We Live In Stages

Since then I lived in Sweden, India, stayed in Uganda, worked shortly in Boston, and have been living permanently in Norway in the last 10 years.

Since 2010, I had visited my home country many times, and even lived for some time too.

As of this writing, I am in my home country - Uzbekistan. I am writing this from a bedroom of my mother.

Yesterday, a group of old friends from my village met for lunch. One of them - someone I hadn’t seen in 3 or 4 years - said something that caught my attention.

“It seems that you live in stages. When you came home from Sweden about 10 years ago, all you talked about was acquiring knowledge. Three years ago, it was business and money. Now it’s all about health and training. I wonder what you’ll be talking about in three years.”

His observation was on point. It made me think deeply since then.

Because he was right. It seems we all live through different stages.

I thought if I acquired necessary knowledge (degrees) that would change everything.

I was right, partially.

Knowledge was the foundation. But knowledge alone couldn’t pay my rent. It didn’t protect me from an employer who asked me to perform unnecessary surgery because it brought cash. It didn’t give me the power to say NO.

Knowledge gives you options. Not leverage. I didn’t understand it fully then but feeling weak pushed me to move forward.

Wealth

I’d learned the hard way - twice - that being knowledgable or skilled but broke means other people own your life. So I got obsessed with the math. How much do I need so no employer can ever own my day or ethics again?

Three years ago, I was in the wealth building game. Medical degree, PhD, board certifications done, landed a consultant position in Norway, building a portfolio, planning early retirement etc. You know the jargon.

But somewhere in that process, I found myself being overweight, reaching the obese threshold.

My father and grandfather died of a heart attack at 63.

Does having money mean something if my body quits at 60?

Awakening question…

Health

That’s where I am now. Training for endurance sports. Tracking training volume, VO2max, lactate curves. Learning to swim at 38. Planning for races I would have laughed at three years ago.

None of this would be possible without Gordo. I am blessed with a world-class coach.

All of this, not because I want to compete at a high level. Because my genetics is heavy with cardiovascular diseases, and I refuse to accept that as fate. I think it is possible to change the course.

An Interesting Pattern

My friend observed a clear pattern, but I think it’s universal:

• Knowledge - it is foundational. Starting point of the game.

• Wealth - gives you options. For example, option of owning your time.

• Health - without, nothing matters.

The Mistake

I think the mistake is getting stuck in any of these stages.

I know people who never left the knowledge stage, still collecting degrees.

I know people stuck in the wealth stage. They have more money than they need but can’t stop. They won the game but won’t leave the game. It has become their identity.

I know people who got stuck in the health stage too - so obsessed with optimizing their bodies that it becomes its own kind of prison. Some of them sacrificied a family life due to self-obsession.

I think each stage is important but shouldn’t be a destination.

What Comes Next?

That was the question my friend was really asking about.

I don’t know what I’ll be talking about in 3 or 5 years. I honestly don’t know.

But I can sense it. If the pattern holds, the topic maybe about peace.

Soul and mind at peace.

I don’t know…

I might be writing this under the influence of 3.5 hours podcast from Naval I listened on the plane.

“A fit body. A calm mind. A house full of love. These things cannot be bought. They must be earned.” - Naval Ravikant

For me it seems impossible to achieve a calm (peaceful) mind without having a fit body. And it would be impossible to maintain a calm mind without a fit body.

So, let the next stage remain unclear until we make the current body fit.