Make Room For Higher Stakes
I was recently talking with a friend about their desire to play for higher stakes in certain areas of their life. They had accomplished a lot of the things that they had originally set out to do and found themselves in a comfortable place, or at least in a not wondering about their daily bread kind of place.
The more we talked, the more it became clear: the more you have, the more you have to lose.
My favorite poem is IF by Rudyard Kipling. It is something I read monthly and sometimes more. Each time I do, a different line jumps out at me. After this conversation with my friend, this line was the one that struck me:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss...
The willingness to chase something of significance comes at a cost. The idea of risking everything you've made so far on anything is a thought that might lead to a cold sweat. We worked hard to get where we are now! Why would we ever risk it? And that is a very rational thought. But it is a thought that extrapolated too far out can cause us an inability to lose anything. It is a way of thinking that tightens our grip on what we have instead of being open to what else there is. It is a way kind of thinking that freezes our imagination and paints us into a corner where what we have has to be the best thing and the only right answer to the question and precludes us from experiencing things anew.
And when those who think that way are those in powerful positions, keeping everything the same becomes the order of the day. Stasis is good for those that have it good. As long as nothing changes, their map of the world remains true. There is no incentive for change. There is an incentive for lower stakes and smaller moves. And when that kind of thinking is the only thinking you surround yourself with, you become incentivized to keep things the same so your world can continue as you've designed it thus far.
But the truth of the matter is that the only thing that doesn't change is that things change. But when there is a consistent lack of change and low-stakes bets placed, those not in the position of power start to see their chip stacks grow along with their confidence that something must change. Until one day it becomes
...not a moment, it's the movement
Where all the hungriest brothers with
Something to prove went...
Until some day it becomes much high stakes for everyone. And that feels like a future that is not too far away from us right now.
So let's not be those clinging to what we have only because we lack the imagination to chase the future that is coming.
Let's start making some bets.
And let's have some fun doing it.
Root Root For My Home Team
Huge shout out to my home team Texas Rangers for making it back to the World Series for the first time in 12 years. The only thing that made last night's win more exciting was that it was over the hated Houston Astros. #GoAndTakeIt
Nerdy Discussion About The Future Of Credentialing That Got Me Hyped
There certainly seems to be something to this idea of micro-credentialing. Does anyone have any experience with it? Does anyone's company have this kind of program available?
New Newsletter I Can't Wait To Read Each Time
Jared Glenn
And damn was this week's essay about dating in the modern day an incredible story from a very thoughtful man.
“So I’m done with dating. I didn’t like it very much anyway. But I am really looking forward to asking a woman if she’s up for being herself with me over a drink sometime….”
DJ Set I Love To Watch As Much As Listen
The trio known as Above and Beyond put out some amazing videos of them playing sets all over the world. But this one caused me to get out my map and find this epic spot in the world. It is a setting unlike any I've seen before and now I want to go to Guatape, Colombia.
Roomie Conversations That Have Made Me Smile
One of my favorite parts of this community is the monthly office hours that I get to have with some of the Roomies. I never know what is going to be the topic of conversation and I am never disappointed in what each month brings.
So far this month these conversations have included...
- A 77 year old woman taught me about "topping off your sleep" by intentionally going back to sleep after you've been awake for an hour and done your morning meditation and reading.
- A father of a neurodivergent child working on a new community that focuses specifically on the health of the parents and the challenges that they often feel alone in facing.
- A wellness entrepreneur who just topped $1mm/yr in ARR and is working to level up their sales strategy and deepen their relationships outside of their existing client base.
Thank you to all of you who continue to surprise me with the ways you are showing up in the world and sharing it with me.
Here's to your curiosity,
Andy
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