Taking the decade’s view

Every January, I hope to achieve many of my big life goals by December. I don’t — and by the next January, I repeat the drill. Can you relate?

This year I started to think more in terms of what I could build over a decade, and it’s helping me become more patient to do each phase right, focus on daily habits I know will compound, and resist the pressure to impress in today’s rat race. I don’t need it done by December, tbh. I’d rather take 3, 7, or 10 years and do it excellently. I call this the decade’s view — a way of stretching time so execution becomes intentional and meaningful results actually happen.

Without a decade’s view, there are things you won’t even consider. For example, you can’t plan to write a book and expect it to shape your reputation, attract the right community, or contribute to a long-term vision — all by December. Unless you don’t care about writing a really good book. Which then defeats the point.

When we squeeze big goals into short timelines, it often hinders us from thinking properly, researching deeply, and obsessing over the tiny details. But precedence shows that masterpieces, breakthroughs, financial freedom and the big things we desire often take longer than a year.

This doesn’t mean we can’t have quick wins. But for our most ambitious goals — the ones that shape our life’s work — we might need to take the decade’s view.