Would you buy a car without a steering wheel? This is your daily message from Chad number 578 and this message is dedicated to the inspiring Darren Hardy.

Several car manufacturers are designing models without steering wheels. GM’s autonomous vehicle (or AV) is called the Cruise AV. Maybe you’ve seen Tesla’s fleet of Robotaxis. Mercedes has unveiled a concept car without a steering wheel. Just like we walk into a house and don’t see a phone hanging on the wall, we will eventually climb into a car and not see a steering wheel.

You may feel that will be an advance in technology. It will definitely change the car insurance industry. You may feel the loss of control will be scary. We do put a lot of trust in each other as we are controlling these machines if you think about it. We trust people are going to stop when they should stop and going when they should go. Think about these blocks of metal, weighing a ton, whizzing past each other at fast speeds. I think I would trust an algorithm more than a distracted driver.

I’ll tell you what should scare you. Almost no one is as intent on controlling their mind with the same precision. Many are sitting back with folded arms allowing the powerful machine they are in possession of to go wherever. I think I’ve mentioned the illustration Earl Nightingale uses about the guy he saw driving a bulldozer. He was driving down the highway and spotted this huge machine carrying what seemed like 30 tons of dirt. It was like having a 20-story building barreling down the road. He noticed a guy perched on top guiding it with a little steering wheel.

He said he watched this incredible machine in action, I couldn’t help but draw a parallel between it and the human mind. Imagine sitting at the controls of such a powerful force. You wouldn’t take your hands off the wheel for a second if you were driving it. Your mind is more powerful than a bulldozer. Metaphorically, you take your hands off the wheel all the time.

If you want to control your thinking better I have the key. This is a powerful tool. You’re going to think it’s obvious after I tell you. It’s so easy too. It’s so easy you probably won’t do it, but I absolutely, positively, guarantee you if you do this you will gain more control of your thoughts. Are you ready? Here’s what you do: write them down. Just write them down. This is going to give you the most important thing you need: awareness. For example, I will think about a financial decision I made and I will tell myself “You’re so stupid.” I’ve started to categorize these thoughts. You can do the same. All your thoughts are past, present, or future. “I’m so stupid” is a thought about a mistake in the past. After that thought I steer my mind back on the road with the reminder that I’ve learned from that mistake and I have a plan in place to not repeat it.

Well, I realized this is a longer message than I intended and deserves a part deux, so let’s explore this some more. The simple takeaway is writing down your thoughts will create awareness. Send me your thoughts by leaving a comment or emailing fromchadsmith@gmail.com.