Comments on: What’s Your Time Horizon?

By: Ilya Olevsky

Ilya Olevsky — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 16:42:05 +0000

@Bert: you’re learning how to fly in what way? I have to guess that you meant flying an airplane. I personally want to get into hang gliding, it looks really fun.

By: bob

bob — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 14:40:13 +0000

Steve,

Longish, but you’ll absolutely love it:

http://www.inc.com/magazine/20030101/25049.html

By: idcj

idcj — Wed, 23 Mar 2005 06:35:57 +0000

I agree with Steve. Though I figured it out the hard way, not every day can be your best. There are times when I just cannot focus on things, but I’ve learnt not to beat myself up for that. Most of the self help articles/books talk about not procastinating, but they seem to overlook that fact that its quite natural for the human mind and body to have its own rhythm. Just like sleep and wake patterns, I’ve felt that having goals spread over a year gives me ample time to perform well.

By: MX

MX — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 22:57:00 +0000

Your article is really insightful and encouraging.

By: Bert

Bert — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 21:00:25 +0000

I whole-heartedly agree that one can do anything with the right time horizon. In addition, a wider time horizon allows us to run a marathon rather than a sprint, which allows us more time to enjoy the run.

By the way, TesTeq, I’ve decided to learn how to fly. I began lessons about a month ago and I’ll be finished in a couple more. Common sense rules here. As for the concept of a private business in North Korea…that same comment could have been said about Eastern Europe or the USSR (remember them?) some years back. But, look at the difference a wider time horizon makes even there. There is now private business where communism once dominated.

By: Steve Pavlina

Steve Pavlina — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 20:23:45 +0000

Franny, you must have a funny definition of “briefly.”

By: Steve Pavlina

Steve Pavlina — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 20:19:29 +0000

Not what I’m saying at all, TesTeq. You missed the point.

By: TesTeq

TesTeq — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 19:18:04 +0000

You say that everything is possible and achievable.
So decide to learn to fly in next 10 years and then jump from the highest building to check that you succeded.
Or suggest somebody in North Korea to start a new private business (if you don’t know it - I’ll tell you that there is no such thing as private business in North Korea).
It is silly and dangerous to tell people that everybody can do anything.

By: Franny

Franny — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 18:29:35 +0000

You might be interested in the work of Elliott Jacques.

Here’s an article briefly explaining his theories on time-span and intelligence.

http://www.roberttomasko.com/Downsizing.Ch6.html

By: GBGames

GBGames — Tue, 22 Mar 2005 16:22:08 +0000

Well that’s thought-provoking.

Usually you think: Get things done! Do it now! Don’t procrastinate! Sometimes it can get stressful because you think to yourself at night, “The day is gone. I totally wasted it.” Naturally such thoughts can lead to a negative outlook on your own abilities.

What you’re saying here is that it happens. In the short term, things won’t always go right. That’s to be expected. In the long run, though, that’s up to you. Will a setback today prevent you from accomplishing your long term goals? Probably not. They’re just boulders to maneuver around while heading in the same direction.

When you think about it in that way, minor setbacks are minor again.