A couple of weeks ago, I listened to a podcast that I haven’t stopped talking about since.
It featured Tej Dosa and Jack Moses—two writers, entrepreneurs, and creators—discussing Tej’s vision of the three versions of life: Life 1.0, Life 2.0, and Life 3.0.
His perspective hit home for me, and it made so much sense that I knew I had to share it.
In this article, I’ll share my take on each stage—what they mean and how you can shift toward a life of greater freedom, purpose, and alignment.
To listen to the podcast, here's the link.
Life 1.0: The Conditioned Life
Life 1.0 is the life you’re born into, shaped by family expectations, social norms, and what others tell you is possible.
You're on autopilot, following a path that feels like the only option for you.
It's often going to school, getting a stable job, and sticking close to what’s familiar.
You don’t question the path much because it just feels “normal.”
This is the life that’s handed to you, so you accept it, feeling like "this is what life is supposed to be."
This is how most people live: stuck in jobs they don’t care about, doing what’s expected, and staying where they are because "that’s just the way it is."
Focus of Life 1.0:
In Life 1.0, the focus is on fitting in and following the rules.
It’s about doing what’s expected instead of exploring your own path or passions.
What defines Life 1.0:
- Set limits: You believe certain things are out of reach—whether it’s certain careers, dreams, or ways of thinking—because that’s “just how things are.”
- Fixed self-image: You see yourself a certain way, often based on how others see you. This creates a mental “box” around what you believe you can do, shaping your choices and your limits.
- External validation: Your sense of success depends on meeting family, social, or cultural expectations instead of following what you actually want.
What 1.0 feels like:
- Predictable: Life 1.0 is like re-watching a movie when you already know the ending. The story feels mapped out, with little room for change or surprises.
- Safe, but boring: Staying in Life 1.0 feels secure, like staying in a “comfort zone,” but it also feels limiting. It’s safe, but deep down, there’s a sense you’re missing out on a bigger, more exciting story.
Signs you’re ready to leave 1.0:
At some point, you might start feeling bored, stuck, or even trapped.
You start wondering if there’s more to life than just following the usual path or living up to what others expect.
That feeling of insatisfaction—that spark of curiosity or restlessness—is a sign you’re ready to start moving toward Life 2.0.
Life 2.0: Freedom and Autonomy
Life 2.0 is about breaking free from the life you were born into and creating life on your own terms.
It’s when you step off autopilot and start designing a life that feels truly yours.
The Goal here is freedom—freedom of time, money, and location.
In Life 2.0, you’re working toward a setup where you control your time, decide where you work, and choose how you make money.
It’s about building a life you actually want to live.
What defines Life 2.0:
- Skill-building: You’re learning skills that unlock independence. Whether it’s coding, writing, business, or something else, these skills are tools for freedom.
- Building a career or business: You’re creating a way to earn money that doesn’t trap you in a 9-to-5. Maybe you’re freelancing, starting a business, or working remotely. You’re creating options.
- Lifestyle design: You’re making choices that let you work from anywhere, set your own schedule, and have more control over your life.
How 2.0 feels like:
Life 2.0 feels exciting and liberating.
You’re stepping away from what others expect and building something that’s yours.
Each goal you hit, each step toward freedom—it feels like real progress.
But Life 2.0 has its limits.
After a while, you might feel something’s missing.
You start to wonder if there’s more than just external success and personal freedom.
That’s the pull toward Life 3.0—a life with deeper meaning and purpose.
Life 3.0: Living in Full Alignment
Life 3.0 is all about living in total alignment with who your truly are.
In this version, your actions, work, and daily choices flow naturally from a sense of purpose.
It’s no longer about external success or freedom.
It’s about embodying who you truly are and being a vessel for something greater.
Focus of life 3.0
In Life 3.0, the focus shifts from external achievements to living with purpose.
You’re beyond chasing goals for their own sake.
Instead, you’re living each day from a place of authenticity and creating from your core.
What defines Life 3.0:
- Purpose-driven: In Life 3.0, you’re guided by purpose. Instead of constantly “doing” to achieve, you focus on “being” true to yourself.
- Trusting the unknown: You’ve let go the need to control every detail or plan. You trust life’s process, even when the path is unclear, letting each moment unfold as it should.
- Following inner guidance: Choices come from within. You’re no longer looking for outside approval. You follow your intuition, confident that it will lead you toward what feels right.
- Creating impact beyond yourself: Life 3.0 involves helping others or creating something meaningful. Your life becomes about more than just personal success—you’re contributing to something greater.
Money in Life 3.0:
- Enough to feel secure: You’ve built a solid foundation, money isn’t a worry.
- Support, not the goal: Money backs your purpose—it’s not the focus. You’re not chasing more for status.
- Clear on “enough”: You know what you need, and you’re not here to accumulate just for the sake of it.
How 3.0 feels like:
- Freeing but uncertain: Life 3.0 is liberating because you’re living 100% authentically, but it can also feel like stepping into the unknown. There’s no map—you’re creating as you go.
- Deeply fulfilling: In Life 3.0, you feel a strong sense of connection and purpose. The work itself brings you joy, not just the outcome.
- In flow: Life feels natural and effortless. You’re fully present, in sync with life’s rhythm, and open to each moment’s possibilities.
In Life 3.0, you’re no longer just existing—you’re fully alive.
It’s about being true to yourself, trusting your path, and creating a meaningful impact.
This is where life feels most vibrant, most purposeful, and most free.
Moving from Life 1.0 to Life 2.0: Building Freedom
Step 1: Realize you’re stuck in default mode
Start by recognizing when life feels like it’s on autopilot, following a script set by others—family, society, or past beliefs.
If you’re feeling stuck, uninspired, or restless, it’s a strong sign you’re ready to start living differently.
To fully shift into Life 2.0, you’ll need both inner and outer work.
They go hand in hand, so work on them together.
Inner work: upgrade your OS (mindset) for Life 2.0
Define what freedom looks like to you
Get clear on what freedom means in your life—whether it’s more time, control over your work, or simply living according to your values.
Clarifying this vision is key—defining your ideal day can help build it out. You can check out: Your Ideal Day: How To Define It And Why It Matters
Creating a vision board is great too.
It's a clear mental map of the life you’re working toward.
Replace limiting beliefs by helpful ones and get inspired
Your beliefs are the OS that shapes your life. They directly influence what you can achieve.
Upgrading these beliefs is some of the highest ROI work you can do.
Start by looking for beliefs that hold you back.
Examples:
You can’t have it all
Making money is hard
Rich people are greedy, selfish, unethical
I come from a poor family, I can’t earn money
The list goes on—each one can be reprogrammed.
Replace them by reading nonfiction, especially on money, freedom, and success.
Follow people who’ve made it to Life 2.0 or beyond. Their stories help you see what’s possible.
Seeing it happen for others rewires your mindset and shows you it’s doable.
For a deeper dive on inner work, check out Inner Work Is The Secret To Major Life Upgrades.
Outer work: stepping into the arena
Develop skills that unlock freedom
To build a life of freedom, you need skills that let you work on your own terms.
You might already have some that fit, but you need skills that are compatible with freedom.
This usually means freelancing, launching a business or flexible remote work.
Freelancing is often the simplest way to get started.
Some high-value skills include copywriting, coding, digital marketing, sales, video editing, design, and ghostwriting.
There are many more. Search.
The best part? You can learn these for free or a handful of dollars.
Resources are everywhere—YouTube, ChatGPT, books—
It has never been easier to learn skills.
No degree needed. No excuses.
Take action and iterate until you generate enough income
If you have a stable job, start a side project.
It’s a safe way to build something on the side while keeping your income.
Focus on progress, not perfection. Each step forward, even small, is a win.
The first goal is to learn and iterate until you manage to generate income. That's your first victory toward autonomy. Celebrate it.
The second goal is to generate enough income to feel financially secure.
Once your side income is stable, congrats—you’re ready to go all in.
Moving from Life 2.0 to Life 3.0: From Freedom to Alignment
Get inspired by people living in Life 3.0
These are people who radiate purpose, consciousness, and authenticity.
You’re not looking to copy them, just to feel what’s possible and draw inspiration from their way of being.
Shift from achievement to purpose
Realize that personal freedom and success aren’t the end goals anymore.
You’re ready for something deeper.
Ask yourself what truly brings meaning to your life beyond achievements or recognition.
Let purpose lead your actions
Make decisions based on what feels truly meaningful, not just profitable.
Life 3.0 is about letting purpose, not productivity, drive what you do.
This can mean prioritizing impact, creative expression, or contribution over purely personal gain.
Create and contribute
Start viewing your work and actions as ways to contribute to something bigger than yourself.
Let your focus shift to what you can bring the world—whether through creativity, service, or meaningful projects that align with your values.
Release control
Drop the need to control your time so tightly.
Tej Dosa suggests balancing structured time (to keep your purpose grounded) with unstructured time (to let life flow naturally).
For him, that means starting each day with focused deep work to stay grounded in purpose, while keeping afternoons open for flexibility, inspiration, and spontaneity.
Let old identities die
Stop defining yourself by roles or titles.
You’re more than your career or accomplishments.
Let go of labels and limitations that restrict your growth.
Trust your intuition over external approval
Follow your inner guidance, even if it means veering away from past plans.
Let your intuition lead you, trusting it to guide you to what feels right.
Live fully in the present moment
Instead of constantly reaching for the next goal, practice being fully engaged in each moment.
Life 3.0 is more about being than doing, and it’s about savoring the small, meaningful experiences that come with each day.
My journey so far—and what’s next
I started as a Growth Marketer at a startup, building skills in cold emailing.
After a year or two, I felt I wanted more freedom, so I started planning my escape.
I knew I had limiting beliefs about money, like “money is bad”, "you can't be rich and ethical", and all that kind of crap.
To fix that faulty OS, I dug into nonfiction books to shift my mindset.
I read 6 books about money and abundance in one year. I needed repetition for a real shift.
I also launched a side project, freelancing in cold emailing. I worked about an hour a day, plus a couple of hours on weekends.
Over time, I built up clients and income, going from $1,500 to $3,000 to $7,500 a month—enough to reach financial freedom.
Next, I co-founded MailReach (B2B SaaS) and still work on it every day. It’s growing and brings abundance.
Now, I feel I’m gradually moving from 2.0 to 3.0.
I’m more purpose-driven, focused on creating with full authenticity—writing these articles, posting daily on X, and building a new business aligned with my purpose.
Work in progress. All of this is a journey.
Final word
Tej Dosa’s vision of the 3 versions of life hit home for me, and I felt compelled to share it.
This is my take on his perspective.
If you’re interested, I highly recommend listening to his podcast with Jack Moses—it’s full of insight.
With much love,
Damien