2nd July - Join the Journey early

I can't even begin to describe to you the amount of times I've found myself at the very summit of a particular area of life, only to purposely tear up the rule book, and begin again. The reasoning, is that - almost always - the journey, is greater than the final destination. This is a theory backed by leading psychologist and professor, Jordan Peterson, who described how - as humans - we have a natural tendency to climb up hills, admire the view at the top, and then feel somewhat deflated when coming back down again, knowing that we've now reached the maximum point of our achievements. 

When it comes to jobs, I've happily joined companies who are lower down the ladder, and then worked like a lunatic to bring both them, and myself, up to industry-leading standard, jumping ship when the aim has been achieved, to then join another smaller fish, to once again challenge myself into growing it into the whale in the pond. Similarly, I always remind people that the first time they ever heard music from giant artists like Martin Garrix, or Avicii, or whoever... It was just 'some kid' they'd never heard of before. In the case of the those just mentioned, both were teenage bedroom producers looking for a big break from behind their laptop screens in small family homes. 

This is a peak example of why you should join an artist's journey in the earliest stages, and then feel that immense sense of pride and achievement as you watch them grow, justifying your own taste and the potential you saw in them, now becoming vindicated on a global level. At Wimbledon on Tuesday, I hovered around the smaller courts, eyeing up the talents of the future, on the same blades of grass where unknown teens like a certain Mr Federer once played their Tennis. I was particularly engrossed by the talents of Amanda Anisimova, a young American girl who, today - as I type this - has just knocked out bookies favourite, Coco Gauff, on Centre Court, following a flurry of victories at SW19 this past week.

Should Anisimova go on to win Wimbledon, this year, or in future, the pride I'll feel, as I follow her journey across social media etc in the coming years, will be grand, but still nowhere near the joy felt by her trainers/coaches etc, who have joined her own journey at the earliest point. You see, in life, there's no fun in cheering as a Djokovic, or Man City, or Lewis Hamilton win, yet again. Wouldn't you prefer, to pinpoint those with untapped potential, and follow their achievements every step of the way instead? True joy comes, not from being a 'glory supporter'... 

... But by joining the journey early.