Why Haven’t You Started Already?
[Author’s note: This post is a chapter of my forthcoming book
RESET: Building Purpose in the Age of Digital Distraction]
Conclusion
Are you ready?
“Life has meaning only in the struggle. Triumph or defeat is in the hands of God. So let us celebrate the struggle!”
Stevie Wonder, American Musician and Songwriter
The digital world has emerged slowly but surely over the last few decades, and it now affects every aspect of our lives. It unfolded in small, discrete changes. We started to communicate differently. We started to work differently. We started to think differently.
Information, once scarce, now threatens to overwhelm us. Our old habits — based on scarcity — are counterproductive in this digital world of abundance. Education has not prepared us. Social media whips us into a frenzy over the littlest things. And financial incentives have been distorted to keep us as distracted from dawn to dusk.
We must face these changes. Otherwise they will lead us toward a life of compulsive distraction that leaves behind nothing. We will be keep getting caught in this digital trap if we’re not careful.
Fortunately we are not expected to figure out the digital world on our own. Elite groups of entrepreneurs are thriving in the digital world, pointing us toward the correct behaviors. Focus on a compelling mission. Push yourself to take action as quickly as possible. Structure your day to stay on task.
Building the New You
Your RESET sequence starts with one small step. Acting boldly is the most useful skill in a world of limitless distractions. Purpose follows action as often as action follows purpose, so we can’t fall back on the convenient excuses of perfectionism. Just get started.
With our bias toward action in place, we can focus on supercharging ourselves. We will be guided toward our areas of potential mastery by feedback. Then we can develop those unique strengths that inspire others to collaborate on missions of true value to humanity.
A supportive structure lets us keep up the momentum that we developed with bold steps. That’s why we have to rally the people around us. If you need to learn something, find a teacher. If you need encouragement, turn to a cheerleader. If you want to reinforce a lesson, find a student.
Success is ultimately determined by our daily behavior. We can launch ourselves each morning, overflowing with energy to tackle the most important tasks we face. And we can dodge the distractions thrown at us by the digital world by creating space away from our devices, and by engaging with them more carefully.
We must be focused on consistency. Small wins over time will eventually make the difference by cultivating deep expertise. And then we will be succeeding every day, no matter what life throws at us. We will be doing exactly what we want to do and doing it well, not choking on the latest pointless notifications on social media.
Brave New World
A new life is opening up to us, if we choose to rise to the challenge. We will become more confident, focused, inspired, and — most important — useful to others. This is the natural consequence of our evolution as we adapt to the digital world, and adapt the digital world to us!
Diligence is the price of our newfound freedom. The ever-present risk is sliding backwards toward a life of convenience. That’s why we need to lean on the powerful combination of habits, mindset, and community that we discussed in this book.
Your first RESET will not be your last. Whatever mission you choose, the digital world does not stand still. New opportunities will emerge, new ways to build mastery and create value in the lives of others. And you will pursue them, reshaping your purpose and environment to suit these new goals.
To Infinity And Beyond
The benefits of the digital world will open up as you gain control over your impulses and your environment. The ability to make an impact on the lives of others, the deep enjoyment of your day-to-day work, the instant access to useful information and a global community, the massive financial opportunities, and all the rest of it.
You do not need anything else to beat the odds and become one of the success stories.
Here are a few facts that you probably didn’t know. Each one should be enough to blow your mind, and hopefully push the limits of what you believe is possible in your own life.
The world is safer today (whatever day you are reading this) than ever before in human history. In 2015 the global poverty rate dropped below 10% for the first time ever. Scientists are using people’s stem cells to grow them new organs. Scientists are also experimenting with nanobots — tiny robots — to target and kill cancer cells. Google and Ford are working together to develop cars that drive themselves. So are Lyft and General Motors.
All kinds of software is being developed right now by computers that can improve themselves. In 2005 there were 1 billion people connected to the internet, and since then that number has almost quadrupled. There are high-end virtual reality systems you can already buy, or you can use a smartphone and some cardboard to make your own virtual reality system.
Kind of overwhelming, isn’t it? These amazing changes are all happening right now. Think about that. We really are living in the middle of a special time in history: the emergence and rapid spread of the digital world. The horizons are expanding all around us. All we need is a workable approach to capitalize on these amazing opportunities.
I want you to develop deep confidence in your ability to RESET and then keep evolving. And we both know that won’t happen by staying distracted and hoping for the best. You have to defy the digital world that wants you to be a spectator.
You need to RESET. That means excavating the missions that excite you with a compelling Why? and Who?, pushing yourself to take action, and shaping your environment so you consistently have a positive impact on the world.
Revolutionize your mind and your behavior.
What are you waiting for?
The End.
