The Higher You Go, the Steeper the Climb

The average American “peaks” in their career at 45 years old, despite the fact that they have decades more to contribute.
Why?

Statistically, you are going to be surrounded by people smarter than you much more in your 20s than your 30s.

This happens less in your 30s, but still more so than in your 40s.

But beyond that, there is a high probability you won’t be around people who challenge you very often.

This is when most people stop pushing themselves because it is much easier to grow when the choice is “get better or fail” than when the choice is “get better or be just fine.”

And most people measure themselves against the people they are around, versus measuring themselves against the best person they can be.

This is also why 50% of marriages and friendships don’t last more than 8 years. We don’t fall out of love nearly as much as we fall out of effort.

Want to beat the trend?

Do you want to keep growing beyond 45?

Strive to be the dumbest person in the room as often as you can.

Do not let learning and “getting better” be a happenstance of your environment; demand that it is part of your environment.Seek out people 5, 10, and 20 years ahead of you.

Humble yourself against their experience. Learn from their mistakes and let them tell you when you’re screwing up.

136x more people have made it to the base camp of Mount Everest than have made it to the peak. Less than ten have ever made it to the top without a guide.

Your journey will get significantly steeper and harder too, but would you rather be remembered for making it to the peak or for going home early?

You’re going to look back and laugh at what an awesome adventure it was, and not wonder for a second if you could have done more with the brief time you had on planet earth.

Climb my friend. Climb.

BW