State, story, strategy

The importance of knowing when to do what

Ever heard the phrase "get the ball rolling" or "get your foot in the door"?

These sayings point to the concept of momentum: you take one step, it gains traction, and before you know it, you’re moving toward your destination.

I love listening to podcasts—not so much that I constantly seek new information, but when music doesn’t hit the spot, it’s time for a good podcast. Yesterday, someone sent me an episode of Modern Wisdom featuring Tim Ferriss, the author of The 4-Hour Workweek. Two incredibly smart guys, and it was an excellent listen.

As with reading a book or listening to an album, one line stood out to me: Tim Ferriss introduced the concept of “State, Story, Strategy.”

He believes that a change in your physical state can lead to a new story, which then helps you develop a better strategy. Let’s break this down with two examples:

Example 1

It’s 11 p.m., and you’ve been doom-scrolling on your phone for an hour. You set your alarm for 5 a.m., with no plan for the day. When it goes off, you snooze it for 45 minutes before finally turning it off at 7:30 a.m. You wake up angry for sleeping in, make a coffee, and realise there’s no milk. Checking Google Maps, you see you’ll likely be 10 minutes late to a job you’re not too fond of because of traffic. You get through the day, come home, and realise it’s already 5 p.m., and you haven’t eaten. Exhausted, you try to edit, read, or make food but settle for something quick and easy before collapsing into bed, done with the day.

Example 2

The night before, you plan your day while enjoying tea with your partner. You set your alarm for 5 a.m., aiming to walk and swim in the ocean before your partner starts her day at 6:30 a.m. You wake up, follow through with the plan, and come home refreshed. You make coffee, bake fresh bread to share with a neighbor, and prep for a photoshoot. After journaling and reading, you head to the shoot, energised and focused. The day ends with a sunset walk, another dip in the ocean, and a quiet evening with a book before heading to bed early.

Both examples are based on real days I had this week. So, what’s the difference? Was it the planning the night before? Maybe. Having a plan helps.

Was it waking up early for the walk and swim? Absolutely. A structured morning sets the tone for the day.

But upon reflection—and after listening to that podcast—it’s clear that my state dictated my story, which shaped my strategy.

In Example 1, I woke up angry and anxious. My morning routine was disrupted, and that frustration snowballed throughout the day. It was like a line of dominoes falling, and I couldn’t stop the chain reaction.

In Example 2, I woke up motivated and followed a plan. The walk and ocean swim changed my state entirely. The dopamine rush carried me into the day, and even though the coffee wasn’t necessary, it was the cherry on top. The positive momentum fueled my creativity, relationships, and overall well-being.

State → Story → Strategy

Tim Ferriss’s idea is simple: Your state (angry, anxious, excited, calm) determines your story (“everything’s a mess” vs. “I’ve got this”), which drives the strategies you create. These strategies either reinforce your feelings or help you shift toward a better path.

In Example 1, my anxious state led to a negative story, which fed into poor strategies like skipping meals and neglecting what matters.

In Example 2, I changed my state with a walk and a swim, which led to a positive story about how beautiful the day could be. This encouraged good strategies for work, life, health, and creativity.

What I’ve Learned

It doesn’t take much to knock you off track, and it takes effort to stay on course. But with consistent, intentional steps, you can create a huge impact on your mood, day, and even week.

For anyone feeling stuck or “meh,” remember this:

Change your state first. Then rewrite your story, and your strategy will follow.

You’ve got this. If I can do it, so can you.
Love to you all—keep making art.