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Set Sail

Explorers of old used to gather crews and garner support from financial backers with a very loose promise of success. For the ship's crew, they were promised adventure; it was an opportunity to see new parts of the world that were as yet undiscovered. For the backers, the promise of discovery came with the ability to lay claim to strange lands.

All this aside, the journeys commenced without a specific destination in mind. If you were to get in your car now and fire up Google maps, you can plug in a specific address or even a specific GPS coordinate to navigate to. The destination is known, although the journey may change based on traffic patterns or missed exits. The journeys of old did not have this specificity.

Maybe there was a general idea, but even Christopher Columbus struck land in the wrong place. Since much of the world was undiscovered, there was very little clarity on where, exactly, these journeys would end. There were several established principles of maritime navigation that would allow for some general planning, and the explorers followed these principles while being open to changes along the way.

The key is they set sail in the right general direction. Throughout the journey, they made micro-adjustments based on known information combined with newly discovered, unknown information. Instead of mapping out every step of the journey ahead of time they frequently adjusted, aiming to keep the ship pointed in the right direction while remaining flexible.

A successful path in life must take this same exact approach. Too little planning would be akin to not putting any prep into the journey across the ocean. These were extremely dangerous trips at the time, and basic planning was essential for survival. On the other hand, too much planning, aiming to control every facet of our life, leaves us incapable of dealing with changing information and adjusting. It would be much like your car GPS failing to adjust if you missed a turn along the way; your navigation system must take in the new information and alter the course accordingly.

Some planning in life is necessary. You must have a general sense of what you want to do and where you want to go. Failure to plan in any capacity is foolish; it leaves you susceptible to being swept away by the currents of life.

But so much unhappiness and anxiety comes from over-planning, from too much rigidity. When things don't go our way, which is bound to happen, we must adjust our plans accordingly. If we keep working towards a reality that no longer exists, we will be left stressed and unfulfilled.

So as you journey through life, aim to keep your ship pointed in the right general direction. Plan to the degree that it is helpful, always aim to have a general sense of where you're going. When challenges arise, or when new opportunities present themselves, be willing to alter your plans and change course. Sometimes these changes are out of necessity, but oftentimes they come from exciting new paths that make themselves known. If we are too rigid in our approach, we may fail to see a better, more fulfilling life on the horizon.

Hit List

The best things I've encountered this week:

What I'm reading: "Cultivating an Abundance Mindset: From Scarcity to Prosperity" by John hall

An abundance mindset, I believe, is one of the foundations of a happy and fulfilling life. If you think that prosperity is scarce, you live life defensively and enviously. If you believe that prosperity is abundant, however, you are open to collaboration, happiness for others, and deep fulfillment. This article touches on some of these themes.

What I'm listening to: BG2 Podcast Ep03​

This podcast is run by two veteran venture capitalists and dives into all things concerning the AI revolution. There are so many factors to consider in how this technology will affect the world moving forward, and I greatly appreciated the insight and research that went into this podcast episode.

What I'm also listening to: Howard Marks on the How I Write podcast

Howard Marks is a legendary investor whose essays are read religiously by several giants in the industry including Warren Buffet. This podcast dives into effective written communication and how learning to relay complex ideas in a simple way can be the key to success.

Screenshot of the Week:

Quote of the Week:

"Working with great people is one of the best parts of life.”- Sam Altman

Let's work together

When you're ready, here are a few ways I can help you:

1. Check out the latest episodes of my podcast 🎙
2. ​Apply for 1-on-1 coaching 🏆
3. Purchase my goal-setting course 🚦