Upsides, Downsides, & Commitment.

Let’s Go! What’s up, everyone! Summer Solstice this past week, which is crazy, we are already at the midpoint of 2025 and the “start” of summer!

This past week, one of my incredible friends and old roommates was in town. Short on time, and before he caught a flight, we hit a Portland Waterfront 6 miler—classic thing to do in Portland, especially when it is sunny out. Whew, the high quality conversation and the solid 7:30 pace were a refreshing way to start the week off.

Even said at the end, the sign of an incredible conversation is when you barely remember anything you talked about because you were so immersed in the conversation.

Good News… I remembered one gem that I must share with you.

There will always be downsides. Check out this legendary quote from our run that morning.

Life isn’t about searching for the thing with zero downsides. It is about discovering and creating an environment where you love the upsides, the downsides are manageable, and you can continue to grow. The blind pursuit of something that has no resistance at all puts you in a tough position of pursuit. There are not very many situations where there are zero downsides.

I have fully remote friends who have said, “I love the freedom but it would be nice to have more interactions during the day.” and friends who would love to be fully remote to have the freedom to “whatever they want” (outside of being by their laptop from 9-5).

To improve at anything, we naturally look for the downsides. Without meaning to, we fixate on what can be better. Relationships, jobs, food, workouts, etc.

Instantly, you can point out what you don’t want, but it takes time and some deep thinking to say what you truly want (to eat for dinner or the big picture in life).

Immediately, you know you don’t want to work at _______ job that is exhausting with horrible hours. Clarity in an immediate, perfect case scenario is much more difficult to think of and then achieve.

Immediately, you know what qualities you don’t like in dating… but specifically what you want in a partner is much more difficult. Other than the general non-specific qualities of kind, funny, caring, healthy, etc.

Life is rarely like picking between carne asada burritos or tacos. That situation there is no downside, but that is the example I use to explain the quote made famous by Chris Williamson & said by Christopher Hitchens, “In life, we must choose our regrets.” FIRE TWEET HERE https://x.com/ChrisWillx/status/1811434637669105951?lang=en

Upsides make the job, the city you live in, and your relationship worth it. The downsides are a process of figuring out what we are willing to manage. I am not 100% sure where this leaves us, but there is something here…

1. You’re dating Dua Lipa, she’s incredible, but she’s always traveling & on tour. So you never see her or you go with. A downside worth managing, or are you throwing everything out?

2. Nike Summer Fridays. The work week may be challenging, but the trade-off is that most Fridays are work-from-home or half days. (or off)

3. Working out makes you tired in the moment (downside). Upside is you're healthier, more energized, feel & look better at a point in the future.

4. You are time-rich (control of your time for the most part), love your job (the craft, fun, impact, & rewarding), have the opportunity to grow (autonomy), but you don’t get paid a lot ($50 to $60k range). Do you leave for a +40-hour-a-week job that pays double with zero free time? Depends…

What upsides are you looking to leverage? (AND ENJOY FULLY) What downsides are 100% no’s? What downsides have you been willing to manage in your current position?

We already have all the answers. Just need to ask the right questions and take time to answer them.

Thanks for tuning into this one! Keep stacking those daily deposits and making every day the best day of the year until tomorrow.

Ferate