The Fascination of Long-Term Projects

The Fascination of Long-Term Projects

Most successful people remain committed to a project. They become the best in their niche.

Each of us has the ability to find meaningful projects. Meaning is individual. No one defines meaning for you. It is your decision. Make your decision.

In the following, I want to describe what a long-term project or goal is.

For me, it is like embarking on a journey in our lives: Feelings of excitement arise. Your heart beats faster. You are a little scared.

For me, it has always been important to see what successful people do and recommend. The suggestion is: "Work on 5 meaningful projects throughout your life."

This quote is a wall, more than that, a rock. It’s my top quote:

In a world with constant short-term thinking, Warren Buffett, one of the most successful people in his field of "investing in stock companies," recommends making a list of 25 life goals and selecting 5 to stick with!

Why just 5 goals? I'll explain that later.

First, we need to define what real meaningful projects are.

Here are 7 examples:

• Working in a specific niche in your professional career

• Starting your own family and living in your own home

• Completing an endurance event: marathon, Ironman, half marathon, etc.

• Following a fitness routine

• Starting a business or company

• Achieving financial independence

• Living abroad

They all have one thing in common: You can’t achieve them in a month.

Estimate how long they might take.

Why?

You get the ability to assess the timeline of long-term projects and think long-term.

Let’s talk about what defines long-term goals:

Specific.

For me, it's about 10,000 hours.

If you work 2.5 hours a day on your goals, that’s 1000 hours per year. Multiply that by 10, and you have about 10,000 hours. You will master your project or achieve your long-term goal in about 10 years.

But it doesn’t have to end after 10 years.

It could fill your entire life.

This is the ultimate fulfillment, I believe.

Here’s my long-term project example:

My endurance journey began at the end of 2012 with running.

• First 5 km

• After achieving that, 10 km

• Half marathon

• And in 2015, my first marathon in Munich.

Today, I’ve completed several marathons (best time 3:15 hours) and triathlons (long and middle distances).

You noticed: 10 years to reach a goal, to be in the top 10% in running.

My effort was a total of 6-8 hours per week in endurance sports.

I believe I’m not done yet.

But the hardest question is finding your long-term projects with specific goals.

Your question will surely arise: How do I find my long-term goals?

I suggest starting with:

Become aware of what you loved as a child.

Most long-term goals are hidden behind many distractions.

Write down everything you love.

Look at it carefully now.

My example: As a child, I loved hiking and running in nature, riding my MTB.

Now you can see the connection to a marathon or Ironman.

Try it in the same way.

You are then close to your new long-term project.

Now let’s talk about the success factors of long-term projects:

Your Potential is Your Superpower

We all have dormant abilities. Your life offers you much more than you think.

The importance of this is that you are currently in your comfort zone. Seek your potential. In any area, your potential may lie.

Visualization

My key to success is creating a vision board.

In December, I sit down:

I write my goals and commit to them.

The next year comes.

Stick with it for a whole year.

A tip from me: Make your goals crystal clear:

"By the end of 2024, I will complete a marathon."

"By the end of the year, I will have finished this project in my work."

Think of your goals as if you have already achieved them in your visualization. Sit down calmly and think about it.

Your mind works like a computer.

See a problem = find a solution.

Now your vision has reached your subconscious and consciousness, and you can begin.

Focus

You will get better with focus.

No distractions.

It is a basic truth that you should forget about time. When this happens, every little step leads to a big gain. You must be fully present.

For me, focus means: I want to be clear:

• No alcohol

• Eat healthily

• Write down my success daily!

• Find positive words for myself.

• Realistic words!

Now let’s return to the Buffett 5/25 rule:

Life is short.

5 long-term goals fit perfectly into a life.

This is my understanding of a good life.

You should think about minimalism and reduce your projects to truly succeed in your field.

If you have a variety of projects or goals, you can't really succeed in your field.

Your information is overloaded.

And you don’t have the energy to manage more than 5 projects.

For me, the danger of short-term thinking is that, with a variety of projects or goals, you can’t think long-term.

You’re stuck in minimal thinking. Wanting to be perfect is the number-one focus killer.

There will be ups and downs.

One thing I know: You must embrace the pain.

Pain stands for passion.

You must be willing to suffer in everything, hence the name.

Sometimes it’s hard to stick to your routine.

Sometimes it’s hard to work.

Sometimes you face setbacks.

The rule is: don’t give up too soon.

It’s not the end of your project.

My experience was also painful.

Before completing my first Ironman in the Netherlands, I had to drop out of 3 Ironman-distance races.

Everyone around me probably thought:

"He’s crazy!"

But I made it.

At the same time, it was a mental game.

It was so much fun challenging myself.

You will have fears, and that is completely normal.

You’re out of your comfort zone.

My trick for handling fear is to face it.

Think of your wildest fears.

Write them down as if they were happening.

Your breath will immediately relax.

Your mind, body, and environment all crave long-term goals.

Become aware of them.

Work on them.

Life depends on long-term projects.

It is the essence of life and makes you happy.

Make your 5 out of 25 list.

I wish you all the best on your journey!

I hope you enjoyed the newsletter and I look forward to you subscribing.

The next newsletter about long-term topics will be here: https://www.prumin.com/pages/prumin-letter

Best regards,

Markus