Finite Time

Have an Abundance Mindset for everything … except Time

When I started at Microsoft, I was an import straight out of college, as were probably 90% of the people that I worked with on a daily basis. At that time, and for us imports, Microsoft life felt like a natural continuation of our college life. Our routine was: wake up, go to work, come home, go to bed. The entire day was spent with our Microsoft family. We didn't spend all of that time behind the desk. We worked together and we played together. When dinners weren't provided by Microsoft, we went to dinner together. We went to bars. We went skiing, skating, biking, and hiking. We went to sporting events, to movies, to concerts. We played Whirlyball a lot. We had weekend parties. We got hooked on Wolfenstein 3D, and then Doom, and then Descent.

I have a hard time putting into words how incredible and unique my first five years at Microsoft were. I made long lasting friendships (including one extra special friendship … with Charu, my wife). I learned so much that it felt like a more intense version of college. The environment completely embodied the phrase, "work hard, play hard." The key at this stage was, we had access to the full 24 hours of the day. When a big "play" event came along, we gave that more time. When a big "work" demand arose, we gave that more time. There was no shortage of time, so we didn't pay too much attention to how we were spending it.

Then I started a side business. Then Charu and I got married. Then Charu started her own business. Then I became a first level manager. Then we had kids. Then I became a second level manager.

Time feels infinite, until the moment you realize it's not. And then you begin to see the clock in a completely different way: a very valuable tool in your long game¹.