this life is opinion

"This world is mere change, and this life, opinion." - Marcus Aurelius

One skill I have sharpened recently is not being deterred by other’s opinions. Everyone has opinions. Your life is an opinion. When someone shares their opinion, they may have good intent, but how can you assume the local optimization they have found will be right for you?

Everyone is in a different part of their developmental arc. Some people mature and others never do.

"Life is one long developmental arc. If you fail to understand this, then you fail to extract the richness out of being a human being" - Dr. Andrew Huberman

So, why has it taken me so long to realize this? Well, the problem was my inner compass.

When I threw myself into the entrepreneurial world of app development at the age of 10, I didn't have a guide. My guide was looking at everyone else. A consequence occurred that would become my compass for the next 14 years: I learned to follow money.

Now, I love money, just not as much as the next guy :). Money gives me autonomy. But there's nothing fulfilling about money being the overarching goal. Money follows value. Value does not follow money. Follow value (and ironically money will follow you). And to follow value, you must define yours.

Finding purpose has rewired my compass. Now every conversation I have is in a new light. You can listen to other's opinion and know when to take it.