This week, I crossed a milestone: I posted on LinkedIn every single day for a full year, 365 straight days (!). It started as a personal challenge. I didn’t know if I could keep it up, or if anyone would care. Some days were exciting (big engagement, thoughtful comments), while others felt like "what the heck am I doing here?" But one thing never changed, and it was ultimately my main goal: I showed up.

Looking back, I realize this was never about LinkedIn audience growth (which almost 10x in the process) or even writing itself… it was about building a new habit. And the lessons from building this daily practice are ones we can apply to almost anything we want to achieve.

Tip of the Week: The secret to building habits isn’t motivation, it’s identity and systems. Once those are in place, showing up becomes automatic.

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The Theory Behind

Habits start with identity. In Atomic Habits, James Clear argues that the most powerful habits are identity-based. Instead of focusing on an outcome (“I want to write more”), we focus on who we want to become (“I am a writer”). That identity shift changes everything. Early in my journey, I even updated my LinkedIn profile to show that my latest professional experience is “Writer.” It felt like I was a total "impostor" but I did it to tell myself (and others) that this is who I am. Once I believed it, the daily writing became easier... even natural.

Habits stick when we design systems. Charles Duhigg, in The Power of Habit, describes habits as loops: cue, routine, reward. But James Clear takes it further: goals are about results, systems are about processes. "You don’t rise to the level of your goals; you fall to the level of your systems" is such a powerful phrase. In my case, my system was simple but effective: I write at the same time every day, I keep everything logged in an Excel sheet and Evernote, and I have a group of peers who hold each other accountable by sharing our daily posts. Over time, the system did the heavy lifting (relying less on my own motivation and willpower).

Public accountability reinforces the loop. Once a habit is out in the open, it carries extra weight. Writing in private is valuable, but writing in public comes with accountability. People expect to see you. Skipping a day feels like breaking a promise - not just to yourself, but to your community. That added layer turns a fragile intention into a resilient commitment. Habits that take long to build do need some accountability, which comes in the form of a "gym buddy" or an actual public commitment like you can find in sites like stickk.com.

What I’ve Learned

Writing in public is a masterclass in clarity. You learn what you know (and what you don’t) by trying to explain it simply to others. Every post forced me to distill ideas into something sharp and brief, which in turn made me understand them more deeply. I encourage you to think about what you already spend time consuming (fashion blogs, sports news, podcasts, whatever it may be). The “hard part” of gathering knowledge is already done. The next step (the transformative one) is sharing it with others. That’s where the real learning begins.

Day 1 vs. Day 365 is night and day. On Day 1, I obsessed over every comma, reread each sentence five times, and second-guessed myself constantly (English isn’t my first language, which added extra weight). By Day 365, it had become second nature. Writing felt incomplete to skip (something like leaving the house without brushing my teeth). As I mentioned above, writing became part of my identity. Somewhere along the way, I stopped trying to be a writer and simply was one.

Make It Happen

Here’s how you can start building your own habit:

1. Pick an identity, not just a goal. Don’t say “I want to run.” Say “I am a runner.” Don’t say “I want to read.” Say “I am a reader” and communicate it to others. Small shift, big impact.

2. Start incredibly small. If your habit is writing, begin with one sentence or paragraph. If it’s running, commit to lacing up your shoes. Success comes from lowering the entry barrier.

3. Design a repeatable system. Set a time, place, and structure. For me, it’s the same time every day. Systems make consistency automatic.

4. Stack it onto something you already do. Attach your new habit to an existing routine (e.g., after coffee, I write one paragraph; after brushing teeth, I journal one line).

5. Track your streak. Use a calendar, spreadsheet, or sticky notes. The visible chain of progress makes you want to keep going.

6. Add accountability. Share your progress with a friend, join a peer group, or go fully public. Social contracts make habits stronger than willpower alone.

7. Focus on consistency, not perfection. Missing once is fine. Missing twice risks building a different habit—the habit of stopping. Progress is about staying in motion.

One year of posting daily gave me a new identity, a clearer mind, and a stronger personal brand. And the best part? The same principles can work for any habit you want to build. So… what identity do you want to grow into this year? Reply to this email and let me know!

Habitually yours,

Jorge Luis Pando

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