#107: DON’T WASTE YOUR LIFE

~5 min

WHERE IS THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN BOARD OF REGENTS? Michigan is moving to a first semester pass/fail grading system for freshmen to “foster an environment where college students can acclimate to the demands of a University of Michigan education and pursue new academic challenges” and “establish early momentum.”

What?

Regents must be distracted by the dumpster fire in athletics, which isn’t an excuse for this pitiful example of everything that is wrong with raising productive, competitive, values-driven, meritocratic young adults.

CONGRATULATIONS to my friend Trevor for his nomination by President Trump to serve as a Federal Judge. I have no doubt parts of the United States Justice system are corrupt, but having known many Federal Judges, Appeals Court Judges, District Judges and United States Department of Justice Officials, I sleep easier knowing people with the character of Trevor are willing to serve.

MY FRIEND TREVOR - let’s call him His Honor Judge Pemberton - suggested I watch this eleven-year-old video titled Don’t Waste Your Life by theologian John Piper. Piper convincingly narrowed my focus to better understand the character and purpose of God. Once you understand what God is trying to do with the universe, you can better understand where you fit in it.

I am aware of more and more things I don’t know and I have to work hard not to care about them lest I try to know them and lose my grip on what I do know.

Piper concludes with the challenge of happy suffering. He even gives a shout-out for NTL at the 6:40 mark!

PIPER TALKS ABOUT MAN’S GREAT QUESTION: WHY? To make his point, he uses two German words that reveal something English tends to collapse into one question.

• Woher? means “from where?” It looks backward toward origin or cause.

• Wozu? means “to what end?” It looks forward toward purpose.

Consider: “Why did you start this company?”

That could mean: What caused you to start it?
“I was frustrated with the industry and saw an unmet need.”

Or it could mean: What did you start it to accomplish?
“To change how the industry works and create something enduring.”

One question seeks an explanation. The other seeks purpose.

Simplified:

• Woher: What brought me here?

• Wozu: What am I here for?

English gives us one wonderfully ambiguous question: Why am I here?

German gives us a useful way to separate the past from the future. Instead of only asking, “Why is this happening to me?” try asking, “Wozu? What can this be used for?”

The first question searches for a cause. The second asks what you’re going to do with it.

RETIREMENT SOUNDS NICE IN THEORY but is considerably more difficult to pull off for purpose-driven leaders. Stan is the Co-Founder of a business on whose board I serve. Stan announced his retirement last week. He presented a six-month roadmap for transition and offered up a few reflections on his career.

At a certain age, you have an expiration date on things you want to do, so I must make important decisions today.

My friend Jim, Stan’s Co-Founder, convinced Stan to join him a decade ago.

To convince Stan to do this, I had to make promises. I kept a few of them by assuring Stan he never had to wear a suit or drive in the ice, but in every other area I asked for more, and he joyfully delivered.

I AM AN ADVISOR TO A BOARD, and last week I arranged meetings with two public entities. They provide overlapping services to constituents, employ similar types of people and face the same challenge: rising healthcare costs. The company I advise has a unique approach to reducing some of that spending for large employers.

The first meeting was with a longtime benefits coordinator. He opened by telling us he had done his homework, knew “what we do” and “our pricing,” and indicated he was very good at saving taxpayers money. The meeting was short. He asked few questions. He clearly cared about his work, but he seemed more interested in demonstrating what he already knew than learning something new. He thanked us for coming and apologized that we had wasted our time because they already had a strong handle on their costs.

The second meeting was also with a longtime benefits coordinator who had done his homework. He opened differently: “I have a lot to learn.” Then he asked questions. Lots of them. He listened, thanked us for coming and said he would follow up.

Same job. Similar problem. Completely different posture.

It reminded me of something I learned from my friends at Stagen Leadership Academy.

MY FRIEND MARC recently shared something I already knew:

Only the best leaders are willing to endure the hatred that comes from making hard, right decisions. The rest punt.

I HEARD THIS FROM SOMEONE IN HIGHER ED LAST WEEK. They aren’t wrong.

Until businesses stop demanding degrees, we will keep raising prices.

MY FRIEND JOSE MARIA TEXTED ME:

To whatever steals your peace, add distance.

In situations that do not serve us or our purpose, why do we so often stick around?

I LIKE THE WSJ’S PEGGY NOONAN who said last week:

It is said that in politics friends come and go but enemies accumulate.

A WORD TO RANDOMLY USE THIS WEEK: Vagary is an unexpected or unpredictable change or occurrence. It is most often used in the plural: the vagaries of…

Farmers live with the vagaries of weather. Investors navigate the vagaries of markets. Leaders deal with the vagaries of human behavior.

Think Harder: the unpredictable twists and turns of your life are a reminder that you aren’t in control of nearly as much as you think or would like to be.

TWO QUOTES WORTH READING:

“Remember when is the lowest form of conversation.”

- Tony Soprano, to Paulie Walnuts

One of my all-time favorite quotes, which I restumbled upon this week!

“The only thing worse than getting 400 emails a day is getting four.”

- Tom Ward

~IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO STOP WASTING YOUR LIFE~

Where are you reading NTL today? Send us a picture and we’ll include the best ones. Pro Tip: Include your phone/tablet (you’ll need a second camera).

My friend John in Hawaii before the storm.

My friend Suzie in Bergen, Norway.

@renzistone33 on X, LinkedIn & Substack