We worry too much about the short term, and that jeopardizes the long term. Nobody is saying the short term doesn’t matter: earning a decent pay, being able to acquire stuff, cool gadgets and getting married. However, your future, your impact and legacy is somehow tied to the vision you align with. You can not maximise yourself through self-centred service. You will need to become a part of something bigger. In the passing of time, your salary, gadgets and housing will not matter. And you will crave something that goes beyond the mundane.
Actively cooperating with a vision is what will help you to compound your efforts over time. When you think about the biggest companies or most influential people out there, you will see how their efforts compounded over time. Today’s labour building upon the toils, sweat and blood of yesterday. This is the secret behind building trillion-dollar companies. One of Walt Disney’s most famous quotes says, “I only hope that we never lose sight of one thing—that it was all started by a mouse”. The long term vision is what helps us make the most of today. There is only so much you can do in a day, but if you take a long term view, you increase the possibilities.
So, take stock of what needs to happen short term, but also look ahead and work hard on things that might not pay off for another 5 to 10 years. The overall quality of your life will improve over time as the results of your labour begin to compound. It is a straightforward principle that does not fail. There is no vision that is too big, and unachievable if you understand the long-term planning requirements. If you did not need to succeed or make a ton of money within 5 years, what would you pursue? Your answer to this question would give a hint as regards to the bigger picture.
