That’s a photo of me from 2018.
I was having an imaginary conversation with 2018-Azren earlier today. 2018-Azren asked the 2024-Azren (i.e., the current day me) the following question:
If I wanted be the person you are now in 2024, but become such a person in 2 years instead of 6 years, what advice would you give me?
The first thing I noticed while having this imaginary conversation is just how much better I, 2024-Azren, is at life.
I’m more skilled. I’m braver. I’m way more fluent in Mandarin and Gujarati. My business in 2024 does triple the sales compared to 2018…on a bad month.
And yet, here’s the weird thing: the advice I gave 2018-Azren in my mind was relevant for me now in 2024.
Here’s a business-related example.
I outlined a straightforward plan for 2018-Azren to triple his sales within 2 years. As soon as I told 2018-Azren the plan, I realized that I should follow that exact same plan in my business now to hit my current goals.
I couldn’t believe it.
Here’s another example, except this time regarding dating.
I told 2018-Azren that I (in 2024) have been dating recently and recommended that he (2018-Azren) date more often. 2018-Azren didn’t know even where to begin, so I gave him simple advice. 2018-Azren was blown away by the advice I shared. He asked me, how do you know all this? I replied by saying:
I’ve made more mistakes than you and learned from them
You already knew a lot of what I’m telling you, but haven’t done anything yet
I’ve learned more skills than you by taking classes, reading, watching videos/podcasts, and talking to people you haven’t met yet
That response is exactly what 2024-Azren needed to hear.
I realized that if I want to realize my potential faster, I need to:
Make more mistakes faster
Do things I suspect I should be doing, but am not. That is Future-Azren’s way of talking to me
Learn new skills faster than Future-Azren did (what a time-bending sentence, no? Haha.)
I’m glad I 2018-Azren came to talk to me.
I feel hopeful that the conversation we had is going to help the current me :)