Thanks Tom. This article hit a little nerve for me. My view is that maximizing every minute is fine if you're using those minutes to do what you want to do with them.
If that guy wants to go to the gym every day, and it makes him happy, then why not? At no point should being effective and efficient mean that you should sacrifice your well-being or the things you love, or not be 'present' with your loved ones.
In fact, I believe in this so much that I even started a newsletter called Maximize your Minutes! I discuss all the things that make us well-rounded beings, by minimizing the things that don't serve us, so that we can maximize the things that do. Feel free to subscribe, Tom ;)
Enjoyed your post and impressed that you can articulate personal philosophies as you do. At 54, I have strong opinions. Just ask my kids. But haven’t tried to boil them into aphorisms for living. Maybe I ought to try. Thanks for the post and the poignant reminder about connections to ourselves and to others.
This is such a good point. It we are working ourselves to exhaustion and then we are too tired to enjoy life, is there really a point to what we are doing?
No, not at all. The way I justified working hard like this in my head was that one day I could enjoy my life because of all the money I may have made. But in reality this is not a switch you can just flip off one day. I can't just say to myself "Oh, I'm good now! I don't need to work anymore." It's addicting to be a workaholic to a certain extent for some reason. I guess we just get used to it.
I agree with you and live that life myself. I would say our values are pretty similar in that. But I also had to learn that for some people it does mean the world to be in the gym or, like for your grandfather, to win those gold medals. Different people have different values. I think it's relevant to not look down on any, just because they are a bit different. You know what I mean? Overall, I do understand your point though that life is meant for living. :)
I hate that someone (Gary Vee) coined the term "Hustle" and "Side Hustle" and "Hustle Culture."
I hate that, in an effort to escape capitalist corporate culture, a whole movement of 'work extra hard when you get off work to start that other business' became a thing.
It isn't that I don't want people chasing dreams, it's that I want dreams to be chased as part of our normal life and that you don't have to eke out every drop of productivity.
We have robots making things, we have robots writing and doing mental tasks. We live in an amazing time when every person should be working a fraction of their day to get a normal amount done, rather than using those tools to produce more.
Yah, live life to the fullest, but don't do it because you're being told you need to. Don't do it because a LinkedIn Bro has a really well copy written piece about how they make 10mil a month and you can too.
I wish I was like that more. I'm getting better. Yesterday took an hour off in the middle of my day to play some video games with my brother. I consider that a win!
You took me on a journey there, Thomas. What first seemed like narrow-minded moral superiority turned into something fairly profound. I agree with everything you say. There's a point where you've kinda just sit back and appreciate being here. It's hard to do that when you spend every waking moment trying to be something that you'll never quite become.
Thanks Tom. This article hit a little nerve for me. My view is that maximizing every minute is fine if you're using those minutes to do what you want to do with them.
If that guy wants to go to the gym every day, and it makes him happy, then why not? At no point should being effective and efficient mean that you should sacrifice your well-being or the things you love, or not be 'present' with your loved ones.
In fact, I believe in this so much that I even started a newsletter called Maximize your Minutes! I discuss all the things that make us well-rounded beings, by minimizing the things that don't serve us, so that we can maximize the things that do. Feel free to subscribe, Tom ;)
Subscribed Selda! I understand and agree with you on this. :) Thanks for reading and leaving a comment.
Hahaha, bless you Mr K :)
Interesting newsletter, I followed you to keep on with the latest news 😊
Thank you!
Enjoyed your post and impressed that you can articulate personal philosophies as you do. At 54, I have strong opinions. Just ask my kids. But haven’t tried to boil them into aphorisms for living. Maybe I ought to try. Thanks for the post and the poignant reminder about connections to ourselves and to others.
Do it, Camela. I'm sure we could learn a lot from you. I started writing online at 23!
This is such a good point. It we are working ourselves to exhaustion and then we are too tired to enjoy life, is there really a point to what we are doing?
No, not at all. The way I justified working hard like this in my head was that one day I could enjoy my life because of all the money I may have made. But in reality this is not a switch you can just flip off one day. I can't just say to myself "Oh, I'm good now! I don't need to work anymore." It's addicting to be a workaholic to a certain extent for some reason. I guess we just get used to it.
Well said 🫡
I got caught up in this myself, I shouldn’t always be trying to “improve myself”, that I don't enjoy myself
BRO DO YOU EVEN LIFT
I agree with you and live that life myself. I would say our values are pretty similar in that. But I also had to learn that for some people it does mean the world to be in the gym or, like for your grandfather, to win those gold medals. Different people have different values. I think it's relevant to not look down on any, just because they are a bit different. You know what I mean? Overall, I do understand your point though that life is meant for living. :)
I hate that someone (Gary Vee) coined the term "Hustle" and "Side Hustle" and "Hustle Culture."
I hate that, in an effort to escape capitalist corporate culture, a whole movement of 'work extra hard when you get off work to start that other business' became a thing.
It isn't that I don't want people chasing dreams, it's that I want dreams to be chased as part of our normal life and that you don't have to eke out every drop of productivity.
We have robots making things, we have robots writing and doing mental tasks. We live in an amazing time when every person should be working a fraction of their day to get a normal amount done, rather than using those tools to produce more.
Yah, live life to the fullest, but don't do it because you're being told you need to. Don't do it because a LinkedIn Bro has a really well copy written piece about how they make 10mil a month and you can too.
"There is no enjoying the possession of anything valuable unless one has someone to share it with."
- Seneca
VERY good quote there
Share it with yourself 👍
Great piece, Tom! But wouldn’t be sorry about any of what you said. ;)
Haha thanks Alexis
This is me this week. I know my goals but I am also enjoying the slowness of life. No one is expecting us to hit home run everyday.
I so agree! Reminds me of how Kristie Keller (or well, her grandfather) put it: Those who die with the most toys are still dead: https://wildhoodwanted.substack.com/p/those-who-die-with-the-most-toys.
I guess the same is true for muscles, hah!
I used to try to spend every waking moment maximizing my personal growth.
It was a fast track to stress and burnout.
Don't let a society hell-bent on overconsuming itself into oblivion tell you that you need to be more.
No one will ever be able to fulfil that endless hunger.
The only real wealth is the joy we find in each moment.
And the only real health is the peace that we cultivate no matter the circumstance.
Couldn't agree more Chandler. Thanks for the comment.
I love how you put the photo of the jacked guy and then mention how ridiculous it is!
😆😆😆
I guess some people just need a lot of structure and routine.
I don’t. I also enjoy doing just nothing in the middle of the day while others stick to their getting things done ethos.
I wish I was like that more. I'm getting better. Yesterday took an hour off in the middle of my day to play some video games with my brother. I consider that a win!
You took me on a journey there, Thomas. What first seemed like narrow-minded moral superiority turned into something fairly profound. I agree with everything you say. There's a point where you've kinda just sit back and appreciate being here. It's hard to do that when you spend every waking moment trying to be something that you'll never quite become.
Thanks for giving it a chance, Dylan. I appreciate you.
I like sleep, too! Giving 110% means nothing if you can't enjoy what you're giving all that effort for.