Lessons From 27

For the past few years I’ve been writing a blog around my birthday to reflect on the past year and here we are again! While I wrote last year’s blog, I had just gotten back from Hawaii and knew that I was planning to quit my full time job but couldn’t make it public just yet. This year, I have another announcement that can’t be shared just yet (not career related) so stay tuned. On this most recent trip around the sun there have been ups, downs, twists, turns and so much more. I’ve come out as a better person and I hope, that in some way, this blog can add similar value to your life.

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Impact Matters Most

Leaving a stable job to start my own business was a big risk that was driven by a strong desire to create impact. I realize that when our time is up on earth, the only thing that matters is how we impacted those around us. With almost a year under my belt as a business owner, I’ve felt the tremendous stress that comes with the territory and I’ve also experienced the incredible impact that comes with authentic action. Life is so much bigger than us and when we can choose between impact and income I will continue to choose impact because that matters most (and the income has been following). I’d encourage you to consider where you’re sacrificing impact at this time of life.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

Maya Angelou

Overcome Inertia: Just Start

In high school physics, I brushed off Newton’s Second Law (an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an outside force). Now, almost 28, I realize that inertia applies to each of us with every decision that we make. Getting started in life (overcoming inertia) is often the most challenging part. This year I learned that with most meaningful endeavors, the beginning is hard, the middle is hard and the end is hard… so just start. The conditions are never going to be perfect so don’t let your imagination stop you from overcoming inertia and don’t let fear drain your most valuable resource: time.

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”

Andre Gide

Choose Discipline

The past few weeks have been odd for me – I haven’t felt very motivated. However, it’s times like this that I’m grateful for the habits and discipline that I’ve built over the years. Motivation will ebb and flow for as long as we’re alive but discipline, once established, cuts through time. The skill of doing what you said you were going to do especially when you don’t feel like it is a superpower. Little things become big things over time and that goes for the good things and the not-so-good things. Furthermore, doing hard things holds tremendous value and we go further together.

“Failure is nothing more than the inevitable outcome of a few small acts of daily neglect performed consistently over time so that they take you past the point of no return.”

Robin Sharma

Match Actions & Words

The coaching work that I do requires quite a bit of communication with various clients all around the world. One thing that I’ve come to appreciate more and more is when people do what they say that they’re going to do; when actions match words. To me, the ability to match actions with words comes when self-awareness, meets intentionality, integrity and respect. I’ve been on the bad end of communication and I’m sure I’ve been the bad communicator at times as well. This coming year is one that will be defined by intention – I plan on only saying things that I mean and matching all words with actions. I invite you to walk the walk with me this year.

“Your actions speak louder than your words! Bottom line: Your priorities aren’t what you say they are. They’re what your life shows they are.”

 David Akers

Endurance Compounds Effort

I started Project Endure because I saw value in helping others endure life well. To me, endurance is an active endeavor that involves overcoming obstacles, acting in spite of adversity and finding strength ins struggle all while moving forward. Endurance is not a linear undertaking, it’s not a comfortable process one but it’s very worthwhile. When we continue to put one foot in front of the other, we can cover a whole lot of ground over time. To endure well, we have to trust that each step will reveal the next and that who we become is more important than what we get.

“The man who loves walking, will walk further than the man who loves the destination. Love the journey, the results will come.”

Unknown

Laugh More

I have to thank my beautiful wife for helping me realize this one because through every high and every low of this past year, I’ve been able to laugh with her and that’s made life so rich. I’ve realized the power that comes from laughter and I’m going to make a more intentional effort to not only make people smile in this coming year but to make them laugh as well. If you’re going through a hard season, don’t overlook the power of a good laugh.

“Humor is perhaps a sense of intellectual perspective: an awareness that some things are really important, others not; and that the two kinds are most oddly jumbled in everyday affairs.”

Christopher Morley

This Shall Pass…

Earlier this year I was reminded that the common phrase “this shall pass” is only part of a longer phrase; this shall pass and this too shall pass. In other words, the hard times pass and the good times pass. Time doesn’t wait for anyone and that’s part of what makes time so precious. If you’re going through a great time, soak it in, because it won’t last forever and if you’re going through a dark season, keep going, because it won’t last forever.

“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.“

Harvey Mackay

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If you’ve made it to the end of this blog, thank you. I know it was a bit long (Uncle Peter) but remember, this is an entire year of learning condensed into minutes. The take home message and overwhelming sentiment that I felt this year is one of gratitude. Thank you for reading my writing, following along, supporting me, encouraging me and trusting me with your time and attention. It really means so much more than you know as I continue to write, create and explore what’s possible. I have no idea where writing (or life) will take me, but I’m thankful to have you along for the ride. To end this blog, let me share the same quote from last year (it transcends time).

“Make it a habit to tell people thank you. To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return. Truly appreciate those around you, and you’ll soon find many others around you. Truly appreciate life and you’ll find that you have more of it.”

Ralph Marston

Thank you for reading!

Here’s to 28. 

Joe Rinaldi

IG: @joearinaldi

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