I Worked 5 Years Straight — Here’s What It Taught Me

“From age 20 to 30, I didn’t take a single day off. Not one.” - Bill Gates

I worked over five years without taking any days off. Every. Single. Day. Birthdays. Holidays. Everything.

One of the reasons I did this was because I heard Bill Gates worked every single day for ten years to build Microsoft.

Now, while I don’t recommend this approach for several reasons, I learned many valuable lessons and realizations.

Perhaps, one of the most powerful was how much I missed looking at the sky.

It sounds simple, but imagine working 80+ hours per week inside an office watching your days go by through a window.

I can probably guess what you’re thinking now. Why not just go for a walk? Work outside? Etc.

But I write this because, I think as humans, we take a lot for granted. Unfortunately, it’s only when life smacks us in the face that we wake up to how we actually have it.

And while I could’ve done those things, it would’ve pulled me away from the larger vision I had at the time. I’m a firm believer in pouring every ounce of effort into achieving your goals, fulfilling your purpose, and living the Good Life. At the time, anything that pulled my attention away from my goals was considered a distraction.

Yet, today, while I’m still incredibly busy, I’ve discovered this one principle that made all the difference - balance.

The One Principle You Can’t Afford to Miss

“Avoid extreme ideologies.” - Charlie Munger

A common human error is viewing the world through a black-and-white lens.

Many people have been programmed through school, society, etc. to see the world as pass/fail, yes/no, black/white.

But the truth is that the majority of life operates in a grey area - and there's only a small part that’s as simple as being black and white.

Yet, many problems arise when people view the world through this limited lens.

The solution? Balance.

The Right Worldview

“I didn’t fail 10,000 times. I just found 10,000 ways not to make a light bulb.” -Thomas Edison

The Japanese have a word, kaizen, that doesn’t exist in the English language (at least, at the time of this writing).

Kaizen translates to continuous improvement.

And it’s a perfect example of the right perspective to adopt.

Instead of labeling things as good or bad, it’s much more effective to see things as relative to the goal.

In other words, things, places, etc. aren’t inherently “good” or “bad,” there are just some things that are better at achieving a specific outcome than others, or, put another way, “safer bets.”

Know When to Hold ‘Em and When To Fold ‘Em

“You gotta know when to hold ‘em, and when to fold ‘em.” - Kenny Rogers, The Gambler

I used to be an avid Texas Hold ‘Em poker player years ago. Since then, I’ve quit gambling. But I learned many valuable lessons in my experience.

One of them, as in the words of Kenny Rogers in his song, The Gambler, is knowing when to fold and when to go all in.

Effective decision making skills are indispensable on your journey to the Good Life.

And part of the foundation for making the right decisions, is balance.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

“I don’t fear the man who practiced 10,000 kicks once. I fear the man who practiced one kick 10,000 times.” - Bruce Lee

Consistency beats intensity every time. I’ve seen people with a lot of talent get passed by people with less talent but more hustle.

It’s better to achieve slow-and-steady growth, than erratic and inconsistent improvement.

The ideal outcome is a slow, gradual rise across every area of your life.

Avoid extreme ideologies, get rich quick schemes, and magic pills. Shortcuts usually end up costing you more in the long run so do things right the first time through a balanced approach.

Even Balance Must Be Balanced

“There's always an exception.” - My college biology professor

Now, it’s important to realize that even balance must be balanced.

In other words, there’s a time to be imbalanced in your approach, as long as it’s designed to move you closer to the goal.

This can look like pulling an all-nighter one night to achieve deadlines, or taking a random day off to work on something different.

Over time you will find the right approach that fits your lifestyle.

Unlocking Balance Today

Take an audit of your life. Examine the different areas of your life to identify where you might be out of balance. For example, if you spend most Friday nights at home, consider going out this weekend. If you’re always working out, consider taking a rest day. If you’re always saving money consider buying yourself something nice.

The key to making this lasting change is to start. It’s always hardest in the beginning. But once you take the first step, you’ll begin building momentum toward adopting balance for yourself.

Take one small step toward balance today — your future self will thank you for it. What’s one area of your life you’re rebalancing this week?