Traveling Solo, Mid-Life Crises, Perfectionism, and North Star Metrics
Article Round-Up: 12.4.22
Enjoy this week’s curated list of articles, podcasts, and more from the web.
Featured Thoughts:
“Why Everyone Should Travel Solo At Least Once”
Takeaway: As I write this I’m beginning my fourth day of a two-week solo trip to Lisbon, Portugal. In just those first three days, my trip has already been life-changing in so many positive ways.
The things I’ve seen, the people I’ve met, the conversations I’ve had. It’s truly not the experience I expected, but most definitely the one I needed. The one I longed for and didn’t even realize it.
It is scary to travel across the world to an unfamiliar place with no one to rely on. I remember how anxious I felt as I waited at home for my Uber to the airport. My heart rate reached 142bpm just sitting at my dining room table.
And just three days later, I feel at home. I’ve already made amazing connections, people I hope to have in my life for years to come—locals and other travelers alike.
As a self-proclaimed introvert, if I can do it anyone can. There are very few things that could have as much of a positive impact on your life as prioritizing your health and taking a solo adventure to a new country.
“Why So Many of Us Experience a Mid-Life Crisis”
Takeaway: Research shows that life satisfaction follows a U-curve. Satisfaction starts high in our early twenties, when were full of big dreams and aspirations ad plenty of hope for our unwritten future to come.
Then, around our late thirties to early fifties, that satisfaction hits its lowest point. This is when we begin to grapple with the reality that our life is very different then what we may have imagined for ourselves. Some of those dreams may go unrealized, or those aspirations begin to fade as our future gets rewritten.
Then, as we surpass our early fifties our levels of life satisfaction begin to increase again. This is thought to be caused by the acceptance of our life as it is, giving us the freedom to enjoy what our life has actually become—outside of whatever expectations we’ve placed on ourselves throughout time.
Understanding this concept might help you change how you travel through life. Don’t wait to accept and enjoy. Enjoy the ride now.
“The Facade of Perfection” [Podcast]
Takeaway: Perfect is a losing proposition. If you only accept perfect, you’ll fail and throw in the towel every time. Instead, aim for better. Better than yesterday, better today, just… better.
“Choosing Your North Star Metric”
Takeaway: Businesses need to know what KPIs (key performance indicators) actually matter for the success of their business. Focusing on the wrong things leads to bad outcomes.
Like riding a motorcycle, where your eyes go is where the bike goes. What you focus on is where your priorities and energy go. Make sure those are the correct, meaningful metrics.
Are we still talking about business? Or are we talking about finding the north star metrics of your life?