Embrace Adaptability--Life's Unpredictability Demands Flexibility

Key Quotes

"all that to say that if you look at the last six years of my life and these four really random events you could really say well jeff it seems as though you need to get rid of that car it's got to go but also like what's going on what's the story here the thing is there is no story there's no coincidence there's no underlying you know conspiracy theory this is just life life is unpredictable people humans are unpredictable things happen things are crazy"

Jeff Sanders explains that the four car accidents he experienced in six years are not indicative of a deeper issue or coincidence. Sanders argues that these events are simply a manifestation of life's inherent unpredictability and the unpredictable nature of people.

"the only question is what is going to happen future tense what can we expect from life going forward and all that we can expect is the unpredictability of life the fact that change will occur that things we do not control and cannot see coming will take place and we don't know when or how good or how bad or how crazy it just will it just is"

Jeff Sanders emphasizes that the future is inherently uncertain and uncontrollable. Sanders states that the only constant we can expect from life is unpredictability and the occurrence of unforeseen events, regardless of their nature.

"one of the things people like to do is look at the past performance of that stock it's and say well if this stock has gone up for you know 15 in the last 10 years that's awesome but you cannot in any way expect that same stock to get 15 growth or return in the next 15 years or so as much as we would love to be able to say that we can predict the future we can't"

Jeff Sanders critiques the common practice of relying on past performance to predict future investment outcomes. Sanders argues that while past success is appealing, it does not guarantee similar future returns, highlighting the inability to accurately predict the future.

"i have ranted on this podcast before about how much i do not like or even despise to some degree long term goal setting or vision casting and the reason why i get so kind of uppity about that topic is because i know that we can't predict things i know that it's so difficult to understand what may or may not happen in the future one thing i tend to have more control over is the short term hence the quarter system where my focus on setting goals in the very short term at most the next three months generally the next 30 days even smaller than that the next week smaller than that the next one day the next one hour or even just the next single action"

Jeff Sanders expresses his skepticism towards long-term goal setting due to the inherent unpredictability of the future. Sanders advocates for a focus on short-term goals, such as daily or even hourly actions, as these are more within one's control.

"the answer is we have to improve our skill set of being flexible flexibility is not optional it is a required skill that we all have to have to navigate the challenges of life"

Jeff Sanders identifies flexibility as a crucial skill for navigating life's challenges. Sanders asserts that flexibility is not merely beneficial but a mandatory requirement for successfully managing unpredictable circumstances.

"from my experience you know i i focus extensively on habits and i love habits and i'm so good when i can do the exact same thing over and over in the very intentional way that i have predefined it and i'll get the results that i expect like clockwork over and over again but i've noticed a a significant flaw in the last couple of years one that i have not yet really dialed in which is that when i'm out of my flow when i don't have my habits when something has shifted and all of a sudden i can't do the exact same thing i've been doing i make mistakes"

Jeff Sanders shares his personal experience with the limitations of relying heavily on habits. Sanders notes that while habits can lead to consistent results, a significant flaw emerges when routines are disrupted, leading to mistakes when deviating from the norm.