Welcome to The Strategic Self

You’ll enjoy The SS if you dig

• Being curious

• Personal growth

• Learning thru stories

Should you subscribe?

Only if getting 1 % better a week makes sense.

My Objective 👇

Help you think of life, work, and relations in unique ways.

I try to achieve it by:

• Breaking ideas into actionable steps

• Curating frameworks / mental models

• Sharing stories to remind you’re not alone

Examples ahead.

1. A tool to find friendships that are harming you

2. How I messed up in the pursuit of perfection

3. Learn the art of risk taking from ropewalkers

But who is the chef?

And why’s he cooking…

Hey friend 👋 It’s me.

They named me Hassaan (I added Bassam—it felt ringy.)

Here’s how I look on my best days.

But who am I

In previous lives, I tried to become a…

• Gangster, political goon, fmcg salesman

• Petroleum engr, mathematics teacher

• menswear retailer, ecom entrepreneur

• 9 / 5 agency worker, Indie fiction writer

• free loading traveler, freelance waiter

• Cooking oil salesman and distributor

• marketing agency owner

• Leather manufacturer / retailer

• Startup growth / brand strategist

Failed at most. Did well on some.

Got crazy good at going from 0 —> 1.

The 15 year joyride taught me what NOT to do.

And I found…

• I love stories.

• Enjoy reading and writing.

• People learn thru stories & reading.

• I find fulfillment in helping others learn.

After the above insights, it was a shame to not try this.

But why a weekly newsletter?

Like all 🐒, I have shortcomings.

Doctors call it ADHD. I call it ‘struggle with consistency and focus.’

Can you become a writer without consistency?

I tried. 4 years. Failed.

So I needed a system that enables me to…

1. Stay curious - my top value

2. Help others grow - mission

3. Improve storytelling - short goal

4. Become consistent - top struggle

5. Meet curious people - long goal

Options I had — create an book, audiobook, newsletter, or podcast.

Writing a book had too much friction.

Lacked the swag & money for podcast.

Hence, a newsletter.

That’s about it.

I try to share my lessons, wins, and updates on Twitter.

Also rent my brain to passionate startups / brands thru my LinkedIn shop.

See you in the inbox 👋