Pyramid of Potential: Show Up, Drop the Emotion, Stack Bricks
How do you prevent the robbery?
In Week 2 of Brick By Brick, you need a system — not motivation. The Pyramid of Potential has five levels: Showing Up → Motion → Charisma → Clarity → Presence & Identity.
Level 1: Showing up is the absolute minimum
“Be there or be square” exists because if you’re never around, you can’t be around when opportunity arrives. You have to position yourself to win — consistently — because one of those days could be the win you were waiting for. You’ll never know if you don’t show up.
Level 2: Motion, not emotion
Drop the E out of emotion — because there’s no feelings in motion.
Can I stay true to what I said I would do long after the mood I’ve said it in has left? — Inky Johnson
Regardless of how you feel — sick, dumped, jobless, ACL torn, torrential Sydney rain — you show up. Once you start showing up, you gain motion. Days stack. Each day is a brick. Brick by brick you build the house. Miss the base and you’re still committing the robbery.
Homework
- Define your minimum “show up” for the next 7 days (rehab session, walk, written reflection — pre-decided).
- Name one small action that still counts as motion on your worst day.
- When bargaining starts, drop the E — execute motion. Watch the full chapter below.
Related reading
Charisma, clarity, presence · Standards on hard days (Week 5) · The unlived life
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the pyramid of potential?
A five-level framework: (1) Showing Up, (2) Motion, (3) Charisma, (4) Clarity, (5) Presence & Identity. You stack the basics until identity changes — not by thinking about potential.
What does “drop the E from emotion” mean?
Level 2 — Motion. Leave feelings at the door so what’s left is motion. As Inky Johnson puts it: can you stay true to what you said you’d do long after the mood you said it in has left? Sick, upset, raining, torn ACL — you still show up.
How do bricks fit in?
Each day you show up is another brick. Stack enough and you have a home. Skip the base and the pyramid never rises.
Watch the full chapter
Week 2: The Robbery Of The Century | Brick By Brick
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