In our last video, I went over 5 ideas that changed my life – and as promised here are
5 more.
If you haven't watched the previous video I'll link to it in the description box below.
Other than that let's jump right in.
Idea #6 – The Dark Side Of Exponential Growth - This is an idea that I came across in a
book titled, The Price Of Tomorrow by Jeff Booth.
So early on in the book he asks the audience a question.
If you take a normal piece of paper and you fold it 50 times – how high would it go?
I want you to take a second to think about this and write your answer in the comments
down below.
(1...2...3...)
When I first came across this little thought experiment, I thought it was something like
the height of the empire state building.
But it turns out that the answer is that this piece of paper would get SO tall that it would
actually reach the sun.
You probably didn't expect that right?
And that's because we humans tend to underestimate the power of exponential growth.
We underestimate how fast certain things can change.
Now this concept is usually taught with a focus on the good things in life – like
oh if you invest a hundred dollars every month for 10 years, when you're 18, and wait until
you retire you'll have over a million dollars because of exponential growth in the form
of compound interest.
But we almost never talk about what exponential growth can do for things that are bad for
us.
For example: We underestimate how fact technology is growing and how it's going to eliminate
the vast majority of jobs that currently exist.
We underestimate how fast climate change is going to occur and how it's going to effect
food, water, and shelter for billions of people around the world.
I personally believe that these things will happen at least 2-3x faster than most people
expect because of exponential growth.
Now you might be wondering – whats the benefit of this somewhat depressing idea?
Well this ties back into idea number one from the previous video.
Maxing out Parkinson's law – when you start to realize that things are going to happen
significantly faster than people expect, it's going to cause you to take more action and
it will also gives you more time to prepare.
You'll be ready when things get rocky.
Idea #7 – Start Off Assuming Good - A lot of us start off by assuming bad things when
we're interacting with others.
Maybe we assume that we're low on the totem poll, or that we need to get permission to
speak, or that others are trying to offend us, or that they will get annoyed by what
we're saying.
Causing us to say things like “I'm sorry for asking” or “I'm sorry if I'm being
annoying” which if you do enough of – will actually cause people to feel a bit annoyed.
It is almost ALWAYS better to start off by assuming the opposite – to start off assuming
good – because it is often a self fulfilling
prophecy.
What do I mean by this?
Well if you assume that people enjoy spending time with you, and that they like you as a
person.
you would act differently.
You would be more confident.
You would speak about things that are normally reserved for close friends.
And you would invite others to hang out more often.
You would end up taking certain actions that ultimately make your initial assumption come
true.
Now of course, you're not always going to be right.
You can assume that someone likes you when in reality they don't.
You can assume that they have good intentions when they don't
It's impossible to be right 100% of the time.
But it's still better to start off assuming good and keeping an eye out for real proof
that your assumption is wrong.
And that's because assuming that people don't like you will cause you to take certain actions....that
would actually make you less likable.
Like I said it's a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Now before we move on with Idea #8, I do want to take a quick second and thank the sponsors
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Moving on we have Idea #8 – Figure Out The CURRENT Meta
Back when I was a kid I played a lot of games.
And every time a new patch came out – bringing new changes to the game - I would go online
and try to figure out what the new meta was.
The meta is a term often used by gamers and it refers to the most effective strategies
currently available.
Now what's interesting about the meta for most games is that it is constantly changing.
As new features are added, the best strategies with the highest chances of success would
change as well.
Metas of the past would often become outdated – no longer giving you the highest chance
of winning.
Often times they would become so subpar that you were almost guaranteed to lose.
And I believe the same thing applies to the game of life.
Right? this game that we're playing is constantly changing.
There are new features being added in the form of, new social media platforms, new scientific
discoveries, new government policies, and even new technologys, just to name a few.
Which means that many of the strategies your parents and society taught you to follow - when
you were younger – are now outdated.
They are no longer the most optimal strategies.
And you are almost destined to lose if you stick to those teachings if you are competing
with people who keep themselves updated with the current meta.
Now figuring out the meta game is actually pretty easy.
All you got to do is simply figure out who the best players are for the game you want
to play.
Keep and eye on what they are doing and the new strategies they are experimenting with
- and replicate the ones that seem to be working over and over again.
Idea #9 – People Come For The Experience
If you think about it – EVERY single interaction that you have with others releases chemicals
in their brain.
These chemicals mix together and create an experience.
If the experience you provide to the world is an enjoyable one - people will come back
craving more.
For example: let's say you've got a great sense of humor and you know how to make people
laugh.
Laughter causes the brain to release dopamine, oxytocin, and even serotonin.
All of which make the person feel really good.
On the other hand, let's say you're someone who does not adhere to Idea #7 and you assume
bad things.
When talking to others you often misinterpret their words as personal attacks.
You get upset and you snap back and maybe you even start a verbal argument.
This causes their brain to release cortisol aka the stress hormone.
It would also activate their amygdala which creates a sense of fear.
All of which make the person you're interacting with feel bad.
Which experience do you think people would prefer?
Which one do you think they would like to repeat?
Learn to improve the experience that you offer to the world.
And you'll be able to make friends effortlessly wherever you go.
And finally Idea #10 – Your Body Is A City
I came across this idea while watching a quirky little anime called Cells At Work which is
available on Netflix.
It's a show about the day to day lives of the individual cells in our body.
And if you think about it, we ARE in fact made of trillions of cells that interact with
each other on a daily basis.
And each and every single one of them are technically living beings living in this city
that is our body.
I like to imagine that I am the mayor of my city.
And that every major decision that I make has an effect on all my fellow citizens.
And I've found this visualization exercise to be extremely helpful whenever I have to
make decisions that could effect my health.
Maybe I don't feel like going to the gym or maybe I have a strong craving to buy that
extra large bag of chips at the convenience store.
Whenever something like that happens, I'll take a second and think about all the little
living beings within my city that are relying on me, which strangely enough, helps motivate
me to make the right choice.
You can intensify this visualization by watching a couple of episodes of Cells At Work.
This idea can also be helpful to those of you that feel like you have no impact in the
world.
Because to the citizens of your city – you are their whole world.
The decisions you make in life, however small they might seem to you – are all huge events
that dictate the quality of life for your people.
And that's it - let me know your thoughts on these 5 ideas and also if YOU have any
special life changing ideas from your own life – in the comments down below.
If you enjoyed this video I think you would also enjoy my video titled 50 life lessons
which I will link to as well.
Besides that guys, stay tuned.