Here’s what I learned this week

Nothing. I took the week off.

By the time you read this, I’ll be in Puerto Vallarta Mexico, celebrating my 40th spin around the sun with some of my closest friends.

I could give you a newsletter about the 40 things I’ve learned so far in my life but the point of life is to create your own list and do your own learning.

I could give you a list of everything I’m grateful for, but for me that list is short, waking up everyday and breathing.

Instead here’s some advice I was given:

Your 20s are for trying a bunch of stuff.

Your 30s are for figuring out what you’re good at and getting really good at it.

Your 40s are for using all that knowledge to build something that you’re proud of and rewards you for your expertise and allows you to reclaim your time.

If you’re reading this, no matter where you fall on this scale, it’s all about perspective, some do it faster than others, some do it slower than others, but just remember the best part of doing it, is the ability to do it.

So if you woke up today and you’re living and breathing, you’re doing better than a lot of other people that don’t get to experience today, don’t take that for granted.

Sometimes we get so wrapped up in what our goals are that we forget that you shouldn’t rush success and failure is cool too, at least you tried.

I don’t for one second regret cancelling business calls last minute to spend a few more hours with some old friends that are no longer with us.

I do regret not cancelling more and having work be a reason I couldn’t spend time with them.

The truth is, life is about the people you surround yourself with, the time you spend with them, and the genuine excitement you feel to be around them.

You have a choice of who you spend time with and how you make time for them and we can all be better about these sorts of things.

It’s about the journey not the destination, but the best part about a journey are the detours you take during them.

Absolutely, no one is going to care about what you did for a job, they’re only going to care that you made enough money to make time for them.

And if there’s one bit of advice I can provide to anyone reading this, prioritize non-work activities with people as much as you humanly can, when you’re old, you’ll never regret it.

And you’ll get more out of a chat with a friend than making all the money in the world.

So take this week off, from thinking about work, thinking about what you need to do, instead go to happy hour on a Monday. Invite someone over for dinner on a Wednesday. Turn off your phone at Noon on Friday.

Embrace the idea that being present is more than technology and embrace the world around you, you won’t regret it.

The Takeaway

You’re your own life architect.

Have a great week!

-Jon

Catch up on past posts: https://ecomwithjon.beehiiv.com/

You can learn from me: jonivanco.com