Saturday, 20th June 2026.
There's a lot of pressure on ambitious individuals to know what they want to be – to know exactly where they're heading and how they're getting there.
Yet in most cases, such individuals know that they want success. They just don't yet necessarily know what success looks like.
This is a question of perspective. Does one get more return on their investment if they turn good things (that already exist in their life) into better ones, whilst neglecting bad habits? Or could that same person expect greater outcomes if they instead turned their focus to the poor areas of their life, and made them good?
The first scenario above leaves that individual with some areas of their life that are outstanding. For example, they now exercise every day at the same time, wake up on time, and are never late to work. But they have neglected the pleasures of their life - eating junk food, scrolling right before bed, and getting hammered on a Saturday night. Some parts of their system are really strong, but the overall chain has some weak links.
The second scenario doesn't necessarily have any outstanding elements to it. This person may automate their pay to investing and keep a really tight budget. They don't get drunk and work out a few times each week. Their peace is protected by not being on social media and they read regularly. There's nothing outstanding about this lifestyle. What's outstanding is the consistency of their foundation. The chain has few weak links.
When we consider this against the fact that we do not rise to the level of our goals, but rather fall to the level of our systems, the second scenario wins. The person who indulges in a life like scenario 1 has adopted the outlook that we rise to the level of our goals. Thus, they've elevated themselves atop a compromised foundation. The person who builds a life above the foundation of scenario 2 can continue to build on a consistent and stable groundwork. This person knows who they don't want to be.
What these two scenarios show us, is that we don't have to know exactly where we want to be in life. At the very least, we should know the type of person we don't want to be. If we try really hard to not become what we don't want, then will we inevitably become what we do want?
By directing our attention to who we don't want to be, we take an inverse perspective on the customisation of our lives. Take myself as an example. There are lots of things I want to be in 10 years; But what I don't want to be is a drinker, a gambler or someone who eats unhealthily. I don't want to be distracted or unfocussed.
It's still crucial to focus on the simple things that we do want out of our lives. But by taking my example above, I can identify the weak areas of my life that need to change in order for me to have a strong foundation.
We must ask ourselves, "What parts of my day are counterproductive to the person I want to be?", and, "What do I engage in each day that I don't like?".
If you answer truthfully, you'll get a list of actions that move you closer to the person you don't want to be. All you have to do is replace those things with productive actions. Replace your doomscrolling with a book, your takeaway food with a home cooked meal. Move in the right direction by moving away from the wrong direction.
Talk soon.