Take Time for All Things
Great haste makes great waste - Benjamin Franklin
Delays
Keeping a buffer appears unnecessary to many, and hence, you may plan many things at the last minute, show up in a meeting precisely on time instead of earlier, not plan for delays or worse-case scenarios, or not have a plan B.
Because challenges, delays, or bad luck are not factored in, they take you by surprise when they happen, making you uncomfortable dealing with them because they're unpleasant or nudging you into denial mode that they could ever happen to you.
But bad things happen to people all the time, which means it could happen to you and me, too, and it will.
Energy
Taking care of your energy levels is ignored because it does not bring in the dough, status, or success today. Hence, workouts are kept for later when the doctor orders it or a physio does, eating healthy is kept for later because you are operating fine inspite of all the junk you eat, and quitting smoking is kept for later when you are on the hospital bed being forced with a choice to quit or cut short your life.
Slowing down is kept for later until running fast flames out your zest and zeal for life.
Mind
Meditation is kept for later until you're in your 60s, and you realize that the only way you can fight your battles against your monkey mind is by getting better at letting it be instead of reacting to it, and that needs the muscle to observe the chaotic wanderings of the mind without getting affected by it.
Relationships
Building connections and long-lasting friendships are kept for later, as today isn't the time since you're in your prime and pursuing all your time and energy towards success and fame, not realizing that all the empty networking is only adding on to more shallow relationships that your Rolodex is already full of.
Art
Pursuing hobbies that elevate your soul and make you the happiest is saved for when you have made all the money and secured yourself in society. But making all the money is a chimera; it’s an illusion. You will still feel unaccomplished, as your benchmarks would have elevated, too, changing your reference points to someone more successful than you.
For example, everything in your life today was once possibly a dream. The 20-year-old version of you can't believe the perks of life you're experiencing today, but does that excite you? Chances are no because it's become the norm for you, and your hedonic mind has already adjusted to it as the base level of existence for your level of success and experience, making you go for more, do more, and accomplish more.
That’s life, and that’s how our mind works.
We keep many things for later, especially if society doesn’t reward them today. But it’s these things that contribute to -
your wisdom
your strength
your happiness
your reputation
your friendships
your energy levels
your experience of being alive
Warren Buffett
If there is one person you ought to learn from about taking time out for things, it is the Oracle of Omaha.
Yesterday was his 94th birthday, and he is still playing long-term games, building massive cash (shown below) for any opportunity to acquire elephant-sized businesses.
He has been actively investing since he was 11, i.e., 83 years. Not a year has passed without the press, journalists, competitors, and investors misunderstanding him as old school, a relic of the past, or too cautious for the modern world.
But he has continued to do what contributes to his wisdom, happiness, reputation, friendships, energy levels, and experience of being alive.
He avoided Tech in the 1990s when the world blindly chased Tech. He is offloading Apple today when the world is going all in on AI. He invested in Goldman Sachs in 2008 when nobody wanted to touch financials or banking. He is investing heavily in Oil and gas today when the siren song of EVs and Renewable Energy keeps getting louder by the day.
He has zigged every time others have zagged. He has marched to his own beat and created a life that has been inspiring and enlightening for investors worldwide. He has done all of this by pursuing things that make him happy, such as reading, writing, teaching, learning, connecting, and playing his favorite musical instrument.
His company remains the only non-tech company to ever touch a valuation of a Trillion Dollars, and at 94, he still is the face of Berkshire and carries the weight on his able shoulders, even if he has given up most of his day-to-day responsibilities.
He didn’t aim for this achievement, but it eventually happened. He just kept compounding the joys and success in his life by letting time turn things in his favor.
He wasn’t in a hurry. He was okay with taking time to accumulate his gains and win the game of life.
Take time for all things. It may seem like a waste of time as it takes you away from the financial treasure chest you so desire, but getting away from the fast-paced life and the dash for more eventually brings its own rewards.
They will show up financially a little later if not today.
They always do !!!