Life's 9 Quick Reminders

Sometimes, All We Need Is A Few Seconds

Life is filled with profound lessons, usually delivered as little, subtle reminders.

Sometimes, we face significant events that deeply impact us and leave a lasting impression. These reminders often stem from falling short of expectations during major life milestones, such as a game, a relationship, or other important occurrences.

Small lessons often accumulate in our memory banks. Initially, they may not seem significant, but as we navigate new experiences, the value of these brief yet impactful lessons becomes apparent.

Here are some of life's quick reminders, presented in no particular order:

1 – People Come & Go

It’s one of the most brutal truths to accept, but it must be repeated as long as we live.

Generally, people come and go in our lives at intervals beyond our control. Some remain for our entire lives, some for a few seasons, and others only briefly.

Everyone is the main character in their own story. Their aspirations take them to different destinations. Some are meant to settle down and live in a particular area, while others seek fulfillment by sailing the seven seas.

Just think about what has happened to your friends since graduating from high school.

Unfortunately, some people who enter and exit our lives are purely transactional. As long as they perceive some benefit to having us around, they will keep us. Once that benefit disappears, we are thrown out and never spoken to again.

We must value those we cherish in our lives. No one can predict what tomorrow may bring or if someone will choose to leave, pass away suddenly, or disappear completely.

2 – There's Always Something Better Than We Desire

It is admirable to have goals that motivate us to improve ourselves and achieve great results. Motivation is the cornerstone of progress, but without a reason to strive for continuous improvement, it simply doesn't happen.

However, there's a fine line between pursuing better and pursuing an ideality.

When we pursue an ideal, we aim to align our conditions with perfection. Any deviation from these conditions becomes a source of suffering; the greater the deviation, the greater the suffering.

Meanwhile, striving for improvement opens numerous possibilities. We may have some idea of what we wish to achieve, but we also have a variety of outcomes we would accept.  The results sometimes exceed our initial expectations, and nothing feels better.

3 – Better To Adapt Than Demand Perfection

Just as there is always something more desirable than what we currently have, it's wiser to adjust to our circumstances and improve them instead of insisting on perfection. We operate in the reality of incomplete information, which makes the definition of perfection arbitrary.

The old saying goes that everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face. Therefore, the ability to adapt is much more important than demanding perfection. When we adapt, we learn from our current situation and adjust to its conditions to squeeze out a win.

Of course, there are exceptions. When inventing a new solution to a long-lasting problem, persistence is key to finding the path that brings the invention to reality. It may take longer than expected, but the rewards are tremendous.

4 – Don't Feed The Trolls

The Internet is an endless source of content. Some content is informational, some is entertaining, and some is collaborative among users.

Forums often attract individuals seeking solutions to their problems. However, these spaces also create opportunities for trolls to emerge, providing misguided advice that derails progress.

Naturally, some will seek to fight back against these trolls by attacking them verbally. However, trolls remain immune to keyboard warriors and will always find ways to sidestep their words. Furthermore, dealing with trolls can significantly damage a serious individual's credibility.

One universal best way to deal with trolls is to starve them out. A troll that receives no attention will become sad and leave to conduct their business elsewhere.

5 – Nothing Goes Up Forever

It’s thrilling to join a group, event, or business that’s on the rise. The view improves considerably over time when we hop on the roller coaster during its ascent. The stunning view along the ascent makes everyone feel optimistic about the future.

However, it is often naive to think that the roller coaster will continue to rise forever. Ultimately, what goes up must come down. Popular fads and brands from ten years ago have become obsolete relics today. Companies at the top of their game have fallen and serve as stark reminders that change is inevitable.

In nature, we know that a species' population growth cannot continue indefinitely. As the population increases, its members consume more resources, resulting in fewer resources available in the future. Consequently, those who cannot obtain the resources needed for survival will perish, leading to a decline in population.

The same reality of nature is reflected in businesses, organizations, and any long-term endeavors. Therefore, we should learn to enjoy the upswing when it occurs and embrace ourselves when things start going downhill.

6 – Calculated Risks Are Required For A Better Life

There's an unfortunate stigma passed down from generation to generation: risk leads to ruin. Everyone seems to be clamoring to uncover the easiest path to success. This misguided mindset is responsible for more regret than anything else.

Here’s the reality of risk:

A life without risk is not worth living and tells no story.

Unfortunately, people continue to believe they will ultimately be better off if they avoid risks, as nothing will emerge from the woodshed to threaten them. While playing it safe may keep most obstacles and challenges at bay, it also eliminates opportunities to improve and position us more favorably.

Nearly every business, idea, and success story involves risk. However, these risks are not taken haphazardly. The key to most success stories lies in taking calculated risks, where failure is possible, but success is significantly more likely and rewarding.

When risks pay off, we reflect on them positively, expressing our gladness for taking them. However, not all risks are guaranteed to succeed. When they fail, we shouldn't simply give up – instead, we should consider what we can learn from the experience, adjust our strategy, and try again.

7 – More Connections Mean More Options

Nothing is sadder than a talented hermit who cannot connect. The stories of such individuals—homeless musicians, penniless intellectuals, and other masters who are so focused on their craft that they struggle to communicate with the world around them—are poignant.

Often, the reason these people are not successful is not that their skills are inadequate. Instead, they fail to connect with the world around them.

The good news is that if they can master some form of discipline at a deep level, they can also learn to connect with others. To broaden their social circle, they simply need to adopt the same skills and philosophies as everyone else.

Most people don't connect with the world around them because they believe they have nothing to offer.  On the contrary, people love pleasant surprises, so those with rich skills need to add value to others and expand their network.

The return on investment is not immediate. It’s a lagging metric that takes time to take effect fully. Connecting with others requires time and trust, as most people who forge new connections want to ensure their new connections are genuine.

The good news is that most people outside our current social circle don't have an opinion about us. This presents an enriching opportunity for us to connect with them and start new, fresh relationships that lead to a better outlook in life.

As our social circles grow, so do our opportunities.

8 – The Compounding Effect Works Everywhere

This is one of my favorite concepts to teach students in precalculus, finance, and any other skill or subject:

The earlier you start, the better off you'll be.

This advice is a cornerstone of the stock market, but it applies well beyond investing. Early investment in skills, people, knowledge, physical well-being, and every aspect of a person's life reaps great rewards.

What makes the compound effect genuinely remarkable is that it isn't always related to our active efforts. Our actions trigger our subconscious mind to work on and resolve issues without our awareness.

Ever struggled with a problem, slept on it, and suddenly a solution made sense? There’s a reason why sometimes sleeping on our problems is better than worrying about them.

The compounding effect relies more on our subconscious abilities than on our conscious ones. However, we must try to engage our subconscious mind with that specific avenue.

Unfortunately, most people don't start early because they want an immediate reward from their investments. Since most things in life don't offer immediate returns, most people miss far more opportunities than they realize.

The compounding effect works only when you play the long game, where momentum builds slowly at first and then gradually becomes overwhelming. Once this stage is reached, very few things can stop the wielder of such momentum from uncovering new opportunities.

9 – Nobody Wants To Be Told They're Wrong

This reminder stems from the fact that nobody wants to be perceived as an NPC. For those who aren't Gen Z, NPC stands for non-playable character. These characters are programmed to do a finite number of things, go through life's routines without realizing it, and break into a new routine.

As such, we all want to believe that our frame of mind and thoughts are fully justified. After all, we have left ourselves for our entire lives, so we've witnessed how everything has come together for ourselves.

When we receive feedback to correct ourselves, it's natural to search for flaws in the source of the criticism. The most stubborn individuals will dig in and defend their position, even if they are at fault. As a result, both sides accomplish far less while fuming and attacking each other instead of addressing the root problem.

We must recognize that we will always work with limited information. No one has a complete understanding of reality.  The more perspectives available, the closer we will get to the truth.

This insight offers further reasons for collaboration. When the right individuals come together, they can significantly boost their collective progress rather than tackle it like a solitary soldier.

Instead of telling someone they're wrong, offer a chance to hear their side. There may be some missing context that needs to be considered. Afterward, make a judgment call on collaborating toward a converging viewpoint.

Bonus – Days Go Faster When We Get Older

As a middle-aged Millennial, this truly resonates with me.

I remember when five minutes felt like a long time in elementary school. We had five minutes for a snack, which was enjoyable. Then came the lengthy classes, which seemed to drag on endlessly. When can I go home and play in the park?

Then came five minutes in high school. They passed more quickly. I felt like I had to hustle to get from class to class, but it was manageable.

Now, I feel like I lose five minutes every time I blink my eyes. Okay, I just checked, and it doesn't seem to happen, but it sure feels that way.

As we grow older, we accumulate more time and experience. Life presents us with more opportunities, and boredom is not an option for the most ambitious among us. It is said that the more engaged you are in life, the faster time appears to fly by.

However, I feel fantastic about what I'm doing these days. It’s better to live a fast-paced life filled with fulfilling pursuits than a slow life of boredom.

It reminds me of a good song from high school: “Don't Blink” by Kenny Chesney. Although I didn't listen to much country music growing up, I still enjoy this song. Enjoy!