Dec 9, 2025
Seems like a ridiculous question isn't it? But if we think more about it, there's a beauty to this question. I've asked many old friends, new friends, and even strangers of this question. Sometimes I get a unique perspective, sometimes I get a blank stare even! There are of course no right and no wrong answer to this. However there is a perspective to be learned from this question.
Again, this seemed like a ridiculous question isn't it? a question that came from a Gen-Z? of course it is. Well, the thing is, there are no in between in this question. You'll have to choose either a life of progress or a life of peacefulness.
Think more about it. Can we really have massive progress, and have a peaceful life at the same time? if there's a person that claimed they can, please connect me with him/her. I might want to hear from their perspective.
I did thought there was a key to having both a peaceful life full of progress. However, sometimes (if not, most times) we have to sacrifice our peace for the sake of progress. Think of the first time you enter that meeting room, think of the first time you're about to pitch to customer, even think of the first time you're seeing your pull-request got obliterated with reviews.
Okay... good question. In fact this was my question again and again to myself too. It is true, we can switch back and forth. There will be a switching cost obviously. Think about it, let's assume we're switching from a life of progress into a life of peacefullness. What do we have to do? we'd have to have few or lots of "difficult conversations" with say our business partners, customers, suppliers, etc. The same goes for the other way around, there'll be "difficult conversations" to our family, friends, and significant others.
What I currently did is using counterbalancing. Let's say, for 6 months we go on a "go" season. We go all-in for progress, we expand our comfort zone. Then, after 6 months, we counterbalance it back into a "peace" season. We go on a vacation for a month.
This is my current answer. It works for me so-far. There are surely no right or wrong answer to this question. You just simply have to find what works for you... It just can't be both at the same time.