Stage 3. VISION - run your life as a business

It took me almost 40 years, but eventually, I developed one! My personal vision was that I would ideally work very little while the kids were growing up, and perhaps start working more actively after they left for university.

I realize how unconventional this is. There is a thinking that your most productive years are in your 30s to 50s and that you should maximize your earnings before being out of the game. But is it possible that this is actually a self-fulfilling prophecy since people actually work very hard when their kids are small and then start relaxing in their retirement? Is it conceivable that this paradigm could shift now that the life span has extended, that work is less based on physical abilities, and that one can be productive in later years?

Anyways, once I settled on this objective, the question became: how should I go about it?

Framing my life as a business was very useful in approaching the problem. The concept of running one’s life as a business is not new and makes perfect sense for a manager. I had in fact been aware of this notion for a long time but had just been lazy to apply it to myself.

I find it fascinating that, as an executive, I could solve many complex issues in a very logical and determined manner for my employer, yet not apply the same logic in my personal life. I could define well-thought-out mission statements, establish financial plans, strive to achieve apparently opposite objectives like simultaneous growth and profit, anticipate contingency scenarios, and assume calculated risks for my company, and yet was stuck in my personal life about thinking about how to get money AND free time.

It seemed that I did not bother to show the same discipline and determination for myself as for my company. Notice the word my company. It was obviously not my company but it appeared that I had voluntarily put the interests of the company ahead of my own.

I don’t think I am alone in this case. Why is it that so many educated and thoughtful people place their loyalty to the company ahead of their loyalty to their own life? Is it the result of education? Is it a lack of confidence or a fear of risk? Or is it simply that it's easier to abdicate responsibility for one's fate rather than face the potential consequences of our errors?

TRAVEL UPDATE - STAGE 3

Distance: 22.6 km

Cumulative Elevation: 635 m

Time: 4.5 hours - Best pace so far at 5 km/hr 😎

Weather: Sunny 👍