That’s it!
It’s rare for someone to know exactly what they want. That’s why at Quarter Life Academy we always start by exploring what someone is really searching for in their life. We call this the “thrashing ” stage, because it can take a lot of time to define a problem or work out the best path […]
Willpower is overrated
People speak about willpower like it’s a muscle that is trained. But a better way to think about it is a cup that is emptied. When I say willpower, I’m meaning our ability to resist temptation or distraction. We can also call it self-control. Let’s play this out in an example. You’ve decided to go […]
I wish that was harder
Nobody finishes a marathon and says “I wish that was harder”. That’s because this event is an incredible challenge. Society recognises a marathon as a feat worthy of doing, simply because finishing is such an achievement. You may find these words helpful to reflect on the moments in life which have expanded your boundaries. Travelling […]
Put yourself in positions to succeed
When I was single, I didn’t know where, when or how I would meet someone special. But I was sure on one thing. If I spent an evening at home watching Netflix and eating ice cream, I would be guaranteed to not meet anyone. So it doesn’t matter how likely you are to have a […]
Leverage existing networks
If you want to launch a movement effectively, leverage existing networks rather than build a community from scratch. This may go against a lot of the inspirational messaging you hear around achieving your goals and impacting the world. Many people in their 20s and 30s are inspired by the concept of “grinding” their way to […]
Lightbulb moments
One of my favourite quotes is attributed to Oren Harari: The electric light did not come from the continuous improvement of candles. I have an analytical and operational background, which means I’m good at strategically thinking about a desired outcome, drawing on proven methods to achieve it and then continuously improving. But I’m very aware […]
A well-crafted No
Writing a considered decline to an invitation is probably one of the most effective uses of your time. We don’t consciously practice saying No much, which means we’re prone to causing offense with a hurried no, or worse, agreeing to something we don’t want to with a weak yes. The keys to a well-crafted No […]
I don’t know
When I was working in funds management, many commentators had an aversion to saying “I don’t know”. There are thousands of companies on the stock market, and it’s very hard to form a considered opinion of a few (and impossible to have a considered opinion of them all). But talk-back television would be quite dull […]
A moment of indecision
When people decide to make a change, they are choosing the path of resistance. Past behaviours are hard to shake, and very appealing to fall back on when challenged. But it’s helpful to appreciate that challenges are simply moments of indecision – difficult moments, granted, but moments nonetheless. It’s helpful to appreciate then that resistance […]
Squats are amazing
My reasons for going to the gym were probably like many others – get fitter and lose weight. But it changed one aspect of my daily life in a huge way. When I started going to the gym I was already leading an active lifestyle. I was riding to work, playing touch and squash, and […]