Focus on the things that don't change.

This principle is at the core of Amazon's success in the past decades.

Focus not only on what your customers want today but at the intersection of what they want now and what they will continue to desire 10 years from now.

For Amazon, it is:

• Vast inventory

• Fast shipping

• Low prices

They cannot foresee their customers not wanting any of those, even 10 years from now.

They focus on the long term and this justifies making large investments with the assurance there's a long time ahead to reap the benefits.

The same principle can be applied to learning.

What kind of information are you acquiring?

Think of the new information you are acquiring, reading books and articles, going to conferences, watching videos, and talking with people.

Is it something that is enlightening you with a better understanding of the world?

Or are you just adding new information?

Will the newly acquired knowledge be with you for a long time, or is it short-lived and will get outdated or forgotten very soon?

Focus on acquiring timeless knowledge

We should be aiming at acquiring timeless knowledge.

The one that will be with us for a long time and brings benefits in the long term.

I especially like books. Compared to articles and videos, they generally have a better structure and go more in depth.

This is the perfect context to immerse in, think, and reflect.

Let the author guide you in elevating your understanding of the subject, give you insights and end up with a more accurate map of the world.

So, the next time you are reading or getting new information, think: is this something that's adding information or is it improving my understanding of the world?

Favor the latter.