When I was younger, I thought constantly about the things I wanted to accomplish, because we live in a society that’s geared toward achievement. But when I was being encouraged to dream big back then, nobody ever warned me about tradeoffs. Nobody warned me that you give up some things in order to pursue other things. I was under the impression I could have it all.
I’ve thought a lot about choices in the past few years. For a long time, I tried to avoid making choices, because I looked at life as a buffet where you just kept adding to your plate. Maybe my metaphor wasn’t too far off, but I didn’t realize that the “plate” we have in life is of a limited size. If your plate is full, something has to come off as you add more to it.
If you devote yourself to pursuing a dream of some kind — wealth, fame, early retirement, whatever the carrot dangling in front of you is — you always give up something else. Only you can decide which tradeoffs are worth it — and nobody can spare you from the certainty of having to make the choices, whether they’re conscious or unconscious.
As I thought about this Monday night, I was reminded of a quote from investment guru Jim Rogers. In his book, “Investment Biker,” he discussed the tradeoffs involved in pursuing whatever it is you want:

Delusional Democrats help Trump re-election by chasing phantoms
After his death, I can finally see good in narcissistic father again
Against all rational choice of will, an old hunger in my heart returns
Will I run for office? The short answer is ‘no’; the longer answer is ‘no way’
If you live by your principles, others won’t control your actions
If you need incentive to prepare for the future, look to London today
Shouldn’t standards be higher for those trusted to enforce our laws?
Rand Paul filibuster brings GOP rats out into the light for us all to see