Think Bigger Than One Lifetime

I’ve worked on long-term government projects like the Space Shuttle Program. In fact, at the time I came into my career, it was towards the end of the Space Shuttle, and had the privilege of being part of closing out that epic feat of humanity. Think about it, these “space planes” were being flown for 30 years, enough time to make this somebody’s entire lifetime contribution. And now NASA is building on top of those feats by paving the way into deep space, to Mars, and beyond.

But the question always remained with me, how does a single person, like you and me, cope with the realization that they may never see the end results? Or in my case above, to be the person who grabs “the relay baton” from the previous generation and gets to finish “the race?” From building pyramids to space exploration to environmental sustainability, these are human endeavors that take multiple generations to accomplish.

With positive productivity, I’m interested in learning more about how do people stay motivated on something that may not finish in their lifetime? How can we overcome the need for immediate gratification in order to focus on this moment? In answering these questions, we can find solace.

Leaders with Multi-Generational Minds

First things first, no pill exists like in the movie Limitless, where Bradley Cooper’s character took a pill that unlocked 100% capability of the brain (which is a myth apparently, both the brain usage and that such a drug exists). Unfortunately, if we’re looking to cultivate a mind that can span beyond the short-term and extend into the future, we need to understand the current role we play in history. Consider these two icons:

1. Warren Buffet is attributed with saying, “Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.” Maybe you’re the person sitting in the shade reaping the reward or maybe you’re the person doing the planting for the future to enjoy. I posit that you’re doing both. Consider that for a second that you’re just one link in the long chain of human history. You’re latched onto the link before you, learned from their experience and what they’ve given you, and today you’re doing the same for the people that come next. And as we know, one chink in the chain and the whole thing might fall apart. Find a limitless mind, understand that you’re more than just yourself, but everybody that’s gone before you.
2. The concept of The Dalai Lama is the reincarnation of Avalokiteśvara, who had promised the Buddha to guide and defend the Tibetan people. Starting in the late 1300s and to this day, The Dalai Lama’s vantage point has witnessed several lifetimes, not just one. In other words, The Dalai Lama is like a Highlander, interpreting current events in the context of hundreds of years! When you’ve seen that much of history, a war here and there might not raise your eyebrows as much.

You might not be an immortal, but you need to be able to think with a larger scope of history in mind.

Cultivate a Multi-Generational Mind

Ok, you came here to read how to level up your mind, create that limitless mindset, and to further increase your productivity. By doing so, maybe we’re hoping to gain a competitive edge or to maybe find meaning in this “rat race” so many of us call life. Here are my tips that I find help me in feeling either of those:

1. Start with a clear vision. All I’m saying is to make sure to have a very clear purpose for the task at hand. If it’s a project at work, what’s the real purpose for it? If it’s having a tough conversation, what’s the purpose? You may not have your life’s purpose identified but all I’m asking for is getting clarity on the task at hand. Over time, we can work on expanding that vision to encompass the vision for the day, the year, maybe even our life.
2. “Yes, and” should be your default response. Instead of poo-pooing other people’s ideas, you should incorporate the nuggets of good. In other words, 2+ minds are better than just your one mind. Extend that as large as possible by saying “yes, and” to other people’s suggestions and you can build something bigger and better than you could ever alone. And if you’re thinking you’re the smartest person in the room, consider using some Windex to clean that mirror.
3. History is awesome. Similar to the above advice, increase your perspective on life by reading history. For me, it’s as if I’m in the Matrix and I’ve downloaded the life and history of another person, therefore widening my own perspective. And specifically for me, I’ve been reading the books from other productivity experts (i.e. Clear, Ferris, Gladwell, Grant, Newport, Sinek, etc.) to better refine how I can build on top of their work. I’m just one more link in the chain of productivity thinkers.

Wrapping it up…

Take your place in human history and own your role. You may be just one link in the chain, but you’re an important link and one that can change the course of the future for others. Plant enough seeds and you provide shade for numerous people. So, cultivate your limitless mind by thinking in terms of multiple generations.

My final takeaway is to read the books by Yuval Noah Harari, both Sapiens and Homo Deus. It’s an intellectual read that succinctly captures the course of human evolution and makes grand predictions on where we’re going as a species. It doesn’t get more multi-generational than that!