Ever feel like your greatest work is stuck in draft mode?  

You’re not alone.

Let’s get straight to the edge of it: Movement builders, leaders, and entrepreneurs, if you’re waiting for perfection, you’re just waiting.

I’ve been there.

From Waiting to Winning: My Real-Time Experiment

Recently, I challenged myself to livestream for 10,000 minutes before the end of the year.

Sounds wild, right? 

And I’ll tell you, there’s nothing glamorous about starting. The first minutes were a little awkward, a little messy, and exactly what I needed.

Here’s what I’m learning (and what might serve you):

Lesson 1: Action is Your Superpower

I’ve noticed that most of us don’t lack ideas. We lack action.

=> Are you tweaking that landing page for the 22nd time?

=> Still scripting your “perfect” podcast launch?

=> Telling yourself you’ll go live… once you “have it all together”?

I wonder what would happen if you flipped the script and just showed up, live, right now.

Every clumsy minute is a rep for your movement.

Lesson 2: Play Beats Pressure  

Here’s the truth: when I started treating business as a game, everything shifted because if I’m playing, I don’t have to get it right.  

And if I lose? Tomorrow’s another round.

Playing creates the space to experiment. It lightens the fear and ramps up your learning. It’s also way more fun.

Lesson 3: Visibility Grows Movements

There was a point when it hit me:  

“I talk about this movement, but if no one can see it… does it even exist?”

So now, I go live, send the emails, and share my idea-in-progress.

If you want to lead, you need to be seen.

Lesson 4: Volume Compounds Change

Why 10,000 minutes?  

Because the more I show up, the more I learn, the quicker I improve.

Try it, because:

– Every day you take action, you move up the mountain.

– Every day you wait, you lose momentum.

Let this be a gentle nudge: start tracking your actions, not just your plans.

THE “QUICK WIN” CHALLENGE:

1. Pick one idea you’ve been waiting to launch.  

2. Take one “messy” action on it today, no perfection allowed.  

3. Share what happened inside your community or comment below.

You might be surprised how fast you evolve.

Final Thoughts: Build Out Loud, Learn on Purpose

I don’t have all the answers. I’m literally livestreaming my learning, showing up imperfectly, and trusting that I’ll figure it out in public.

And every day, this journey gets a little less scary.  

A lot more fun.  

And a whole lot more powerful.

Your move:

What’s the small, uncomfortable, but honest action you’re ready to take this week?

Let’s be visible. Let’s play. Let’s grow movements that actually exist, together.

Journey On,  

Niiamah

“If you’re playing, you don’t have to get it right the first time. You can lose and just play again.” Niiamah

Join Niiamah (@niiamahashong) as he goes all-in, LIVE, with the Outlier’s Edge 10,000 Minute Challenge. If you’re a creator, entrepreneur, or leader feeling stuck in “waiting mode,” get the blueprint for action, radical transparency, and constant growth. Niiamah ditches perfection and shares his messy, bold journey scaling a movement in real-time. Discover why play trumps pressure, how co-creation works, and why you have to be visible to lead. Ready to outlearn your doubts and outplay your fears?

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and the messy start

01:07 Why I’m playing 10,000 minutes

03:00 Honesty about restarting live

05:06 Playful learning replaces pressure

06:54 Visibility isn’t optional

10:13 Collaborators and community call-in

13:33 Lessons from broken systems

18:00 Why play unlocks action

21:48 Unforgiving clock and momentum

28:03 What 10,000 minutes teach you

Follow Outlier’s Edge Socials:

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I’ve danced on the edge of growth and exploration for years, both solo and with some of the most committed, electrifying communities you can imagine.

And now I’m letting you in on the raw, unfiltered magic of the journey as it unfolds. This isn’t just about my story; it’s an open invitation for resonance, insight, maybe even a spark. These are my top five takeaways from the latest round of Outlier’s Edge. 

What you’ll find here are not polished nuggets wrapped in neat bows. They’re alive. Action-tested. A little bold (maybe even wild). They’re meant to ignite something in you, no matter where you’re standing on your journey.

1. Hit record before you feel ready.

Waiting for perfect? I used to do that, too. The reality is that real growth happens in the middle of imperfection.

When I launched the 10,000-minute challenge, going live for 10k minutes before the end of the year, it wasn’t from a fortress of certainty. I didn’t have the foolproof script, just a willingness to press play and start. Imperfect action is what flips the switch and gets the energy flowing.

Whether it’s life, business, or that heartbeat project, choose to start. Do it messily. That’s how you unlock extraordinary momentum.

2. Let play guide you not as an escape, but a superpower.

We all know the difference: procrastination hides from the work, while play brings us deeper into it. I’ve stayed up late, stacking Magic the Gathering wins, before realizing I was chasing more than just distraction; I was connecting to pure, creative energy.

Let play be your guide. Blend it into your work. Your best ideas, clarity, and joy will show up, and so will your best self.

3. Grow and learn out loud.

I believe experiments are richer when the world can watch, weigh in, and sometimes join. That’s why I’m building in public, designing new programs, coaching live, evolving the movement, all without waiting for a ‘finished product.’

You don’t need every detail buttoned up before you go public. Start messy. Explore loudly. If you’re launching, creating, or changing, invite people to see the realness. That’s where courage and freedom live. People don’t just appreciate it, they join you.

4. Drop the need to impress. Show up instead.

I know the temptation. “Does this look good enough?” But chasing impressiveness is exhausting, and it slows genuine progress.

The biggest leaps I’ve made? They happened when I set aside the blockbuster reinvention and chose to show up as myself. Unfiltered. Flaws and all.

Every time, authenticity wins. You get the joy, and others get to know and truly connect with who you are.

5. Turn commitments into games you love playing.

Big goals can feel heavy. Sometimes, they stop you before you start. So, I flipped my 10,000-minute challenge from a hard goal into a playful game. Suddenly, it’s energizing. It stretches me and fuels me.

Build your commitments as invitations to play. Invite others in. That’s how consistency feels effortless, and progress becomes fun. It’s the difference between obligation and joyful pursuit.

So here’s to your edge, the place where you play, experiment, struggle, and grow. The game is richer, wilder, and far more joyful when others get to see you in action. 

If you find yourself at the starting line, remember: tonight could be your night to hit record, too. 

It’s your move.

“I believe in growing out loud, learning out loud and creating experiences for myself and others throughout.” – Niiamah

Join Niiamah (@niiamahashong) for a power-packed Outlier’s Edge session as he boldly commits to going live for 10,000 minutes before year’s end. In this episode, Niiamah unpacks the magic of play, the freedom in starting before you’re ready, and why building in public matters more than perfection. Get actionable permission to show up messy, ditch the ego, and grow out loud, because true leaders play the game differently.

Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction and vision

01:11 Why 10,000 minutes matters

02:06 Letting play lead

03:32 From guilt to action

04:29 Showing up differently

05:23 Realness vs. polish

06:24 Coaching and podcast plans

07:46 Breaking comfort and habit

08:35 Practice beats perfection

09:10 Game of content mastery

Follow Outlier’s Edge Socials:

Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | Website | Guild Community

Lately, I’ve been noticing something a little wild in leadership circles.

We say “soft skills” like it’s a side salad—nice to have, but the real meal is systems, numbers, strategy.
But hang on…

What if human skills, yeah, the “people stuff”, are the actual main course?

This came up in a recent conversation with a leader who spent 20 years helping teams grow.

He said, “I used to be the fix-it guy. Always had an answer for everything. But what really changed the game? Learning to say: I don’t know. Let’s figure it out together.”

I’m sitting there nodding because, honestly, when was the last time a spreadsheet solved a tough team conversation?

Here’s what I keep finding (and maybe you do too):

• The boldest move isn’t always launching something new.
  Sometimes it’s pausing and checking in: are we being real or just busy?
• Want real growth? Ditch “soft skills.” Build human skills into your business like you would a payment processor.
• Show me a high-performing team, and I’ll show you a leader who lets folks shine, mess up, ask questions, and grow.

So, how do we make “human” part of our systems?

Let’s get practical:

• Start meetings with, “Here’s what I’m honestly not sure about today…”
• Give permission to question, to try (and fail), and to celebrate tiny wins.
• When someone doesn’t want a traditional promotion? Honor that. There’s more than one way to build value.

I wonder, if human skills are the “harder path,” what’s one small shift we could make this week? In our teams, our offers, our leadership?
Seriously, I’d love to know. Comment below (or DM if you’re feeling reflective).

We keep talking about automations and systems. What would happen if we automated more humanity into what we build?

Keep going, curious to see what you come up with next.

Journey On,
Niiamah

HumanSkills #RealLeadership #GrowthMindset #OutliersEdge

“Your wounds can become your wisdom.” Lori “Sas” Sase

Join Niiamah (@niiamahashong) and Lori “Sas” Sase as they unlock the true power of invitation for creative leaders. Watch Niiamah get coached live, share his fears and breakthroughs, and reveal what it means to lead not just for income but for impact and identity. If you’re tired of staying behind the glass, this episode will move you to take action.

Timestamps:

00:00 Outlier’s Edge intro live

00:07 Why live coaching matters

00:14 Coaching agreements with peers

00:22 Community and support teams

00:29 What invitations mean for leaders

00:35 Childhood invitation wounds

00:42 Adult presence vs. younger self

00:47 Medicine from your wounds

00:53 Invitation energy equals service

00:55 Join Outlier’s Edge movement

Enter Lori “Sas” Sase’s World:

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Continue to Outlier’s Edge World:

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“You are here today. You’re listening today. You made it this far. That means you have a desire to live.” – Patricia Larsen

Join Niiamah Ashong and Dr. Lachelle Wieme for a no-fluff conversation about going from “fine” to truly thriving as an outlier entrepreneur. Get practical insights on decision-making, mindset, and creating real momentum in your business and life.

Timestamps:

00:00 Finding Fulfillment Through Change

05:12 Climbing the Wrong Ladder

08:31 Embracing Growth and Rejection

11:56 Embracing the Moment of Action

16:10 Heart Over Mind Insights

17:20 Shifting Toxic Thought Patterns

21:54 Power, Purpose, Intuition, Confidence

24:25 Mastering Steps Before Automation

29:10 Doors Closed, New Paths Opened

32:48 From Pity to Empowerment

35:02 Aligning Actions with Purpose

38:24 Trust Intuition, Embrace the Journey

41:04 Real Estate Money Method Insights

47:37 Contagious Energy and Alignment

Enter Dr. LaChelle Wieme’s World:

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“You are here today. You’re listening today. You made it this far. That means you have a desire to live.” – Patricia Larsen

Join Niiamah (@niiamahashong) and Patricia Larsen as they dive deep into healing from sexual abuse and creating supportive conversations around trauma. Patricia shares her journey from survivor to advocate with her book “Unsilenced: A Journey of Healing from Sexual Abuse.” Learn how to support survivors, have difficult conversations, and understand the shocking statistics: 1 in 4 girls and 1 in 20 boys experience childhood sexual abuse. This powerful conversation brings light to the darkness and provides practical guidance for both survivors and allies.

Timestamps:

0:00 Patricia introduces her advocacy journey
3:26 Alarming statistics about sexual abuse
8:07 Making statistics feel real
9:27 Who the book is for
11:29 Book title and purpose revealed
14:07 How to have supportive conversations
21:15 Unhelpful responses to avoid
23:56 Helpful responses for survivors
30:28 Message to survivors seeking recovery
31:22 Advice for allies and supporters

Enter Patricia Larsen’s World:

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Continue to Outlier’s Edge World:

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