One year ago today, I was working a full-time sales job, living with my mom, and planning to move to Los Angeles after I got promoted.
Today, I run two businesses, live in an apartment, and am solely focused on increasing income and spending quality time with loved ones.
I have completely given up on predicting what my life will look like a year in the future.
I’m confident I would say this same thing even without the presence of the pandemic.
Here’s a short list of things I’ve been 100% sure of within the past two years:
• I’m going back to school to get my degree • I’m going to be a graphic designer • I’m going to post a daily vlog for two years straight • I could literally never run my own business • I’m going to retire at my full-time sales job
There is much more to the list, but you get the point. None of these things interest me now.
To be clear, there are certain aspects in life we must be prudent in taking care of: Money, relationships, health. Taking steps to secure a happier and healthier future is a must.
Aside from that, you will run yourself into the dirt if you try to micro-manage every little detail about your future. Things will come up. Adjustments will need to be made. You will make mistakes and change your mind about things. Big things.
So instead of crafting the perfect plan, create super strong systems. A powerful system is a way of living your life where you can feel safe about the future, while being totally engaged with the present.
e.g. Don’t worry about whether or not you’ll get that promotion next year. Focus entirely on being the best employee, leader, or team member you could possibly be…today. Repeat that every day, and great things will surely happen to you.
What are you doing today? What are you doing this week? If your answer is, “Putting effort into the things that matter most,” then you’re golden.
I’ll end this with a cheesy analogy:
If what you want in life is a destination, then the decisions you make to get there are the GPS directions. Naturally, things will come up: accidents, detours, bad weather. You’ll have to make adjustments and take alternative paths. When you do so, the GPS doesn’t go, “You have changed routes. You have failed to get to where you want to go.” It just recalculates a new route for you.
I knew I wanted to do work I cared about. I was just completely wrong as to what that would look like for me.
Have an idea of where you want to go. Then, as life happens to you, roll with the punches and make changes as needed.
You’re not a fortune teller. Just be the absolute best you can be today, then repeat.