I am constantly brushing off advice that I’ve heard my entire life.
Eat more vegetables.
Floss daily.
Read more often.
The keys to happiness are people not things.
Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
We seem to think we are above listening to these cliches. That we are too smart to become inspired by such piddly wisdom.
What if we changed this?
Yes, we need to push ourselves to think deeper. We need to satisfy our craving to learn and grow. But, why ignore timeless wisdom that clearly will improve our lives?
If you are brushing your teeth and think “I should really floss right now.” Then finish brushing your teeth and floss.
If you are about to eat a brownie and think to yourself “I really shouldn’t eat this brownie.” Then DON’T eat the brownie.
Ask yourself, how tough can I become?
Because that’s what it really comes down to. How tough are you? Can you put in the hard work when it matters?
It’s taking ruthless ownership of your decisions. Making sure that you can get the best out of your life.
Jocko Willink, the former Navy Seal, puts it simply: “Be tougher.“
This could be the most simple advice ever given. The most cliche way of thinking. But, I guarantee if you put it into practice, your personal growth will explode.
When you’re tired from a long day and don’t feel like working out. Be tougher.
When you think you can’t stop smoking cigarettes. You’ve been trying for 20 years. Be tougher.
When you can’t seem to focus and study for an exam. Be tougher.
I did something very different this year. I calculated how many days I think I roughly have left on this earth. Some may think this is a morbid exercise. I would argue the opposite. It was extremely motivating.
I am in my 20’s, so I think realistically I still have 60 years left on this earth. You may think that is way too much time to gift myself. Others may think we will have robotic brains by the time I get old, and we’ll live until 200.
It doesn’t really matter, because I have a median of 22,000 days left on this earth. What will be my legacy? How can I change this earth for the better?
It made me think before I pick up the TV remote to watch the latest show on Netflix.
I second guessed glossing over my Facebook feed for the third time today.
I stopped in my tracks when I walked toward the couch instead of crushing my priorities.
Yes, we all need leisure. We need the downtime to recharge our batteries. But why would we ever waste any time beyond our recharge?
We are called to live a life of legacy. Change people for the better. We can all learn something from each other.
The “look at me” culture has resulted in selfish use of our time. Don’t let that be you. You don’t want that to be you.
Let’s grow together. Build something that lives on.
Put yourself in a position where your work improves other people’s lives. Give your time, give your knowledge, and give your expertise.
Life is short. I want to spend the remaining time changing lives for the better. Producing instead of consuming. Then spending the gap with what matters most, family and friends.
The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion. Say less, do more.
Cheers,
Andrew
Andrew is the host of The Personal Finance Podcast, a show that is changing the way you think about your money. His primary goal with the podcast is to bring as much value as possible to his listeners.
Andrew's favorite free financial tool he's been using since 2014 to manage his net worth is Personal Capital. Each month he uses their free Investment Checkup tool and Retirement Planner to track his investments and ensure that he's on the fast track to financial freedom.
His favorite investment platform is M1 Finance, a site that allows him to build a custom portfolio of stocks for free. It has no trading fees and is his preferred way to invest without having to lift a finger.
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Great thoughts. Good work life balance can be hard to nail down, but with the right attitude, you can achieve both simultaneously. Thanks for posting!
Exactly! Thanks for reading Dan!