CLIMB THE RIGHT LADDER!
❝If the ladder is not leaning against the right wall, every step we take just gets us to the wrong place faster.❞ -Steven Covey
If you pay attention to societal expectations (written from the perspective of someone in the United States), you would learn that the secret to success is to do well in high school, go to college, get a high-paying job, get married, start a family, work hard, retire early, relax for the rest of your life.
And yet, so many people play this game and win - only to discover they don't feel fulfilled.
Climbing a ladder of success that you think you're supposed to climb to get to a place you think you're supposed to go is reactive living. You live your life according to what others have decided for you. You react to whatever life throws your way.
Living proactively takes some hard work up front, but it's worth it.
Choose the right ladder to climb, and climb it.
CHOOSING THE LADDER
What does it mean to "climb a ladder?" It's simple: climbing a ladder means moving ahead with your life. It's your choices and actions.
Having said that, you want to make sure the ladder you're climbing is leaning against a wall you want to climb.
Chasing the Joneses up the ladder is likely climbing the wrong wall. You'll end up using your time and money in ways that don't align with what's important to you. Being influenced by your neighbors, social media, colleagues, or anyone else distracts you from living a life of purpose.
The opposite is to use your climb a ladder you want to actually climb. It's about using your time and money in ways that are perfectly aligned with what's important to you.
Admittedly, it's difficult to align your money perfectly with what's important to you. You may have friends or family members who value things that are different from what you value, and it's not worth your time or money to debate them.
Even if it's not possible to get 100% of the way there, your focus can be on getting most of the way there. Don't let the quest for perfect get in the way of great.
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This questionnaire is an instrument that taps into ten valued domains of living. It assesses the perceived importance of each of these ten life domains and the degree to which you are living in accordance with this perceived importance. |
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CLIMBING THE LADDER
It's tempting to want to hurry up and start climbing a ladder without first taking the time to figure out where it leads. After all, doing something feels more productive than doing nothing. However, it pays dividends to spend some time determining what's important to you. It's time well spent. There's an old saying that you should measure twice before you cut. Another way to think about it is that sharpening your saw takes time but will cut down the tree faster, saving you time in the long run.
What's the point of climbing a ladder if it's leaning against the wrong wall?
You get one life; live intentionally.
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REFERENCES AND INFLUENCES
Barker, Dan: Life Driven Purpose Becker, Joshua: Things That Matter Burkeman, Oliver: Four Thousand Weeks Frankl, Viktor: Man’s Search for Meaning Frankl, Viktor: Yes to Life, In Spite of Everything Hagen, Derek: Money’s Purpose in Your Life Hagen, Derek: Your Money, Your Values, and Your Life Lindsay, James: Life in Light of Death Manson, Mark: The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck
McKay, Matthew, John Forsyth, and Georg Eifert: Your Life on Purpose Robin, Vicki: Your Money or Your Life Sinek, Simon: Start With Why Sinek, Simon, David Mead & Peter Docker: Find Your Why Urban, Tim: Your Life in Weeks Vos, Joel: Meaning in Life Wagner, Richard: Financial Planning 3.0 Wallace, David Foster: This is Water Ware, Bronnie: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying Whelan, Christine: The Big Picture
Yalom, Irvin: Staring at the Sun Zen Habits: Design Your Life
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