Episode #212 Your Next Season (EC #3)

The Four Seasons of Life

1. Identity: the first 20 years of life devoted to building integrity
2. Exploration: the next 20 years of life devoted to building resilience
3. Influence: the subsequent 20 years of life devoted to building focus
4. Multiplication: the remaining 20+ years of life devoted to building others

Five Problems

• We often compare our lives with others’ highlight reels.
• Behaviors that are healthy in one season may become harmful in another.
• We cannot connect all the dots of our journey until we look back with hindsight.
• When faced with the choice between popularity and integrity, we sometimes lose both.
• We tend to approach the fourth season drifting into retirement or clinging to influence.

Seven Principles

• We are not as behind in life as we think we are.
• We need to bake the cake before we can ice it.
• The best way to be ready for our next season is to fully participate in our current season.
• We do not need to have it all figured out by age 20, as this is when exploration begins.
• A leader is not necessarily the one with the title but the one who is influencing others.
• Whatever we give away to others is not lost; it multiplies.
• The season of multiplication should not be about ‘me time’ but about ‘others time.’

Seven Truths to Internalize

• I am someone.
• I am sacred.
• I am special.
• I am significant.
• I am strong.
• I am secure.
• I am sufficient.

Five Lies to Expose

• My value is determined by what I accomplish.
• My worth is measured by power, position, and possessions.
• My self-image is dependent on the approval and affirmation of people.
• My sense of security is rooted in career, capital, and control.
• My happiness is a result of serving myself above all else.

Three Practices

• Embrace your current season instead of attempting a premature leap into the next.
• Focus on becoming before branding.
• As your season of influence comes to a close, remember that life is not yet over.