85.
The Earth Is Small
Lots of our clients are talking about Thomas Friedman’s book The Earth Is Flat. It’s all about globalization
and a leveling of the playing field by emerging economies. Excellent book. The title made me think about a
totally different topic, though: the value of perspective.
The world isn’t flat – the world is small. Here’s the point I’m trying to offer to you: We live on a small
planet in a gigantic universe. Stephen Hawking, the famed physicist, said that we are on a minor planet of a
very average star in the outer suburb of one of a hundred billion galaxies. And you and I are just one of
billions of people here. Are the problems we face as we walk through our days really so big? A little dose of
perspective makes life easier to manage.
A question I sometimes ask myself when I’m facing a struggle is this one: “Will this matter a year
from now?” If not, I move on – fast. Another great question I invite you to share with your team at work or
your family at home is: “Has someone died here?” if not, things settle down and calmer minds generally
prevail.
Keep perspective. Most of the problems we think are disasters turn out to be blessings, in
hindsight. I’ve faced things in my life that seemed so painful at first. Thought the world would end. But with
the passage of time, those evolved into the very things that made my life better and happier and more
rewarding. And my guess is that the same holds true for you.
Life is short, and the world
Is small – but it’s really, really wide.
So do some inner work around perspective today. Focus on the good. Smile and laugh more. Life
is short, and the world is small – but it’s also really, really wide.