We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit
– Will Durant via Aristotle
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about the power of compounding interest. Most people are familiar with the phenomenon as it relates to personal finance, but in reality the power of compounding is something that permeates all aspects of our lives. Aristotle gives us an understated reminder of that here. You cannot simply show up one day and be great at your job if you haven’t consistently been working towards it. You can’t set foot in the gym one Saturday morning and squat 415 because you’ve decided today is the day. You can’t go to your kid’s game, meet, or performance for the first time in months and expect to be hailed as the world’s greatest mom or dad (whether or not you’ve got a coffee cup that explicitly states it).
Only through the power of compounding can all of these things be realized. Consistency is the absolute key; showing up every day, day in and day out, regardless of whether or not you feel like it. Strength, intelligence, love, respect…these things cannot be willed, they cannot be bought, they cannot be half-assed. There are no shortcuts, there’s just brutal, soul crushing consistency that, over time, compounds into the best version of yourself you have to offer. But that version is still simply a work-in-progress. There is no finish line, only a through-line. A current upon which you have the ability to navigate, but not dictate.
As your net worth continues to evolve annually thanks to that sheer witchcraft of compound interest, ask yourself if you’re making the necessary daily, weekly, and monthly contributions to all the other components of your life that truly matter. Only through those seemingly minuscule, inconsequential deposits can you compound into the person you want to be. Find excellence in the little habits, those habits will become your routine, and your routine will eventually shape you into who you’re becoming. Ensure you’re becoming the person you want to be.
