Clean the Window
Notice self-deception, clear outside pressure, and return to what is true
- Difficulty
- Advanced
- Time to result
- ~ongoing to results
- Steps
- 6
- Confidence
- 95%
Clean the Window is Labrinth's metaphor for repeatedly clearing away fear, self-doubt, validation seeking, and commercial expectations so his own perspective can come through. The method begins with observation: notice when a decision is being driven by accommodation or an identity built for other people. Look closely enough to admit when you are lying to yourself, then ask what your centre is actually saying. Make the more truthful choice and accept that its reception may differ from the success attached to the old mask. Because pressure returns, the process is cyclical rather than final. Its output is not guaranteed popularity; it is work and a life that feel more aligned with the person making them.
Origin
Extracted from The Diary of a CEO, where Labrinth describes his career mission as cleaning a window so his distinct creative perspective can pass through without being clouded by fear, money, or validation.
Core principles
- 01Outside expectations can obscure your own direction
- 02Self-observation reveals when you are accommodating rather than choosing
- 03Truth requires accepting that some people may not respond well
- 04Authenticity is a repeated return, not a permanent state
How to run it
- 1
Spot the Clouding Pressure
Notice where fear, self-doubt, money, or the need for approval is steering the decision. Treat discomfort and repeated accommodation as signals to inspect, not automatic proof that the choice is wrong.
Pro tip Ask whose approval you are trying to earn.
Watch out Do not label every constraint or criticism as inauthentic pressure.
- 2
Observe Yourself Honestly
Compare the choice you are making with what you privately want to express or do. Identify where you are maintaining an appearance or telling yourself a convenient story.
Pro tip Use the simplest question Labrinth returns to: what is your centre saying?
Watch out Self-observation can become rumination if it never leads to a decision.
- 3
Name the Truth
State the direction, idea, or boundary that remains after the outside expectations are removed. Keep it specific enough to guide the next action.
Watch out A sincere impulse is not automatically safe, feasible, or ethically sound.
- 4
Act From the Centre
Make the next choice in line with the truth you identified. Let the work articulate what you mean instead of reshaping it solely to secure a reaction.
Pro tip Choose one concrete action rather than trying to rebuild your identity at once.
- 5
Accept the Reception
Allow for lower numbers, disagreement, or the need to build a different audience. Judge the choice by alignment as well as its external result.
Watch out Authenticity does not promise the same commercial success as the identity it replaces.
- 6
Clean Again
Revisit the process when validation or expectation begins clouding the next decision. Treat returning to truth as ongoing maintenance.
Pro tip Use recurring moments of tension as reminders to check the window.
In the wild
Labrinth describes accepting career directions, a restaurant, and an entertainment-industry image without first asking what he wanted. As he became aware of the mismatch, he moved toward work that exposed more of what was already on his hard drive; he says Euphoria was the first time listeners heard those layers clearly.
→ He experienced the work as a truer expression of his creative identity and saw that some listeners connected with it.
Illustrative example: a founder notices that every launch imitates a louder competitor because that style previously attracted attention. She identifies approval as the clouding pressure, writes the product explanation she actually believes, and publishes it while accepting that the initial reach may be lower.
→ The message becomes more aligned and gives the founder a clearer basis for evaluating the audience it attracts.
Common mistakes
Expecting Authenticity to Preserve Results
Labrinth explicitly warns that being yourself may not retain the same audience or level of success. The method trades guaranteed reception for alignment, not for effortless growth.
Calling Every Impulse Your Truth
Cleaning the window requires honest observation, not impulsiveness. Constraints, responsibilities, and the effects on other people still matter.
Treating the Work as Finished
Labrinth says fear and validation still return. The practice fails when one authentic decision is mistaken for permanent freedom from outside pressure.
Is it for you?
Best for
It is best for creators and leaders who can feel a gap between their public decisions and their private convictions.
Not ideal for
It is not ideal as a reason to ignore obligations, evidence, safety, or constructive feedback.
From the transcript
“if I can clean my window and and shine light as purely as possible”
“when you truly look you're like okay I'm lying”
“okay cool let's go we're going back to truth”
From the episode
Labrinth: The Musical Genius Behind Euphoria