Speed Kills is a Lie

If you have a 16 year old with a fresh drivers license I would suspect the thoughts of SPEED KILLS rings true to you more than others. But, most of the time that advise we got when we were younger sticks and the aversions to speed kills you in other ways.

It's easy to overlook the more insidious risks posed by the opposite: the comfort of routine and the seductive lull of the status quo. This week I dive into the counterintuitive truth that to live a full life, one that embraces speed. A little over a week ago I was informed that one of the guys in the mastermind I am most a part of passed away. He was 39 years old, he had a heart attack and left behind 3 young kids. 39! I am already older than that and have 3 young kids. So this hit me and has got me thinking a bit more about life and timing of things. I am not saying be recklessness, especially when a lot of people have a family and bills.

But it's time to create some urgency of pace that defies the comfort of routine and the allure of procrastination or next quarter it will slow down. Maybe you consider breaking some speed laws on the path of life.

The Deceptive Comfort of Routine

As we age, the appeal of a predictable routine becomes increasingly enticing. It offers a semblance of security and simplicity in an otherwise chaotic world. However, this comfort can be a double-edged sword. It's alarmingly that I see more people that are "dead" in there 30-40s that just are living the same exact year over and over again. It becomes easy to let significant chunks of time slip by—years, even—without pursuing the dreams and ambitions we hold dear. The ruts of comfort and daily repetition, once comforting, can become a trench that confines us to a life of unfulfilled potential.

Power of Speed

Speed, in this context, is not about living frantically or feeling perpetually rushed. There is a quote that resonated in my head often.

Think about that for a minute. You are going to die, no one makes it out alive even Jesus had to die.

The thing that most people say is they are waiting for the "right moment" well it seldom arrives and that waiting for it is a luxury we cannot afford. You do not get a do over, this is it One life. Speed is about prioritizing what truly matters by shedding the non-essential, making space for pursuits that ignite our passion and bring us closer to the life we envision.

Breaking Free

In the book the Comfort Crisis By Michael Easter it really hits the nail on the head. In many ways, we’re more comfortable than ever before. But could our sheltered, temperature-controlled, overfed, underchallenged lives actually be the leading cause of many our most urgent physical and mental health issues?

This involves a conscious effort to challenge the routines that bind us, to question the comfort zones that hold us back, and to embrace the notion that now is always the best time to act. The days, weeks, and years will inevitably pass. I suspect there are several things you wish you did earlier. Maybe it was to take a trip and backpack through Europe when you were 20? or do an epic trip with one of your parents before they got too old or their health failed them.

4 Steps to Start Living for Now

How can you "Stop acting like there is infinite time," serves as a powerful reminder that our lives, as we are living them right now, are not dress rehearsals. Make it count

1. Write a bucket list: If you need help writing a bucket list Google Trav Bell Bucket list guy and he has some good videos and a book on how to write a bucket list.

2. Put it on the Calendar: Pick one thing to do this year, and set a deadline for it. Block out your calendar, request the time off work. Do something right now. I know for me if it's on my calendar the odds of it getting done greatly increase. If I wait until I have extra time it almost never gets done.

3. Atomic Habits: What is something you can start doing everyday that helps you achieve your goals. I can't recommend the book Atomic Habits enough and if you have not read it you should. But overall it means do something as a habit that gets you the results of what you want in life. For me, my family goes on an international trip every year. There have been some really challenging things related to that like during the pandemic

4. Accountability: I often times have despised the thought of someone holding me accountable but in this lackluster world of comfort, 68-72 degree work places the common is for people to placate and make you feel comfortable. The reality is those that truly love you will give you the support and call you out when you are headed down the rut of life. This take a special type of person or group because the norm is to live a boring existence and live the same year over and over. If you don't have that own self motivation consider hiring a coach or become part of a mastermind group that has accountability.

Wrapping Up

Are you excited for Monday? Were you excited for last Monday? How about next month? If you have too many of those days that you are just going through the motions remember the fact that you are going to die. What I wrote about today making a bucket list seems so simple. But it is a big thing about tapping into your dreams, your vision the things that light you up. The world doesn't need more worker bees punching a time clock. What is needs is more people on fire for what they do and making an impact in their families lives and pouring out that light into the world. If you ever need help in figuring out how to take those steps you can always connect with

Jake