A Dose of Perspective by Kamga

You Can't Afford to Give Up on Yourself

Tchassa Kamga — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:27:55 GMT

I’m in the middle of reading Ryan Holiday’s recent newsletter as I write this.

I’m highlighting pieces of it. The part that got me to open this Substack and write after this silence was this:

“The purpose of any piece of writing at all is not the end product on the page. It’s the person YOU are on the other side of having done it. It’s the thinking long and hard about something. It’s the slow, tedious, difficult work of figuring out what you actually work. And the equally hard work of finding the words for what you think. AI can give you an essay, an article, a book, or a briefing. What it can’t give you is the person you can only become by doing the writing yourself.”

— 39 (Or So) Lessons On The Way To 39, Ryan Holiday.

You see, I haven’t really stopped writing. I’ve just become a lot better at refusing to pursue my own curiosity in the name of building systems.

That paragraph hit me like a bag of wet salt, in the face—upon waking up. It reminded me of the unease I had been feeling as I watch tutorial after tutorial on Claude, perfecting my prompting and agenting skills:

No matter how great AI gets at writing, the value of writing was never in the input, or the output—it was (and remains) in the transformation of the writer.

I love to write. I won’t stop. But if I neglect the true purpose of writing, then it won’t be long until I forget why it matters to me.

So, I opened Substack. And wrote what you’re reading. All of it, in one sitting.

Don’t worry, I won’t leave you hanging. There’s a lot I want to say, but I don’t have the time to say it; we’ll see as the days go by. For now, here’s a loose structure.

4 parts:

1. What I’m thinking,
2. What I’m working on,
3. What I’m proud of, and
4. Your invitation.

Sounds very “me” centered, doesn’t it? I can’t promise you’ll learn anything. But I can promise you I’ll give you something to think about :)

Let’s get started.

Subscribe now

What I’m Thinking

It is important to be skeptical about AI. Not just healthy skepticism, but the kind that you have for a doctor who looks like a drug addict when you have a bullet in your chest. Okay, maybe that’s too dramatic. The point is, if you understand AI and what it can do, the more you learn, the more skeptical you become. You need this to use it well.
Is it possible to be wealthy, happy, and have a great family? I think so. I just don’t know how. But from my reflections, if I accept a reality that hasn’t happened just yet, I’m more likely to be okay with it and make a way for it to happen. But if I refuse reality and ask outrageous questions, I may just get the kind of answers that people consider outrageous—like getting everything I want because I refused to settle for less.
Life happens in seasons. You can’t try to do it all at once. You must accept and/or choose the season you’re in. Sometimes it will happen to you. However, you can also choose it. Either by what you consume, do, or reflect upon. Reflection, especially at the start and end of the day, matters because it can clue you in on what season you’re in and if you’d like to continue. At the start of the day, you get to look forward. At the end of the day, you get to look back. It doesn’t mean you won’t have moments during the day to do it; it’s just more convenient (or accessible) around these times.

What I’m working on

My YouTube Channel: I haven’t published in a while. And the last time I did, it was a while before that one. I’ve thought long and hard about what my problem is, and inconsistency seems to me the primary weakness. However, I can see how consistent I am in other areas of my life. My marriage, for example. And I realized that I haven’t taken YouTube (and my gifts in general) seriously. I am consistently on the lookout for how to be a better husband. I’m reading, learning, paying attention, and talking to my wife. But when it comes to writing, YouTube, my business, I don’t approach it with the right energy. When I realized this, I honed in and started sealing some cracks. I don’t want to talk more about it for now.
My health: I came across a recent article by Tim Ferriss in which he discusses the implications of AI for the non-fiction writing business. That led to reading an article about someone who lost 70lbs in about a year. And that led to a confirmation that the new experiment I was running on myself was totally worth it. I’ve gained a lot of weight over the past 5 years and haven't been able to shed it. This has also been a product of inconsistency. But finding my way —a way that works for me—has proven to be the way.
My faith: I’ve given 3 Sunday sermons at my local church so far, and each time I do, I’m reminded of how much I still have to learn about God and how to listen. I try to always wrap my goals (writing, AI, health, business, family) around a stem of faith. Because ultimately, what’s the point if I get all that and lose my soul? I hate sounding preachy. And I hate people who do. Hate is a strong word, I know. But softening the blow doesn’t change my feelings about it. Faith is personal. It comes by hearing, which is why studying, hearing, and community matter. But no one is holier than another —especially not me. And the more I think about how much work I have to do, the more humble I become.

What I’m proud of:

Sticking to an eating window: In the past, I’ve often given myself reasons to eat whenever and whatever. And to be completely honest, it’s not really that bad. It’s only bad relative to what good needs to be and my own personal standards of what healthy living looks like. I’m proud of my ability to acknowledge I’m hungry and then remember why I’m doing it in the first place.
My AI skills: I know. Incredulous, considering how this letter started. I stay skeptical of AI, but I am improving my skills in how to use it. In fact, I actually think that I can teach now. So, if that’s a part of me you’d like to experience, sign up here.
Hiring people to work with: I have hired a couple of people for my business. It’s something I’ve never done, and my wife takes the credit for getting me to see the value. I don’t yet know if this will pay off, and I’m treating it like a slightly expensive experiment — which, I think, is what we all do with life anyway.
This podcast with Coach Chanty. She’s such an amazing host. She wasn’t afraid to ask questions that got me thinking - and you know I love to think.

Your Invitation

In 100 years, you and I will be dead. I know, dark. But you know this.

We often refuse to consider the implications of our meaninglessness because of the slight “so-why-bother?” that it may surface.

But I think that’s only half the reflection.

What if you lived past 100? Just what if. Consider it.

What would you like to have done by then? Dream. Think. Write.

Go bananas—or oranges if you prefer.

Now, if you had only 10 years to do it, what would it take?

See you next time.

We're Back on Substack

Tchassa Kamga — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 18:35:18 GMT

I thought I was going to leave. At the time, it was a good decision. Still is.

So, I’m making a different one.

I’m returning to this Newsletter.

In a few days, it will be one year since my wife and I bought our home in Texas. I continue to enjoy the joys of marriage and the journey of growth as we serve each other and our church.

I’ve improved at my 9-to-5 job and even developed small systems to streamline my content creation.

Essentially, there’s a lot I have to share, and I can no longer afford to ignore the fact that Substack has potential for me — and I have potential for it.

So, we’re back.

Talk to you later.

Big Update: What’s Next for This Newsletter?

Tchassa Kamga — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:12:14 GMT

Here in NOT my garage…

Yo,

Life comes at you fast—kind of like this email, right?

Happy New Year 2025, by the way.

Even as I type this, I just watched a live video from an author I enjoy reading on Substack. I thought, “Man, the video quality here is AMAZING! Is it a good idea to leave now?”

Well, yes.

Because I’ve decided to get back to what I love: writing.

But not just writing—I want to do it in a way that helps me grow. This year, I’m committing to one platform where I can master the habits and skills I’ve been meaning to develop: landing pages, building products, sequences, and email marketing.

I’ve gained these skills through trial and error, but now I want to take 2025 to build in real-time while sharing the journey with you—building in public.

Step one? Moving everything to one place—where I can write, grow, and share more intentionally. I hope you’ll stick around!

From now on, instead of sending emails through Substack, I’ve transitioned to ConvertKit (now called Kit). There, I’ll be sharing consistent insights on faith, finances, and family—the three core areas shaping my life.

Plus, it’s a perfect time to start fresh—my birthday is just a few days away. 🎉

✅ The good news?

You don’t have to do anything! You’re already on the list, and starting February 11th, 2025, you’ll receive my emails from Kit instead of Substack.

If you’re a paid subscriber here on Substack, I’m working something that would make it even more worth it on the other side. Thank YOU for supporting me even in the silence. I see you!

This Substack page won’t be shut down.

I’ll return once I’ve grown as a writer and want to leverage the community aspects here. But for now, this is the last email/post you’ll see here.

🚀 What’s next?

Expect my first email on February 11th, where I’ll share the ONE thing I’m focusing on this year—and why it might help you too.

If you no longer want to receive emails, you can unsubscribe anytime (no hard feelings!). But if you’re excited to grow in faith, finances, and relationships, stay tuned.

See you soon in your inbox!

📩 Stay Intentional,
Kamga

p.s. That photo was taken in our new home. I’ll be spilling the beans as the year rolls in. Yes, this is yet another incentive for you not to leave. I’m shameless.

p.p.s If you join this substack after February 11th, I would have set up an automation that would add you to my Kit directly. It’s nifty stuff. I can’t wait to show you how to do it later.

It's More Than A Window To Me

Tchassa Kamga — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 16:11:37 GMT

There’s a bottle of water on the table beside me. The window across opens to the sidewalk of my building. My new neighbors—I think—are clearing out cartons and protective material. It looks to me to be a mother and her son. They walk leisurely to and from the trash container on the sidewalk. Between them and the line of cars is a path I have used multiple times. I see my car right in the middle of two other cars, waiting, it seems for me to finally make up my mind about this grocery trip I had planned a few days ago before the 4-day holiday.

It’s sunny too. I love how quiet it is. My window is closer to the ground, and seeing their comings and goings grants me a sense of security. I often make stories about the people I see through my window. I wonder if they see me watching them. Suppose they’re surprised I never leave my apartment until after 10 am when all the cars have been driven. Or if they imagine stories of why my car seems always parked unless when I go to the grocery store, which, by the way, is 5 minutes away.

When I leave in the middle of the day to go to the gym, I often imagine how weird it must be for my neighbors to wonder if I work, where I work, and how I’m able to pay rent. A part of me feels that being black provides a different flavor of their story of me. The African in me wants to be left alone, though. This is why ever since my neighbor on the upper floor left, I haven’t uttered more than 2 sentences to any other co-human around this block.

Do I like things the way they are? In truth, I don’t. The Christian in me knows I should be more open and outgoing. A little more welcoming. And to be completely honest with you, I often do.

We’ll call her Maria. We’ve spoken twice, but we’re often moving in different directions. She has a beautiful smile. I see her leave early and come back late all week. Her pace in the morning is a little faster than that at night. She once had a knee injury, and although I thought she’d stay home that week, she went to work, cast and all. And she still smiled when I said hello.

I know when she’s in, even when I don’t see her walk in, because she often parks in the same spot like me. I know I’ll have a more extended conversation with her someday, but not yet.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned since I started living alone in this county is that context matters. There are good people, bad people. We all have biases. We’re all struggling with something. We all have insecurities. We all worry about something. We all want love and want to be loved. I’m not different. Maria is no different. The boy and his (maybe) Mom isn’t any different.

Walking up to anyone and striking up a conversation in the spirit of community without reading the room won’t be a great idea if they’ve not had good experiences in the past. Is it worth the trouble? No. Not for me. I like the way things have been. I like the acquaintances I’ve made.

Like Mateo ( not his name), who shares a wall with me, we talked briefly when he moved in. Interestingly, he also had a knee injury —but his was a surgery. I remember when he was carrying this chair out of his car. I saw him struggle to get it out and I couldn’t sit. The tug at my heart to help him was too much.

“I need to go help my neighbor. Can I call you later?”

I ended the call without thinking. And I felt a sense of joy stepping out and being able to relieve him of this burden. I didn’t get to see his apartment. We didn’t get to talk that day. But it was a nice enough moment to shake hands and exchange names. I still see him walking to his apartment ( his knee is healed now, by the way), and I know that if I wanted to, I could call him and chat. I generally don’t want to.

My window replaced my TV. I watch the world around me through it. I make stories about the kids who ride their bicycles. The parents with strollers. My neighbors, half-clad, heading to the pool to relax. The apartment complex staff in their golf carts zoomed from task to task. I’m grateful for the doctor who allows me to see a little better now thanks to his eye surgery skills ( oh, I probably didn’t tell you about this). I’m grateful for the job that allows me to pay my rent, buy water, and the computer I get to type this on.

I’m grateful to you who took the time to read this, even though you didn’t have to.

A lot has happened since we last talked, and I didn’t want to vomit all that on this first letter. I just wanted to say hello. My purpose is becoming more apparent with each new piece of content I put online. I’m very excited about the future that God has for me, and I look forward to sharing it with you.

Thank you for sticking with me. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you for your comments.

Just…thank you.

I’ll talk to you soon.

Kamga Tchassa

P.S: Here’s a video I made recently that I think you might enjoy:
What if you kept doing the SAME things you've done the past 5 YEARS

Join me on Notes

Tchassa Kamga — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 11:18:41 GMT

Yo! I just published my first note on Substack Notes, and I would love for you to join me there!

I’ll also take this second while you’re here to let you know I have decided to get back to writing after a few months away. I’ll tell you all about it weekly. I promise.

How Have You Changed In The Last 5 Years?

Tchassa Kamga — Sun, 20 Nov 2022 23:47:29 GMT

Is it just me, or does 2022 seem like 3 years compressed into a single year?

The last time I sent this newsletter, my younger sister died the day after. Literally.

I had just announced how much the newsletter would become formalized and the different segments.

It’s not been a blur ever since. More like walking through mud. Slowly. Begrudgingly. Exhausting…

🔥Newsletter Overhaul : Structure/Schedule🔥

Tchassa Kamga — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 13:00:38 GMT

Yo! 👋🏿

I thrive in chaos. But only in the kind of chaos I create. This means my head is often full of what could go wrong and how to avoid it. But it also prevents me from thinking about day-to-day tasks or planning too far ahead.

But this time, I did it.

This time, I found a format and picked a day to use for this Newsletter and to re-use as a way to sy…

The People Who Care Only Show Up At Tombstones

Tchassa Kamga — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 01:58:42 GMT

My greatest fear at 32 is picturing myself at 42, never having done anything about my ideas at 22.

I have this never-ending flux of visions of the past; where I was, the things I said, the people I knew —who I was. You wouldn’t notice it unless I told you.

If You Keep These In Mind, You Could Turn Dying Connections Into Amazing Friendships

Tchassa Kamga — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 16:26:36 GMT

He lied to me. We were teenagers, and he lied to me.

There was a nauseating ball in my stomach when I discovered that all his stories of travel, adventure, and seeing the world were lies.

My 12-year-old mind did not understand what betrayal felt like. I just knew I couldn’t trust someone like him.

My throat hurt so much from thinking about it that I couldn…

No Matter What Happens, I Can't Stop Writing

Tchassa Kamga — Tue, 19 Jul 2022 22:08:39 GMT

Yo! I received some beautiful messages from you after that last email.

The one thing that stood out was that I have no idea who my writing benefits, but it’s benefiting someone.

By “no idea,” I mea…

Let's Chat

Tchassa Kamga — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 03:10:28 GMT

I’ll keep this super brief. I’ve even turned this into audio so you don’t have to read if you can’t.

I’d like to talk with you in real-time. Why?

I’m stuck.

Sorta.

I’ve moved out of Colorado. 3 mon…

You're a Villain in Someone's Story

Tchassa Kamga — Sun, 01 May 2022 18:19:24 GMT

A series of emotionally charged events brought me to the brink of tears. Feelings I thought I had dealt with. Accusations I had somersaulted over in the hope that distancing myself would bring healing.

I was wrong.

I found myself doubting my own recollections of events past. But even worse, I started doubting my own thought process, my image of self —who …

Don't Let the Vibe Kill Your Vibe

Tchassa Kamga — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 00:46:35 GMT

I don’t enjoy cooking. If I don’t have to do it, I wouldn’t.

It’s taken me a few years to say this without the guilt of being African —raised by a Mum who cooks delicious meals.

I can cook. I. Just. Would. Rather. Not. Do. It.

But today’s message isn’t about cooking. It’s about energy.

The vibe. The one that you carry. Your smile and demeanor. The one you…

Do You Love Yourself?

Tchassa Kamga — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 05:17:14 GMT

I read somewhere that humans have a hard time processing things that require long timeframes. Past a certain amount of time, we just can’t make sense of things.

If I remember correctly —and I am very doubtful of my recollections—it is said this is the reason why ideas like compounding don’t make “sense” logically.

Apparently, we can only plan ahead so far…

I Have Forgotten How to Write

Tchassa Kamga — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 06:25:31 GMT

Hey friend, thanks for being here.

I expected a lot more people to unsubscribe when I sent my previous newsletter. Surprisingly, you’re still here. You’re still reading this. If this email is a reminder for you to leave, I’d totally understand.

I mean…you signed up for some cool stuff and you got what? Silence? Of course, you’d want to leave.

It’s been nic…

I Was Wrong

Tchassa Kamga — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 06:16:44 GMT

You should see me grinning right now.

I looked at the last newsletter I wrote here.

A Dose of Perspective

We're Getting a Divorce.

Five words that have grabbed your attention. Five words that would make you think about what the hell happened and if we’re okay. We are getting a divorce. We’ve been separated since October 2020. This is the first time I am writing about it “publicly”. I didn’t feel the need to do so. I’m not an influencer or a celebrity…

5 years ago · 4 likes · 8 comments · Kamga Tchassa

And I was like:

”Wow. Kamga. It’s been a while. Can you remember the emotions we had when we wrote this? How final it all was? How we knew we’d never write on Substack again?

Oh wow.”

Yeah. Right.

You see, the thing about trying to predict the future is that you can either b…

We're Getting a Divorce.

Tchassa Kamga — Thu, 20 May 2021 05:53:03 GMT

Five words that have grabbed your attention. Five words that would make you think about what the hell happened and if we’re okay.

We are getting a divorce.

We’ve been separated since October 2020. This is the first time I am writing about it “publicly”. I didn’t feel the need to do so. I’m not an influencer or a celebrity.

I write to think.

Processing th…

There Won't Be A Right Time

Tchassa Kamga — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 03:29:35 GMT

To quit. To start. To leave.

To change your mind, to think. Fight, flight, freeze.

When the time comes, it won’t be at the right time.

Sans Transition

Tchassa Kamga — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 16:29:38 GMT

In French, when leaving one topic of conversation to another, you can hear a speaker simply say: “Sans transition” then move on to the next topic.

Usually in a humorous way.

The topic that follows is supposed to have no relationship to the previous. Except, maybe, the speaker uttering the words.

It’s in that spirit that I titled today’s newsletter that w…

I got rejected 😔

Tchassa Kamga — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 16:38:03 GMT

A girlfriend once broke up with me by saying I didn’t have any charisma. I was 22 years old and I had no idea what she meant.

But she was very serious. I still have nightmares about the disappointed look in her face.

How could she do that? How could she stay this long with someone without charisma?

Of course, that was neither my first nor my last rejectio…