Rule 6 - Life is a Series of Lessons Repeated Until Learned.
This was my Dad’s rule for his life.
In your life, you are going to learn a lot of things. Most of those things you will learn because you failed at something. And let’s be clear: it is okay to fail.
Failure is simply the tuition fee for wisdom.
But there’s a catch.
You have to actually pay attention to the curriculum. If you don't learn the lesson, don't be surprised when life hands you the exact same failure, in the exact same way, over and over again.
The Feedback Loop of Life
Life is remarkably consistent. It will keep throwing the same brick at your head until you finally decide to duck. We often mistake these recurring problems for "bad luck" or "circumstance," but more often than not, they are just unlearned lessons.
The Physical: If you are constantly stubbing your toe on the same coffee table, you haven't learned the lesson of watching where you put your feet (or moving the damn table).
The Personal: If you keep having the same argument with someone, you haven't learned how to communicate your needs properly yet.
The Financial: If you are stressed every time an annual bill comes due, you haven't learned the lesson of sinking funds and forecasting.
If you find yourself saying, "Why does this always happen to me?" take a look in the mirror. You are the common denominator. The universe isn't picking on you; it’s just waiting for you to pass the grade so it can move you on to the next lesson.
The Business Bit
In business, this rule is the difference between a company that scales and a company that plateaus.
If you have a "tough month" because of cash flow or a client leaving, that’s a lesson. If it happens again six months later, you haven't learned your lesson yet.
The "boring problems" I talk about are usually just lessons you’ve grown tired of repeating. Systems and structure are how you "institutionalise" a lesson so you never have to learn it the hard way again.
Homework:
It’s time to figure out what grade you’re currently stuck in.
Spot the Pattern: Identify one frustration that has happened to you at least three times in the last year. e.g. a project going over budget, missing a workout, or a misunderstanding with someone.
The "Old Way" Analysis: Write down how you reacted the last two times it happened. Did you blame someone else? Did you call it "bad luck"? Or did you just ignore it?
The Lesson Plan: What is the specific piece of knowledge or the specific system you are missing that would stop this from happening a fourth time?
Example: "I keep missing the gym." -> Lesson: "I am not a morning person." -> New System: "I will pack my bag and go at 5:00 PM on my way home from work."
Stop repeating the same mistakes. Learn the lesson, build the structure, and move on to the next challenge.
