexican wrestling mask drinking from a crystal skull-and became one of the weekend's most memorable speakers.
To leverage your weirdness effectively, first figure out your strengths and weaknesses. Play to your strengths while finding others who complement your weak areas. Don't spread yourself thin trying to do everything. Start living as the genuine you-not the person you think others want you to be. Take time to discover your authentic self, your purpose, and embrace your uniqueness. It's what will draw people to love (or hate) you, but either way, it's better than being forgettable.
In a world of carefully curated social media personas and corporate sameness, your authentic weirdness is your competitive advantage. It's the thing that will make you memorable in a sea of forgettable conformity. Your quirks aren't flaws to be hidden-they're the very features that will attract your tribe and repel those who wouldn't appreciate you anyway. This natural filtering process is incredibly valuable, saving you time and emotional energy by connecting you with people who genuinely resonate with who you are.
Chapter 5
Brutal Honesty: The Mirror That Changes Everything
This is perhaps the easiest concept to understand but the hardest to actually practice. Most people claim they're honest with themselves, but in reality, they're full of self-deception. We lie to ourselves constantly, only to realize on our deathbeds what a waste that was.
Meredith challenges the popular "follow your passion" advice as sometimes being misguided. Few people have true passions that can be monetized. Instead, work with your interests, see if the market wants what you have, and put it out there. Passion often develops after you become good at something and enjoy contributing to others.
To be brutally honest with yourself, examine your current situation: your bank balance reflects your financial success; your body reflects how well you care for yourself; your relationships reflect your investment in personal connections. This assessment might hurt, but not knowing where you stand guarantees failure.
For an even more brutal assessment, anonymously survey friends, partners, exes and colleagues about what they really think of you. Meredith did this once and got kicked in the metaphorical balls, but it gave him the feedback needed to improve. You can't fix what you don't know is broken-the concept of "unconscious incompetence."
Finally, put your life in perspective: on squared paper, mark out 82 boxes (the average life expectancy) and color in as many as your current age. What remains is roughly how much time you have left. Time moves faster than you think-don't go to your grave with regrets. When you accept that death is inevitable, it becomes liberating. You have just one roll of the dice, so make it count.
The world's most simple yet effective business model follows from this honesty: Find people with a specific pain or need; interact with them to understand exactly what that need is; thoroughly research the problem; create a product or solution that specifically addresses that need; and finally, sell it to them. While not flashy or complicated, this model forms the foundation of any profitable business that genuinely serves people and makes a difference.
Brutal honesty isn't comfortable, but it's the foundation upon which all meaningful growth is built. Without it, you're just building castles on sand-impressive structures that will collapse at the first sign of pressure.
Chapter 6
Become Valuable: Skills That Pay the Bills
Why do people hesitate to invest in themselves but readily spend thousands on material possessions? We often stop learning after formal education ends, yet expect the same success as those who continually invest in their skills. To become truly valuable, you must master your craft through consistent practice and education.
The "10,000 hour rule" applies to developing expertise, but strategic learning can accelerate this process. When Meredith transitioned to copywriting, he immersed himself completely for months before charging clients. While he advocates "faking it till you make it" regarding confidence and mindset, you must have genuine skills before charging for services-otherwise you're just a con artist.
Meredith's rule for success: commit to a minimum of two years of continuous hard work, education, trial and error, networking, sacrifice, focus and discipline. Working for free under a master can accelerate your growth, as he experienced working with Ryan Levesque, which became his tipping point.
Don't just consume information-produce value. Many people buy course after course while their own products remain unused. Instead, embrace "speed to market beats perfection" and "it's OK to be shit at stuff." Meredith aims for 60-80% perfection and refines later. Some experts even sell products before creating them to test market demand.
Accept that you'll never be good at everything. Meredith excels at people skills, sales, writing and community building, but he's terrible with systems, organization and long-term planning. Work on weaknesses enough to recognize quality work, then find others who complement your skills through partnerships or skill swaps.
To become truly valuable, adopt the mindset and behavior of successful people until it becomes natural. Discover what you're exceptionally good at and invest time developing those skills before charging for them. Continue investing in skill development, but know when to stop consuming and start producing valuable content. Test market demand by asking your audience what they want before creating it. Identify your strengths and weaknesses, work minimally on weaknesses, and outsource tasks you're not good at so you can focus on your strengths.
In today's economy, your value isn't determined by your job title or credentials-it's determined by the problems you can solve and the impact you can create. By focusing on becoming genuinely valuable rather than merely appearing successful, you build a foundation that can weather any economic storm.
Chapter 7
The Art of Being Interesting: Genuine Curiosity Wins
Being interesting requires genuinely being interested in others. As Meredith's dad wisely taught him, "You have two ears and one mouth for a reason." The simplest way to be seen as interesting is to take genuine interest in other people-you can't fake this.
When meeting someone new, instead of asking "What do you do?" try "How do you spend your time?" This opens the conversation to what truly excites them, whether it's work, family, or hobbies. Then listen more than you speak. When someone shares a passion you know nothing about, admit your ignorance and ask them to explain it to you. Meredith once turned a scheduled five-minute call into an hour-long conversation about model car racing by simply showing genuine interest, which ultimately brought him significant business.
To become more interesting yourself, read widely. Meredith has around 700 books and recommends treating them as tools-highlight passages, use sticky notes, write in margins, and compile your insights into a master notebook or "Tome" for future inspiration. You don't need to read every book cover to cover; extracting even one good idea makes it worthwhile.
Finally, master storytelling. Humans have learned through stories since cave-dwelling days-it's hardwired into our DNA. Meredith is even training in stand-up comedy to sharpen his ability to engage and entertain, because making people laugh is one of the hardest communication skills to master.
When you become genuinely interested in others, you not only learn fascinating things but also create meaningful connections. People remember how you made them feel, not what you said. By asking thoughtful questions and truly listening to the answers, you become memorable in a world where most people are just waiting for their turn to speak.
Remember that everyone has a story, including you. Your unique experiences, challenges, and insights form a narrative that can inspire, entertain, or educate others. Learning to tell your story effectively-with humor, vulnerability, and authenticity-transforms you from just another person into someone worth remembering.
Chapter 8
Spite as Fuel: Proving the Doubters Wrong
This isn't about revenge or bitterness-it's about empowerment. The more successful you become, the more haters you'll attract because your success makes them uncomfortable about their mediocre lives. Use this negativity as motivation.
As a teenager, Meredith overheard his crush say she would date him if he wasn't "so fat." Heartbroken but determined, he transformed himself-dropping from 15 stone to under 10 stone in just months through extreme methods. While he never dated her, this experience taught him to harness spite productively.
Some people will always try to tear down your castle rather than build their own. They'll tell you your business won't work, tempt you away from fitness goals, or undermine your relationships. Why? Because your growth threatens them by highlighting their stagnation.
Meredith has repeatedly proven naysayers wrong: when told he'd never be strong, he built himself to 17 stone of muscle with 32-inch thighs; when told he'd never be successful, he reached six figures in three industries and is approaching seven figures; when told he'd never date attractive women, he's partnered with dancers, models, and actresses who were not just beautiful but also brilliant and funny.
The key is to never rub your success in anyone's face. Let your actions do the talking. Most people are so preoccupied with their own lives they won't remember putting you down anyway, or they'll still find ways to criticize your achievements. Simply make mental notes of their doubts, figure out how to prove them wrong, then do it-and quietly enjoy your success while they burn with envy.
While using spite as motivation, keep your antennae up for the occasional grain of truth in criticism. While most negativity stems from others' insecurities, sometimes there's a kernel of useful feedback worth considering. The skill is in discerning which criticism to use as fuel and which to use as guidance.
Remember that proving someone wrong feels amazing, but never gloat or rub it in their face. Let your achievements speak for themselves-there's no need to show off. The sweetest revenge isn't confrontation; it's living well and succeeding beyond what others thought possible.
Chapter 9
Productivity Mastery: Systems That Get Shit Done
Doing work for work's sake is pointless. Without being super productive with your time, you'll burn out, lose motivation, and crawl back to a job you hate. Meredith's productivity journey began on a hungover Tuesday morning when he realized he needed more structure and discipline. Being a charmer who could talk himself out of doing work, he created accountability by forming a group where he had to show up as the leader.
It started with a simple Facebook post offering an accountability group where people would commit to two 2-hour work blocks daily. Within a year, "Coffee With Dan" grew to over 4,000 members with 700+ waiting to join-a virtual coffee shop co-working environment focused on productivity.
The cornerstone of Meredith's productivity system comes from "The 12 Week Year" by Brian Moran and Michael Lennington, though his version is simpler. He first blocks out everything important to him-fitness, personal development, "nothing time" (an hour daily for whatever he feels like), family time, film nights, and even train journeys to nowhere. Only then does he schedule work slots, coaching calls, and meetings.
His Sunday brain dump and 3-5 system was born from frustration with overwhelming to-do lists. After doing a brain dump that resulted in 169 tasks-which he promptly abandoned-he learned a better approach from a highly successful client. The method: write a daily list with no fewer than three and no more than five important business tasks, ranked by priority:
1 = Super important, business-critical, deadline-bound, revenue-generating tasks
2 = Important but not urgent tasks
3 = Non-time-bound, non-critical, delegable tasks
Each Sunday, he does a complete brain dump, ranks everything, then schedules 3-5 tasks (primarily 1s) for each weekday. He's ruthless about categorization and organizes his week thematically to avoid mental context-switching.
The "dentist appointment" philosophy fixes the feast-and-famine cycle many businesses experience: Schedule one hour every weekday-like a dentist appointment-dedicated solely to new business development. That hour is sacred, untouchable. Many resist this because they hate selling, but if your product genuinely helps people, it's your duty to sell it.
For intense focus, Meredith recommends the "train ride to nowhere"-booking a trip somewhere about two hours away with a table seat. He commits to two hours of extremely focused work, gets off at his destination for lunch and shopping, then returns for another two hours of focused work. This method lets him complete more than a day's work in just four hours.
His "one bag philosophy" keeps physical and mental clutter at bay: if he hasn't used something in six months, it goes to charity. He applies this to travel too, going internationally for a month with just carry-on luggage.
For his morning routine, Meredith doesn't set an alarm unless necessary. The first part of his day is selfishly his-coffee, controlled breathing, reading, and something fun that puts him in an awesome mood. Crucially, he doesn't look at his phone until mid-late morning. For his evening routine, he avoids calls or work in the last two hours before bed, wears orange glasses that block blue light, and keeps his bedroom for just two things: sleeping and sex.
These productivity systems might seem simple, but their power lies in their consistency. By implementing even a few of these approaches, you can dramatically increase your output while reducing stress and overwhelm.
Chapter 10
Your Tribe: The Power of Like-minded People
Normal people won't understand what you're doing or going through on your journey to awesomeness. Surround yourself with likeminded people who share similar goals, ambitions, and values-both those ahead of you and those slightly behind. This approach has accelerated Meredith's success tenfold.
Don't waste time with unmotivated people who hate their jobs and numb themselves on weekends. As you become more successful, you'll naturally lose some friends-it hurts, but it's inevitable. Some will resent your ambition because it highlights their lack of it.
Start with free or low-cost online communities. Find Facebook groups that match your ethos and join in-but don't just lurk. Lurkers rarely make big life changes. Spend time understanding the community, then introduce yourself, contribute, and add value. Remember: don't be too eager, add value before taking, and never spam or pitch. Give before you expect to get.
Paid events tend to be better for meeting like-minded people and connecting with industry leaders. Instead of attending events with peers, go to events where your target audience gathers. When Meredith launched his fitness copywriting business, he went to fitness professional events rather than copywriting ones, gaining clients through organic conversations without pitching.
You can also find inspiration in places of wealth and success-fancy hotels, luxury car dealerships, executive lounges-even if just for a coffee. Being in these environments helps normalize success and shifts your mindset.
Meredith attributes a huge part of his success to coaches and mentors. Coaches help up-level specific skills or get through particular growth periods, typically for 3-6 month stints. Mentors take a broader "30,000ft view" of your life and business, guiding you for a year or more.
No one makes it alone. Every successful person has had guidance and support. If you think you can make it solo, you won't. No money? Offer value in return-do grunt work, give a percentage of earnings, or simply be likeable. For mentors, approach people who inspire you, even if they don't advertise mentoring. Write a genuine letter explaining why they'd make a good mentor and what you can offer them.
When you invest in someone, they take you more seriously. If you want people to value your time and abilities, start by valuing (and paying for) theirs. Good mentors not only share wisdom but give access to their networks, creating opportunities that would take you ages to develop.
Your environment shapes you more than you realize. By deliberately surrounding yourself with people who inspire, challenge, and support you, you create an ecosystem where growth becomes inevitable rather than optional.
Chapter 11
Relentless Persistence: The Unsexy Secret to Success
Success isn't a piece of pie-it takes courage, embraces failure, demands hard work and relentless determination. Forget the fantasy of overnight success from some silver bullet course. The unsexy truth is that success requires consistency, hard work, and being "relentless as fuck" to make dreams reality.
Anything worthwhile takes a combination of time, effort and discipline. Meredith's formula: Time invested + effort expended + disciplined behaviors = success (eventually). Not the sexy button-press formula most books promise, but what actually works.
Consider what success truly means to you and how much you're willing to invest. Not everyone should quit their job and chase dreams-it's not for everyone. Anyone promising "having it all right away" is selling bullshit disguised as chocolate. Success requires sacrifice and comfort with letting go temporarily.
Meredith's epiphany transformed his approach-he shows up for his clients, in "Coffee With Dan," and for his team every single day. Rain or shine. Happy or hating everyone. Like the tortoise beating the hare, consistent daily progression yields success over time. Today's biggest bands spent years in shitty vans playing to three drunk people. YouTube millionaires consistently created content for years before success. When you're starting out with no engagement, what differentiates you is refusing to quit.
In his headhunting days, Meredith targeted a major company that initially hung up on him. He called every Tuesday at 11am-always polite, always courteous, always rejected. Over months, conversations lengthened. They developed rapport. One Tuesday he missed his call and the recruiting manager called HIM asking where he was! When she finally had an unfillable position, he sent one perfect candidate who got hired. He became their exclusive recruiter, earning about ten grand in commission.
Everyone responds differently to communication methods. Make a comprehensive list of every possible way to reach your target-email, postal address, mobile, social media, comments on their content, events, publications. Try a different method each week and track your results. When they respond, you've found their preferred medium.
Finally, don't be attached to the outcome. Emotional detachment from outcomes-whether pitching ideas or asking someone out-reduces stress and increases happiness. Ironically, the less emotionally invested you appear in outcomes, the more things tend to go your way. Don't over-celebrate wins or dwell on losses. In the grand scheme of your limited time on earth, they're just things that happen.
Relentless persistence isn't about being obnoxious or desperate-it's about having unwavering faith in your vision and the determination to see it through, regardless of temporary setbacks or rejections. It's the quality that separates those who dream from those who achieve.
Chapter 12
The Power of Kindness: Don't Be a Dick
This final principle could be summed up in one line: "Don't be a dick!" Despite his sometimes bombastic, vulgar persona, Meredith genuinely cares about people. His goals are supporting his family, providing for his future partner and children, and serving his audience positively.
One of the hardest practices is not letting negative interactions ruin your day. Meredith purposely avoids checking emails or social media until he's already in a good mood. Remember that thoughts only become feelings through the meaning you assign them. By reacting emotionally to negativity, you're giving others control over you. These annoyances are just words on a screen or voices in your ear-they're not physically harming you.
When someone sends a harsh message or complaint, consider what they might be experiencing-health scares, loss, family issues, financial problems. Meredith's solution: he writes the most venomous reply possible, saves it, and continues with his day. The next morning, after sleep and proper perspective, he's never sent that initial rage-filled response. Instead, he crafts something calmer and more solution-oriented.
Remembering his modest beginnings serves two purposes: it motivates him when he's tired (as he never wants to return to poverty), and it encourages financial prudence. Having experienced real hardship-bin-fishing for sandwiches and panicking about bills-makes him value stability and preparation for lean times.
Focus on paying down debt, even if it requires short-term sacrifices. Improve your credit score and keep some empty credit cards available for emergencies, but don't rely on them. Take 30% of everything you earn and set it aside for taxes. Look after those who looked after you, even if you've surpassed them. Don't burn bridges.
Meredith's philosophy is simple: First, secure your own health, skills, finances and business. Then help others achieve what you have, at whatever level they wish. Finally, give back to those who need support. Then repeat the cycle at the next level.
In a world that often celebrates cutthroat ambition and stepping on others to get ahead, choosing kindness might seem counterintuitive. But Meredith's experience shows that being decent to others doesn't hamper success-it enhances it. The connections you build through genuine kindness create a network that supports you through challenges and amplifies your successes. In the end, being awesome isn't just about what you achieve-it's about who you become along the way.
