The Middle of Your Book Matters
Don’t live your life like you are speed reading a book and all that matters is the ending.
It’s all too easy to say; “It’s ok if my life kind of sucks right now. It will be worth it later. I can enjoy my life later.”
I know that feeling all too well. I lived most of my life that way. Study hard. Work hard. Be miserable every day, but it will all be worth it in the end.
There is nothing wrong with putting in hard work that pays off later. There is nothing wrong with delayed gratification for a bigger reward later. But, you can’t live decades of your life this way and put off enjoying life until your mythical “retirement”.
There are no guarantees in life. What happens if you sacrifice 20–30 years of the best years of your life in the “middle of your book” only to find out later that the ending is a letdown? That having a bunch of money when you’re retired doesn’t make you happy? Or, something derails that plan, like illness or worse? I know a guy who made his millions, only to die about a year later. He never got to enjoy it, despite decades of sacrifice.
What is your “Why”? Think really hard about that. Don’t just say the quick and easy answer of more money, or early retirement, or family. What do you really mean by “family”, for example? I bet that if you asked your family, your significant other, or your children, they would want one thing above all else. More time with you. So, think hard about your why, and make sure your plan helps you achieve the real “why” as soon as possible. Not 20 years from now. Not 10 years from now. This year.
The middle of your book, every single page, should be just as special and meaningful and fulfilling as the ending.
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Larry Cornett is a Leadership Coach and Career Advisor. He lives in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with his wife and children, two Great Danes, two chickens, and a stubborn old cat. He does his best to share advice that can help others take full control of their work and life. He’s also on Twitter and Instagram @cornett.