Fit for Life: 55 Years Later

Fit for Life: 55 Years Later

I am hitting the ripe old age of 55 this Saturday, 9/9/2023, and I'm starting to feel my mortality.

 

Maybe it's because I had a great friend pass away unexpectedly last week, and other classmates my age also passed away.

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Or it could be because I train for a 22-year-old, and he crushes me when we run hills and sprints, and I take longer to recover from the brutal workouts and physically demanding activities I put myself through.

 

Although life is beyond 1/2 over for me, I am super grateful for all the experiences life has brought me & the fact that I am in a better place than most guys 10-20 years younger than me.

 

In my years, I have had the privilege to travel, make some great friends, and learn a lot through personal experience.

 

I have also been through adversity during my time here on Earth. I grew up poor on the streets of Central Falls, spent time in prison, lost both siblings and came close to bankruptcy several times.

 

I still see life as a never-ending journey of personal growth and self-development. So, in today's article, I will share some essential takeaways & lessons learned in my 55 times around the sun.

 

1. Trust logic and data over opinion, emotions, and "your gut." Data doesn't lie or care about hurting your feelings. It tells you the hard truth, so use it to your advantage and forget about opinions and great ideas.

 

2. There is no easy way out or shortcuts - keep your nose to the grindstone and work hard. No magic bullet or shiny object will get you results faster. Keep getting on base, and stop swinging for the home run whenever you get at bat. (Taking the easy way gets you in trouble).

 

3. The grass isn't always greener - comparison is the thief of joy. Don't compare yourself to others or count other people's money. It consumes you and leaves you feeling inadequate. Count your victories, and focus your time and energy on your success & making the people around you successful. The grass may appear greener on the surface, but the grubs may be killing the grass from down below.

 

4. Be proactive - not reactive. You can't plan for everything; however, when you prepare your mind and body before adversity hits, you will need to react less. Stay healthy & you won't need to see a doctor. Drink water so you won't get dehydrated. Save money so you don't panic when your car breaks down. Etc.

 

5. Find solutions and avoid dwelling on problems. Even being proactive, problems will arise. However, 99% of our problems have a solution. When you focus on the solution, things get resolved. Nothing gets resolved when you focus all your energy on the issue, and the problem compounds.

 

6. Only offer advice if someone asks or pays you - never start a sentence with "You know what you should do." Stop worrying about what everyone else is doing with their lives until they ask for help. I learned this a long time ago. Only some people care about what you think they should be doing.

 

7. Take action & don't procrastinate. Imperfect action is better than no action. We have all faced analysis paralyzes, where we overthink something and lose out on a great opportunity. Use the data to decide, then take massive action; if you make the wrong decision, course correct until it becomes right.

 

8. Don't major in the minors. In other words, don't let small distractions prevent you from accomplishing your big-picture goals. We often allow minor trivial issues to get us off course, and it's essential to overcome these things and regain our focus. This goes hand in hand with #5. If you are focused on winning the championship game, you shouldn't worry about what will happen that day. Focus on the task.  

 

9. Learn from other people's mistakes. Yes, you will make plenty of your own, but you can limit the number by watching and learning. If you see someone drive over a bed of nails and get a flat, don't do that. Instead, drive around the obstacle and avoid making the same mistake.

 

10. Our excuses may be valid, but they don't relieve us from our responsibility. If you are a parent and get sick, you still need to be a parent. If there is traffic and you are late, that is a valid excuse, but it doesn't relieve you from your responsibility to your team or clients. If you give your word or make a promise or commitment, you are responsible for fulfilling and doing what you said you would do.

 

11. Eliminate or edit the things that don't serve you or the people around you. We are always looking to add "things" to our plate, thinking these "things" will put us in a better position when the opposite is true. Removing toxic people, habits, and trivial tasks from our lives improves our mindset and productivity. So don't be afraid to say no, and eliminate or edit the things holding us back.

 

12. Don't talk politics or religion, especially when you run a business. (See #1) You are likely to piss off 1/2 your clients, so regardless of your opinion, keep it to yourself.

 

13. Travel whenever you can. I set myself up in a business that demands travel. I meet with my network in other states at least 3x per year and have traveled extensively for the past nine years. I now have friends nationwide and have built an incredible network of amazing people than I could have staying stationary. In addition to traveling for business, you get to see amazing places and experience different cultures abroad.

 

14. Call your friends, and don't wait. Trust me: tomorrow is never guaranteed, so cherish the true friendships and family you have NOW. This relates to #4 and will eliminate you from living with regret later on down the line.

 

15. Never peak; the best is yet to come - keep improving. Tony Soprano said it best… "remember when is the lowest form of conversation two people can have". It's fun to walk down memory lane, but it's not good when your best years are behind you. I was in great shape and a great athlete; I was good at XYZ. That's a bullshit conversation I never want to have. I work hard every day, so I never have to think back and wish I was the way I once was. I keep trying to improve and focus on being 1% better than I was yesterday!!

 

So there it is: advice & takeaways from 55 years of real-life experience.

 

I used to think education was all about what was learned in the classroom; however, nothing is as valuable as learning from real-life experience. Reading and learning from books and teachers is good, but we need more than that to get through. We must experience pain, mistakes, and adversity to spark real growth and continue evolving.

Never peak, my friends; the best is yet to come!!

 

Committed to your success,

Matt