STOP CARING
START LIVING:
Break the Bullsh*t Rules
and Take Control of Your
Life.
A Brutally Honest Guide to Owning Your Mind, Choices, and Future
By Rounab Chowdhury.
About the Author
Rounab Chowdhury is a no-nonsense thinker, unapologetically driven by the mission to help people break
free from society’s fabricated rules and unlock their true potential. Known for his raw, brutally honest
approach, Rounab has spent years honing his craft, learning from failures, and building a life rooted in
purpose, discipline, and relentless self-improvement.
He’s not interested in giving you another “feel-good” blueprint for success. Instead, he’s here to offer you the
un ltered truth — the real, raw, sometimes uncomfortable insights that will actually change the way you
think, act, and live. When he’s not writing, you’ll nd him challenging conventional norms, pushing his own
limits, and living life on his own damn terms.
This book isn’t for everyone. It’s for those ready to stop following the herd, start owning their choices, and
live life on their own rules. If you’re done with the fake positivity and uff, buckle up — because Rounab’s
about to show you what it really takes to take control of your life.
“Rounab doesn’t whisper sweet nothings — he throws truth grenades. And you’ll thank him for every one.”
— Future You.
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WARNING:
This book will offend your comfort zone. If you're looking for motivational uff or sugar-coated advice, put
this down now. But if you're ready to wake the hell up and take control, turn the damn page.
“I won’t waste your time with recycled advice. Every chapter in this book is written from blood, bruises, and breakthroughs —
not theory. If you nish this and feel nothing, I failed. But if it lights a re under your ass, let’s roll.”
Dedicated to :
For the bold ones. The mis ts. The rule-breakers who got tired of being told to play small. This book is yours now — go
change your damn life.
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INTRODUCTION
WHY YOU'RE STUCK (AND IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT… BUT IT’S YOUR
RESPONSIBILITY)
We live in a world that’s constantly telling us what to care about — likes, followers, salaries, grades,
aesthetics, relationship goals, success metrics. But let me hit you with a truth bomb: most of that sh*t
doesn’t matter. And yet, you care. You care so much, it’s making you miserable.
I’ve been there. I cared what people thought of my choices, my looks, my “potential.” I played by the rules:
the silent expectations of society, family, school, and social media. I ticked all the right boxes — and still felt
like I was living someone else’s life. That’s when I said, “Fck it. This isn’t working.”* And I started rewriting
the rules — for me.
This book isn’t another uffy, feel-good, “believe in yourself” self-help manual. It’s a mental rebellion. A
blueprint for destroying the lies that hold you back.
So if you're tired of being a slave to fake priorities, buckle the hell up. Because once you stop caring about
the wrong sh*t, you’ll start living the right way.
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CHAPTER 1
GIVE LESS FCKS, DO MORE SH*T
We’ve been taught to give too many f*cks. About what others think, about being liked, about failing, about
what our third cousin from Dubai might say if we quit our job.
Here’s the truth: you only have a limited number of f*cks to give in this life — so give them to things
that matter.
When I stopped overthinking every move I made, I realized I could actually do more. I stopped seeking
approval. I started chasing alignment. I didn’t need permission anymore. I needed clarity.
People are paralyzed by caring. You stay in toxic relationships, dead-end jobs, and fake friendships because
you’re too scared of judgment. But guess what? The people judging you are too busy worrying about you to
x their own broken lives.
Stop being a crowd-pleasing doormat. Be a storm. Unapologetic. Loud if you need to be. Quiet when it serves
you. But always real.
Real Talk:
“You are not required to set yourself on re to keep other people warm.”
End-of-Chapter Re ections:
• What are 3 things you’re giving energy to that don’t deserve it?
• Who are you trying to impress — and why do they matter?
Action Step:
Say “no” today without explaining yourself. Just once. Feel the power.
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CHAPTER 2
YOUR BRAIN IS A LIAR
Let me break it to you — your brain is a f*cking drama queen.
It exaggerates danger, manufactures worst-case scenarios, and whispers crap like "You're not good enough"
every time you try to level up. And you listen. Because it sounds like you. But it's not the real you. It’s the
scared, survival-driven, insecure, caveman version of you that still thinks you’re going to be eaten by a saber-
toothed tiger if someone unfollows you.
I’ve had days where I couldn’t leave the house because my brain convinced me I’d mess up, look stupid, fail.
That I wasn't ready. That I needed more time. More skill. More validation. And guess what? None of that ever
came — because action creates con dence, not the other way around.
You can’t outthink fear. You’ve got to move with it. Act with it. Face it down until it backs the hell off.
Quote That Changed My Life:
"You don’t need to feel con dent to take action. You need to take action to feel con dent."
When you start ignoring that lying voice in your head and start doing, you start winning.
End-of-Chapter Re ections:
• What lie has your brain been repeating lately?
• What’s something you’ve wanted to do but felt “not ready” for?
Action Step:
Take ONE action today toward something that scares you. Hit send. Speak up. Show up.
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CHAPTER 3
OWN YOUR SH*T — STOP BLAMING, START BUILDING
Blame is the ultimate drug for the weak. It gives you a hit of false comfort: “It’s not my fault, so I don’t have
to change.” But here’s the truth bomb — as long as you blame others, you hand over your power.
Yeah, maybe life dealt you a rough hand. Maybe your parents sucked. Maybe school didn’t teach you jack.
Maybe society lied. But now what? You gonna keep crying, or you gonna build?
I wasted YEARS blaming everything but myself. The system. The people. The “circumstances.” But blaming
never gave me results. Action did. Ownership did.
“It’s not your fault — but it IS your responsibility.”
Victimhood is cozy. It gives you a story to hide behind. But here’s the brutal truth: Nobody’s coming to save
you. No guru. No boss. No politician. You want change? Build it.
Take radical ownership. Not just of your wins, but your mistakes, your habits, your mind. When you do that,
you become dangerous — in the best way. You stop reacting and start creating.
Blame is easy. Ownership is power.
“Weak men blame. Strong men build.”
End-of-Chapter Re ections:
• Where have you been blaming others instead of taking control?
• What’s one habit you keep excusing instead of xing?
Action Step:
Write down 3 areas of your life you’ve been blaming someone else for — then write one action you’ll take in
each to OWN IT.
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CHAPTER 4
THE MYTH OF BALANCE
Let’s destroy one of the most toxic lies of modern self-help: balance is the goal.
No, it isn’t.
Balance is what they sell you when they want you to juggle a million things while smiling like a damn idiot.
Life isn’t a yoga pose. It’s war. And you don’t ght wars “in balance.” You go all in, on the right things, for
the right reasons.
There were times in my life when I gave 100% to my grind. Other times, I went full beast-mode on my
tness, or on healing, or on building something meaningful. And guess what? Nothing worthwhile was ever
done in a balanced state. It was done in obsession. In controlled chaos. In full commitment.
Stop trying to “have it all” and start asking yourself what actually matters. Choose a few hills to die on, and
go down swinging. That’s where legends are born.
“You can do anything — but not everything.”
End-of-Chapter Re ections:
• Where are you trying to juggle too much?
• What should you go all in on right now?
Action Step:
Pick ONE area of your life and go 100% for 30 days. No excuses. No distractions.
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CHAPTER 5
KILL YOUR NICE GUY COMPLEX
Being “nice” is killing your power. Harsh? Maybe. True? Hell yes.
See, I used to think that being nice would make people like me. That keeping the peace, avoiding con ict,
saying yes when I meant no — would earn me respect. It didn’t. It earned me burnout and resentment.
There’s a difference between being kind and being a pushover. The world respects boundaries, not blind
compliance.
If you’ve ever smiled while dying inside, said yes when you wanted to scream no, or tolerated disrespect
because you didn’t want to “make a scene” — I feel you. I lived that. And I’ll tell you this: you don’t have to
be an a**hole, but you damn sure better be real.
Real men say no. They walk away. They speak their truth. And if someone calls you dif cult, wear that sh*t
like a badge of honor.
“If being real offends them, they weren’t your people anyway.”
End-of-Chapter Re ections:
• Where have you been too “nice” for your own good?
• Who drains your energy but keeps getting access to you?
Action Step:
Say “no” this week to something that doesn’t align — and mean it.
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CHAPTER 6
F*CK PERFECTION — PROGRESS WINS
Perfection is procrastination in a tuxedo. It looks noble, but it’s a killer.
I wasted years waiting to be perfect — to start, to launch, to speak, to try. Every time I hesitated, someone
else with half the skill but double the courage took the shot and won. That sh*t woke me up.
Let me be blunt: You don’t get paid for potential. You get paid for progress.
Done is always better than perfect. And if you’re not embarrassed by your rst attempt, you waited too damn
long.
Whether it’s a business, a body, a habit, or a goal — the ugly version done today will always beat the perfect
version that never shows up.
“Perfection is fear in disguise.”
End-of-Chapter Re ections:
• Where are you hiding behind “getting ready” instead of doing?
• What could you nish if you let go of perfection this week?
Action Step:
Publish something today — a post, a video, a message — even if it’s imperfect.
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CHAPTER 7
BUILD A CODE YOU F*CKING LIVE BY
You want con dence? Discipline? Power? Then build a personal code. And live by that sh*t, no matter
what.
When I had no compass, I drifted. I said yes to things that weren’t me. I let moods decide my actions. I bent
for comfort and lost my edge. Then I wrote down my non-negotiables. My personal code. A list of truths,
habits, and standards I’d bleed for.
Now I wake up and I know what I stand for. No confusion. No “maybe.” Just clarity.
Your code is your armor in a world that wants to mold you. It makes you unf*ckwithable.
So, what’s yours?
“When you know your code, decisions become easy — even when life isn’t.”
End-of-Chapter Re ections:
• What are 5 rules you want to live by — no matter what?
• Where have you been compromising your values?
Action Step:
Write your personal code today. Stick it on your wall. Live it out loud.
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CHAPTER 8:
MENTAL DIET — YOU ARE WHAT YOU CONSUME
Just like junk food screws your body, junk input wrecks your mind.
We live in a dopamine-soaked world — reels, gossip, clickbait, noise. If you constantly feed your brain crap,
don’t be surprised when it starts running like crap.
You can’t expect elite thinking on a garbage diet.
When I started ltering what entered my mental space — podcasts, books, people, even my own inner
dialogue — things shifted. I replaced noise with nourishment. And the fog lifted.
“You become the algorithm you follow.”
Be ruthless with your mental diet. Audit your inputs like your life depends on it — because it does.
Re ections:
• What’s one toxic mental input you need to cut?
• Who (or what) is secretly poisoning your focus?
Action Step:
48-hour dopamine detox: no reels, no random YouTube, no gossip. Just books, silence, deep focus.
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CHAPTER 9
ESCAPE THE APPROVAL TRAP
We’ve all been there — chasing likes, validation, and nods of approval like they’re currency. But here’s the
deal: the more you chase approval, the more power you give away.
I used to tailor my life for the applause of others. My goals, my looks, my voice — all adjusted to t someone
else’s version of acceptable. But approval is a drug — short-term highs with long-term damage.
Want peace? Want clarity? Cut the addiction. Stop asking, “Will they like it?” and start asking, “Does it feel
true to me?”
"Approval is just another leash. Cut it."
Re ections:
• Where in your life are you still performing for others?
• Whose opinion are you secretly a prisoner to?
Action Step:
Do something bold this week that no one else gets — but YOU do.
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CHAPTER 10
STOP APOLOGIZING FOR EXISTING
Why the hell are you apologizing for taking up space?
I used to say “sorry” for everything — for asking questions, for having boundaries, for being too much or too
little. But listen, real talk — you don’t owe the world an apology for existing. You owe it authenticity.
Be too loud. Take up room. Be complicated. Be real. That’s what shakes the damn world.
“You weren’t born to shrink. You were born to stand the f*ck out.”
Re ections:
• What part of yourself have you been dimming to t in?
• Where have you been over-apologizing?
Action Step:
Go one full day without saying “sorry” unless you truly mean it. Replace it with con dence.
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CHAPTER 11
DETOX YOUR CIRCLE
Show me your circle, and I’ll show you your future.
Not everyone deserves a front-row seat in your life. If your circle drains your drive, mocks your dreams, or
keeps you small — that’s not a circle, that’s a cage.
When I started cutting ties with toxic “friends,” everything changed. I made space for people who challenged
me, pushed me, and spoke life into me.
"Energy is contagious. Choose wisely who you breathe around."
Re ections:
• Who in your life inspires growth — and who stunts it?
• Are you the smartest or strongest person in your circle? That’s a red ag.
Action Step:
Reach out to one person who energizes you. Cut ties with one who drains you.
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CHAPTER 12
DO HARD SH*T ON PURPOSE
Comfort is a killer.
We’ve built a society obsessed with ease — fast food, fast dopamine, fast results. But growth? Real, raw,
spine-cracking growth? It lives on the other side of hard.
I started doing one hard thing daily — a cold shower, a brutal workout, a scary call. And it rewired me. I
became mentally jacked.
Do hard things not because you have to — but because you f*cking can.
“Discomfort is the gym of the soul.”
Re ections:
• When’s the last time you voluntarily chose the harder path?
• What’s one challenge you’ve been avoiding?
Action Step:
Pick one tough task and do it this week. No overthinking. Just action.
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CHAPTER 13
STOP WAITING FOR MOTIVATION
Let me break your heart gently: Motivation is a scam.
If you only act when you “feel like it,” you’ll lose to the guy who acts anyway. Every. Damn. Time.
I’ve crushed workouts half-asleep. Written chapters with zero hype. Launched businesses with fear still
clawing at my gut. And guess what? That’s when the magic happens.
Discipline > motivation. Action > mood. Momentum > mindset.
"The pros don’t wait. They start. And then the energy shows up."
Re ections:
• What have you been postponing until “the right mood”?
• Where in your life is discipline desperately needed?
Action Step:
Pick a task you've been waiting to feel ready for — and just f*cking start.
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CHAPTER 14
THE MYTH OF BALANCE
Balance is beautiful in theory, but in the real world, it’s often bullsh*t.
People preach about work-life balance like it’s a mathematical formula. But life isn’t about evenly splitting
your energy — it’s about knowing where your re is and fueling it with obsession.
When I was building my business, I wasn’t balanced. I was locked in. I missed parties, ignored noise, and
tuned into purpose. That season demanded obsession, not moderation.
Balance isn’t the goal — alignment is.
"Don’t aim for balance. Aim for what lights your soul on re."
Re ections:
• Are you spreading yourself too thin in the name of balance?
• What area of your life deserves full-throttle energy right now?
Action Step:
Identify one mission that matters most. Go all in for 30 days.
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CHAPTER 15
MAKE PEACE WITH FAILURE
Failure isn’t the end — it’s the f*cking initiation.
I’ve failed more times than I’ve succeeded. Businesses tanked. Friendships collapsed. Goals missed. And
every single time, I came back stronger, sharper, meaner.
You’re not broken when you fail. You’re being built.
Embrace the fall. Own the scars. That’s how legends are made.
"Every ‘L’ I took taught me to ght better. Not to quit."
Re ections:
• What failure are you still ashamed of?
• What did it secretly teach you?
Action Step:
Share one failure publicly or with someone close. Reclaim its power.
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CHAPTER 16
YOUR BODY, YOUR WEAPON
Your body isn’t decoration. It’s your f*cking machine.
When I was out of shape, I felt like sh*t. Not because of the mirror, but because I knew I was living below
my standard. Strength isn’t about abs — it’s about discipline, energy, resilience.
Lifting iron. Eating clean. Moving daily. That’s not vanity — it’s self-respect.
"You can’t dominate life if you’re a prisoner in your body."
Re ections:
• Are your habits fueling or f*cking your body?
• What’s the excuse you tell yourself daily?
Action Step:
Start a non-negotiable daily movement ritual. No perfection. Just movement.
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CHAPTER 17
OWN YOUR VOICE
Too many people die with their truth still locked in their throat.
I spent years hiding my thoughts, censoring my opinions, afraid of judgment. But silence is self-betrayal.
Your voice is your weapon. Use it or lose it.
Say the thing. Start the blog. Launch the podcast. Raise your damn hand.
"Your silence serves no one. Least of all, you."
Re ections:
• Where have you been shrinking your voice?
• What truth is begging to be spoken?
Action Step:
Post, speak, or write one bold truth this week. Let it rip.
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CHAPTER 18
DESIGN YOUR OWN BLUEPRINT
Who wrote your script? Your parents? Society? Instagram?
I realized one day I was following a life plan I didn’t even believe in. College, job, marriage — checkboxes,
not choices. So I burned it all. And built my own blueprint.
You don’t need permission. You need clarity.
"The moment you stop following the map, you start discovering your own damn kingdom."
Re ections:
• What parts of your life feel inherited, not chosen?
• What would your blueprint look like?
Action Step:
Write a “life script” for the next 3 years. Make it yours. No lters.
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CHAPTER 19
BUILD A F*CK YOU FUND
Money won’t make you happy, but it sure as hell gives you options.
There was a time I couldn’t walk away from toxic jobs or relationships — because I was broke. I had no exit
plan. No power. That’s when I started stacking what I now call my “F*ck You Fund.”
It’s not about millions. It’s about freedom.
"You sleep better when you know you don’t have to say yes."
Re ections:
• Do you control your money — or does it control you?
• What would nancial power change for you?
Action Step:
Start saving. Name the account: “Freedom Fund.” Even if it’s $10/month.
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CHAPTER 20
PROTECT YOUR ENERGY LIKE A PSYCHO
Not everything deserves a reaction. Not everyone gets your energy.
I used to ght every battle, defend every choice, and argue every hater. And it drained the life out of me.
Now? I treat my energy like it’s sacred.
If it costs you peace, it’s too f*cking expensive.
"Peace isn’t weak. It’s power under control."
Re ections:
• What’s been stealing your energy lately?
• Are you spending more time reacting or creating?
Action Step:
Cut one energy-leak this week — person, habit, or distraction.
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CHAPTER 21
BURN THE NEED FOR VALIDATION
Approval is a drug, and most people are addicts.
We chase likes, compliments, handshakes, and fake applause. I used to twist myself just to t in. But here's
the kicker: the people you're trying to impress don’t even know who the hell they are.
I stopped needing validation the day I realized con dence comes from doing, not begging.
"Validation is rented. Con dence is owned."
Re ections:
• Whose opinion are you obsessed with?
• What would you do differently if you didn’t care who’s watching?
Action Step:
Go do one thing this week you’ve held back on out of fear of judgment.
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CHAPTER 22
MENTAL GYM: TRAIN YOUR DAMN MIND
You train your biceps, but what about your beliefs?
Most people walk around with mental ab. Negative thoughts. Limiting beliefs. Weak willpower. I used to be
one of them — smart, but soft inside. The change began when I started working out my mind daily like it
was a muscle.
Journaling. Reading. Silence. Grit-building. Not sexy. Just necessary.
"The strongest body is useless if your mind folds under pressure."
Re ections:
• Do you own your thoughts — or do they own you?
• How often do you stretch your mindset?
Action Step:
Commit to 10 minutes of mental training daily — no excuses.
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CHAPTER 23
BREAK UP WITH YOUR OLD SELF
Growth means grief. You’ve got to kill who you were to become who you need to be.
I held onto past versions of myself — the funny guy, the nice guy, the one who never rocked the boat. But
those identities were anchors, not wings.
You don’t owe the past anything but a nod. Then move.
"Reinvention isn’t betrayal. It’s evolution."
Re ections:
• Who are you still pretending to be?
• What identity do you need to bury today?
Action Step:
Write a letter to your old self. Burn it. Mourn it. Move on.
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CHAPTER 24
CUT NICE FROM YOUR DICTIONARY
Being nice got me nowhere. It got me used, stepped on, forgotten.
Kind? Yes. Strong? Always. But nice? That’s code for doormat. The world respects clarity, not compliance.
Speak your mind. Set the boundary. Say no. They might not like you, but they’ll respect you.
"Stop being liked. Start being legendary."
Re ections:
• Where are you being ‘nice’ instead of being real?
• What boundary do you need to draw?
Action Step:
Say no to one thing this week that doesn’t serve your goals.
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CHAPTER 25
FIND YOUR NORTH STAR
When you know where you’re going, the noise fades.
I wandered through jobs, relationships, paths — all because I lacked a compass. The moment I de ned my
why, my world got sharper. Direction kills distraction.
Find your mission. Tattoo it to your soul. Then chase it relentlessly.
"When your purpose roars, doubt shuts the hell up."
Re ections:
• What makes you feel most alive?
• If you could solve one problem in the world, what would it be?
Action Step:
Write your personal mission statement in 2 sentences. Keep it visible.
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Final Summary: The Un ltered Truth
If you made it here, you’ve just read one of the realest books you’ll ever lay your hands on.
No uff. No sugar-coating. Just brutal truths, lived experiences, and hard-earned wisdom. We tore down the
bullsh*t rules. We reprogrammed the way you think about fear, failure, success, and self-respect.
You learned to:
• Stop giving a damn about the noise and start tuning into your own voice.
• Embrace your mess, your madness, your mission.
• Destroy excuses and build discipline like your life depends on it (because it does).
• Redesign your life blueprint — one that’s raw, real, and ruthlessly yours.
This isn’t the end. This is the f*cking beginning.
Now take what’s in these pages and make the rest of your life a bold, unapologetic masterpiece.
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Thank You Note (From One Fighter to Another)
To the reader holding this book right now — thank you.
Thank you for choosing realness in a world obsessed with lters.
Thank you for daring to evolve when it’s easier to conform.
Thank you for every page you turned, every re ection you faced, and every action you’ll now take.
I didn’t write this book for everyone. I wrote it for you — the one who’s ready to break rules, kill excuses,
and reclaim life on your terms.
If this book hit you in the gut, if it woke something up in you — then mission accomplished.
But we’re not done.
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What’s Next?
📘 NO RULES, JUST RESULTS — The Brutal Blueprint for Winning at Life Without Apologizing
You’ve learned how to stop caring. Now it’s time to start dominating.
My next book is the raw sequel to everything you’ve just read. We go deeper. Darker. Bolder. From mindset to money, discipline to
domination, this is your no-BS manual to becoming a beast in your own life.
🚨 Coming soon. You’ve been warned.
