Serve your future self
The philosophy that helped me earn better grades and build a life of intention
High school was easy so far. I coasted through my first two years with straight A’s, was qualifying for state swim meets, and bussing tables on the weekends.
I started to hear rumors halfway through sophomore year. My friends who were a year older started sending warnings about what was to come.
But that was a year in the future. I didn’t care about standardized tests or prom practice. I only worried about making it to swim practice on time.
My both of my parents went to college, so I knew that was my next step after graduation. I wasn’t worried about figuring that out.
My second high school summer started. It was similar to the summers I had before. I was busing tables, taking summer trips, and falling for camp crushes.
As the summer curtains closed, I began to feel the dread. The whispers of what was about to happen all came flooding back.
Junior Year
I will never forget that first week. I had assigned homework on the first day in every class. (I also had chemistry. Still don’t know how I passed that).
Teachers started talking about studying for the ACT. Meetings for prom were already happening. I heard a couple teachers already talking about college. But I felt like I was still a kid.
I was on my way to school one morning. I was overthinking how much I needed to do that day, and how I didn’t want to do it.
Then I heard a small but firm voice: “If you want to get into a good college, you need to get your shit together. Junior year is here. It’s not waiting for you.”
That tectonic moment woke me up. I walked into school with laser focus on what I needed to do, and an unwavering will get it done.
A couple hours into math class, Mrs. Rogers gave us an ice breaker to get reacquainted with one another. One of the tasks was to write on a slip of paper something not many people know about us.
I wrote, “Alex Lacy. I have higher standards for myself than others think I do.”
We passed our papers to the front, and she read them aloud. Something in me crystallized when I heard my words ring through the classroom. Now it was public knowledge.
From that point on, I decided to be proactive and anticipate future challenges. I decided to get organized.
That experience taught me that if there’s a strong enough reason, the next step will reveal itself.
Later that week, I had a routine to get all my homework done, make it to swim practice, and still get eight hours of sleep.
The Impact
I’m writing this almost a decade later. I could not be happier with the 16-year-old kid who made that decision.
Here are some things that happened as a result of the decision to be proactive:
I won region champion for the 100-yard butterfly that same year.
Our boys 400-yard freestyle relay team came from behind and took second in the state.
I won fifth place in the state for the 100-yard butterfly my senior year (a huge goal of mine throughout high school).
The boys swim team won state my senior year.
I had a 4.1 GPA my first year of college.
Took a gap year, and saved over $22,000 for college.
I had a music production brand and podcast.
I was speaking on panels at music industry conferences.
Wrote two books: one on music theory and one on music sampling
I graduated the top of my class from the University of Oregon.
I collaborated with the New York Times.
Leaned down and lost 20lbs in 3 months.
I paid off $16,000 of debt living on $500/month.
I reorganized a coffee house inventory, saving them over $10k/year.
I streamlined training materials for that same coffee house, saving them over $32,000/year.
I developed two apps in three months: a web-based AI file renaming and a native word editor (I used the editor to write this essay ;) ).
And I created the ECOSystem, a framework I use to reorganize my own perspective and projects. Now help others do the same.
The Power of Anticipation
So what can you learn from this?
Stoic philosopher, Seneca said it best.
“The [one] who has anticipated the coming of troubles takes away their power when they arrive”
The more you can anticipate what challenges you may have, the better you will be.
I prefer to start small like making my bed when I first get up. Or filling my water bottle after I’ve quenched my thirst so it’s full the next time I reach for it.
Find simple ways to serve your future self.
Oh, and if you’re a creative solopreneur who wants to get more organized, I’ve got something for you.
I’m running a 5 Day Clarity Challenge to help define your vision in my Skool community. (The challenge also uses the ECOSystem*) Here’s the link if that sounds interesting. See you inside!
Wonderful article, Alex!
Super inspiring:)