Grafdure

Working nonstop was all I was programmed to do. Overworked, underlived & underpaid – I trusted the process that one day it would all pay off, in many ways it has and continues to do so, albeit at a cost.

1. Your values will continually evolve & grow alongside you.

Whilst motivation comes and goes depending on which season of life is present, your values are what sets the tone for everything you do and is what ultimately will shape you into who you are. In my early 20s I would’ve said hard work is a non negotiable value of mine, to this day it still is. These days I ask deeper questions: who am I working for? Does this 16 hour day work schedule align with the rest of my life? If I give this all I have today, am I leaving enough in the tank to get through the rest of the week? Will this affect my ability to get up and go to the gym in the morning? Growth requires continually checking in.

2. Your health is your passport to life.

Maintaining a baseline of my health & fitness has quietly underpinned my entire 20s. With 24 hours in the day, I ask myself: How many of those are going towards work? How many am I sleeping? How many are left for building my strength & fitness? How many calories am I consuming? In my opinion, exercise is essential for mental clarity & venting aggression. Early on, a life of drinking too much booze, overeating & not exercising was not only normalised, but actively promoted. Find a form of movement that resonates, make it stick.

3. Find your limits.

Ultimately, overworking my 20s taught me a lot. There were times where I definitely squeezed too hard and hit the elusive ‘burnout’ zone. In my opinion, whilst burning out should in no way be seen as a badge of honour, but in life I believe we have to see & feel our limits, to gauge how far we can and should push. I know that if shit hits the fan, I can go above and beyond to get the work done, but there comes a point where I have to ask myself what the trade off is. If I work those extra 4 hours tonight, will I make that scheduled run in the morning? How much am I leaving in the tank? Knowing when to stop and hang back a little is wisdom.

4. As soon as you stop growing, move.

One of the hardest truths: my time is my most valuable asset, whether it be my job, my city or my inner circle. If these things are no longer bringing me value, if I am continuing to pour my time into something with diminishing returns, I have to move on and search for something that pours back in. Make moving the comfort zone a conscience effort, otherwise life will do it for you, leaving you with no control. Learn to walk away.

5. Take more photos.

In a world where being present and being where my feet are is a moving target. Coming into my 30s all I am now left with is faded memories & photos. I stopped the car on that drive home one evening where the sun was coming down over the horizon, the table at an incredible sushi restaurant filled with food, drink & my favourite people, the stepping stones we crossed on a long run during that first warm long run coming into summer. Invest in a photo storage facility. Take more photos.

6. Control your influences.

Contradictions are everywhere. 2 people I admire, same subject, 2 wildly differing points of view. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Social media has given everybody a voice, I remember listening to a bodybuilder named Zyzz when I was younger, taking in his workout advice like receiving a doctor’s prescription. But slight undertones of misogny, so I’ll take relationship advice from somebody else. The ideology of my career to date, is to work under many great chefs, picking and choosing the methods and systems that resonate, so that one day when given the chance I can cherry pick the best way to operate my own kitchen. Learn from many, but live by your own filter.

7. Pick your battles.

If you give everything your all, you give nothing your best. A couple of years ago I would lose my mind over every tiniest detail, from marketing department inadequacies at work, to making sure I used the same brand fuel for my car every time. Pick the battles giving the biggest leverage daily, accept that time is a finite resource and chose effectiveness over efficiency. What matters the most today? Let the rest go.