Note to My Future Me A Matter of Perspective A while ago I was confronted with a huge dilemma in a project, which led to a significant delay and a serious budget overrun, that nearly killed the entire project. When I was on the verge of frustration, I remembered an important lesson from my time as an soldier: Whenever I’m confronted with a problem, I start with one decisive question: Which perspective do I choose? Often, you can’t fully control how personally affected you are or how deeply involved you become. Let me explain what I mean more clearly: Air Force, Navy, Army This question always reminds me of a comic I once saw at an army facility. It showed three scenes—each with a soldier from a different branch of the military: In the first, a fighter pilot sits calmly in his jet, looking down from a safe distance at a raging battle below. His thought: “What a mess.” In the second, a patrol boat commander is in the middle of combat, visibly tense, thinking: “I hope we make ...
Note to My Future Me Lifelong Learning – Work and Improve Learning efficiently is probably one of the most underrated superpowers of our time. In an age of artificial intelligence, mobile internet, and constant acceleration, knowledge itself has lost value for many people. And that’s understandable: Why invest effort in learning something that may soon be outdated—and that you can access anytime with a click (or a swipe)? A strong reason to continuously improve your knowledge and skills is this: You’re training a critical muscle—the brain. Or more precisely: your ability to think. Brain Training Thinking is hard work. The human brain consumes around 20% of our total energy. Maybe that’s why it’s wired by default to prefer “energy-saving mode.” My own brain is a true professional at that. Yesterday, I planned to read a book before bed… and ended up watching a series instead. :-p Take beginner pianists as an example: Even playing a simple scale can be exhausting. After a short...