I spent the last 10 years obsessively setting goals. SMART goals. Life plans. Weekly targets. Five-year visions. Spreadsheets, systems, and control — all in the name of progress.

But what I’ve learned isn’t really about goal setting at all. It’s about identity, control, burnout — and what happens when you stop treating your life like a project plan.

This episode is a deep dive into how my goals evolved as I evolved — and what I now believe actually matters.

Let’s dive in.

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CONNECT WITH ME
🌐 https://linktr.ee/khromazone
📸 https://instagram.com/khromazone
💼 https://linkedin.com/in/dkhroma

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💡 IN THIS EPISODE, I EXPLORE

• From SMART Goals to Values
Why most of my early goals failed — but still mattered. How direction outlasts checklists. Why values scale better than targets.

• Control, Safety & Burnout
How optimization gave me security and slowly became a cage. Why burnout is data, not failure. What happens when control replaces listening.

• Identity-Based Change
Why “I am” works better than “one day I will.” How becoming the person first removes friction. Why discipline alone never stuck.

• Direction Over Destination
Why life can’t be predicted — only met. How leaving space for the unimaginable made my life more surprising. Why openness increases the surface area of opportunity.

• Trust, Uncertainty & Living Fully
Why fear doesn’t stop bad things from happening — it stops you from living. How uncertainty can be terrifying or liberating. Why that part is a choice.

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🕰️ Timestamps

00:00 Starting with a blank slate (again)
01:10 Who I am & why this reflection matters
02:30 The early years: SMART goals & skill chasing
05:30 The meditation goal that took 9 years
07:40 Start-ups, ambition & control
10:30 The illusion of control
12:40 Alternative lives I still want to live
14:40 When goals became intense — and exhausting
16:40 Burnout as feedback
18:30 From goals to values
20:00 Identity-based change
21:30 Leaving space for the unimaginable
23:00 Direction over destination

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✍️ Quotes from the Episode

“I didn’t fail my goals — I just wasn’t ready to live them yet.”
“Control gave me security, but it also trapped me.”
“Burnout wasn’t the problem. It was the message.”
“I got tired of treating my life like a project plan.”
“My mind isn’t scared of the unknown — it’s scared of the stories it puts there.”
“Goals are less about where you arrive and more about the direction you travel.”
“The less I tried to control my future, the more beautiful it became.”
“Fear doesn’t stop you from dying. Fear stops you from living.”

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👤 About Dmitro Khroma

I’m an engineer, entrepreneur, and poet. I co-founded and scaled a hardware e-commerce company to ~£15M in annual revenue — and burned out in the process. Now, through Dimi Dives Deep, I explore what it means to build a life, career, and creative practice from authenticity, emotional intelligence, and values — not just achievement. Because I believe the real startup is you.

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🪞 If You Resonated With This Episode

This one’s for founders, makers, and creatives who are tired of optimizing their lives and ready to start living them.

Drop a comment and tell me what landed most.

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🎧 Support the Show
Subscribe, share, and let this channel grow naturally.
Every episode is a mirror — for my process and yours.

#DimiDivesDeep #GoalSetting #BurnoutRecovery #FounderJourney #Authenticity #Identity #Values #PersonalGrowth #CreativeProcess #Alignment

I spent a day with @aliabdaal, his talented team, and a room full of ambitious creators — exploring how to grow online, make money, and build audiences.

But what I personally took away wasn’t about algorithms or funnels. It was about safety, identity, and what happens when you stop building from fear and start building from your authentic truth.

After years scaling a multimillion-pound startup and burning out in the process, this day reminded me how easy it is for me to lose myself while chasing success — and how powerful it is to start again.

Let’s dive in.

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Connect with me:
🌐 https://linktr.ee/khromazone
📸 https://www.instagram.com/khromazone
💼 https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkhroma/

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💡 In This Episode, I Explore

Soft Lessons Learned — why my nervous system, not my calendar, decides when I can show up; how the “fuck your feelings” mindset both helped and challenged me; and why healthy discomfort is a form of growth.

Purpose and Alignment — how I stopped waiting for the perfect vision and learned to let “good enough for now” guide me; how service to others became my compass; and why multiple missions can coexist.

The Offer (Transformation over Vehicle) — how I discovered my real offer: helping founders scale to seven figures without burning out or losing themselves; and why starting one-to-one first creates depth before scale.

Magnetic Marketing (YouTube Intros with Ali) — what it felt like to sit across from Ali workshopping my intro, why it was harder than expected, and how I’m learning to speak who I am without shame.

Expression Over Optimization — the moment I realized I don’t want to be an algorithmic version of myself, and how I’m choosing authenticity over performance — even if it’s unscalable.

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🕰️ Timestamps
00:00 Burnout, masks, and the longing to just be me
01:00 Inside Ali Abdaal’s mastermind – the real lessons
03:00 The safety gap: why skills aren’t enough
05:30 “Fuck your feelings” vs. nervous system wisdom
07:00 Good-enough visions and needs before ideals
09:00 Transformation over vehicles – the art of selling outcomes
11:30 Starting with high-touch coaching
13:00 Identity, intros, and the courage to be seen
15:00 YouTube as expression vs. marketing funnel
17:00 Achievement vs. alignment – building from truth

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👤 About Dmitro Khroma
I’m an engineer, entrepreneur, and poet. I co-founded and scaled a hardware e-commerce company to £15M in annual revenue — and then burned out.

Now I help founders and creators grow their businesses without losing touch with themselves.

Through Dimi Dives Deep, I explore how to build from authenticity, emotional intelligence, and creative truth — because I believe the real startup is you.

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.

🪞 If You Resonated With This Episode
This one’s for anyone tired of performing their success story — for founders, makers, and creatives learning to build from alignment, not achievement.

Drop a comment and tell me what landed most.

.
.

🎧 Support the Show
Subscribe, share, and help this channel grow naturally.

Every episode is a mirror for the creative process — yours and mine.

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.

#DimiDivesDeep #AliAbdaal #Entrepreneurship #CreativeProcess #FounderJourney #BurnoutRecovery #Authenticity #Coaching #Alignment #Purpose #CreatorEconomy

Linktree Connect Here: https://linktr.ee/khromazone

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It’s been one month since I left the company I co-founded after 8 years. Instead of “retiring” for a while, I found myself rushing straight back into building the next thing—overwhelmed, excited, exhausted.

This episode is me reflecting on the sparkles, the struggles, and the lessons from my first month of “funemployment.”

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💡 Themes I explore:

“Walkway, not runway.” Slowing down the pace of creation.

“Alignment over achievement.” Building from joy instead of fear.

“New software, old hardware.” How old habits sneak into new projects.

“Comfortable being overwhelmed.” Why chaos feels safer than rest.

“Microdosing enoughness.” Practicing small moments of safety and presence.

“I don’t need to take time off. I get to.” Redefining work and play.

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I share what I’m learning through coaching, journaling, and experimenting with video as a new practice. This isn’t a neat, polished success story—it’s a real-time reflection on unlearning scarcity, reshaping creativity, and trying to build a nourishing life I don’t want to escape from.

If you’re also navigating transition, burnout, or the tension between sparkle and overwhelm, I hope this speaks to you.

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Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Initial Thoughts

00:12 Reflecting on Leaving Swytch

01:04 Discovering New Passions

01:37 Challenges of Content Creation

03:09 Overcoming Old Habits

04:04 Balancing Life and Work

06:40 Coaching and Self-Discovery

07:51 Building a Nourishing Life

13:17 Daily Reflections and Future Plans

Connect here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/khromazone⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/khromazone⁠

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkhroma/

---Healing Through Dance: My Journey of Self-ExpressionIn this episode, I share my transformative journey with dance, from structured ballroom classes in my youth to discovering the deeply healing practice of ecstatic dance as an adult. I reflect on how dance allowed me to connect with my emotions, express suppressed feelings, and ultimately, find freedom from mental constraints. I take you through significant experiences, including a profound retreat and the integration of various well-being practices, illustrating how dance has become a vehicle for healing and self-discovery in my life. Join me on a candid exploration of how movement can bridge the gap between mind and body, leading to a more vibrant, connected existence.Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: The Power of Dance00:41 Early Dance Experiences01:23 Discovering Ecstatic Dance02:30 The Ecstatic Dance Experience04:23 Healing Through Dance09:21 Integrating Dance and Daily Life16:22 Peak Dance Experiences23:59 Conclusion: Embracing the Full Human Experience

Connect here: https://linktr.ee/khromazone

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khromazone

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkhroma/

---In this episode, I share my personal journey of recovering from severe burnout and provide my top tips for managing stress, building resilience, and preventing burnout. From recognizing the signs of burnout to adopting effective stress management techniques such as breathwork, journaling, and lifestyle changes, I cover everything you need to know to take ownership over your mental and emotional well-being. Learn about the importance of a solid morning and evening routine, the role of self-compassion and gratitude, and how to build a sustainable approach to wellness. Whether you're dealing with chronic stress or just looking for ways to improve your overall resilience, this episode offers valuable insights and practical advice.00:00 Introduction to Stress Management00:10 Personal Burnout Story01:18 Understanding Stress02:55 Immediate Stress Relief Techniques03:17 Long-term Stress Management Strategies05:45 Recognizing Burnout Warning Signs07:25 Morning Routine for Resilience09:17 Evening Wind Down Routine11:04 The Importance of Rest12:05 Cultivating Self-Compassion14:26 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Connect here: https://linktr.ee/khromazoneInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/khromazoneLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dkhroma/---From Burnout to Creative Flow: My Journey of Self-DiscoveryIn my debut podcast, I take listeners on a deeply personal journey from burnout and depression to creative expression and spiritual well-being, culminating in the recording of this podcast on my 30th birthday (March 1, 2025). I share stories of overcoming mental health challenges, discovering creative outlets like poetry and ecstatic dance, and embracing personal growth through various retreats and resilience practices. Reflecting on my transformation, I speak about the obstacles I've faced and the profound lessons I've learned along the way. This episode is an inspiring narrative filled with insights on stress management, authenticity, and the power of creative expression.Timestamps:00:00 Introduction: From Burnout to Creative Expression01:00 Starting the Podcast Journey01:51 The Role of Social Media in Creative Flow03:12 Navigating Creative Blocks and Burnout07:48 The Impact of Personal Relationships10:56 The Power of Sharing and Expression18:55 Reflecting on Burnout and Wellbeing26:40 Discovering New Paths to Wellbeing34:59 Embracing Men's Work and Vulnerability39:15 Conclusion: The Importance of Authenticity