Welcome to Minute with Mallon!

Something I Taught:

One of my favorite clients is a man who’s approaching 40. He’s a top performer at his company. About a year ago, we were on a call and the subject of education came up. He told me that he had gone to college for a while but that at that point in his life, he "just wasn't into it." So he decided to take a little time off. That "little time" turned into 18 years. So on the call, he was expressing to me how disappointed and even ashamed he felt for never going back.

And I had this thought:

There are two types of pain in this world: the short-term pain of discipline, and the long-term pain of regret.

The quote underscores the value of discipline and self-control in making choices that may involve some initial difficulties or sacrifices but lead to positive and fulfilling outcomes in the future. It encourages individuals to develop the discipline to make choices aligned with their long-term goals and values.

So we began talking about that thought and his situation. He realized that without action, he would continue to experience the long-term pain of regret.

He told me that he had some college credits that would transfer. I encouraged him to contact a local university and to see how long it would take to finish his degree if he just took a few classes each semester.

The best part was watching his face and body language as we discussed it. His energy level went way up; you could see the excitement build! I love when my clients see that they truly have control over their lives when they have the courage to make good decisions and move forward!

Now, a year later, he's completed 2 semesters and is truly enjoying the process. He's a great husband and father, and has a lot of responsibilities and pressures. But he MADE UP HIS MIND UP to move forward with the short-term pain of discipline, and his present and future are looking very bright!

Years ago, I heard my friend and pastor Kevin Myers say, "We live in a microwave society." That has stuck with me for years. Just like microwaving food for quick results often sacrifices the quality of the meal, living in a microwave society can lead to a desire for instant gratification at the expense of our long-term fulfillment.

All it takes is a decision.

What do you need to put in the crock-pot now in order to have a tastier future?

And what's the first step? (Write it down right now!) 👍🏻

Now go for it! 🏃‍♂️

Something to Ponder:

"The pain you feel today will be the strength you feel tomorrow."

Something I Learned:

In his book The Road Less Stupid, Keith Cunningham talks about the importance of having those tough conversations with your people, even when it doesn’t feel good. Here's an excerpt that rings true:

"Here it is on a bumper sticker: The reason we hesitate to have the hard conversations is because we don’t care enough. If you truly cared enough, you would say what needs to be said. After all, how else are they going to improve and maximize their potential? Let me remind you that nothing can change until the unsaid is spoken."

That’s pure gold! 💛

Something I Saw:

We have this friend named Elizabeth Umberson! Her culinary skills are extraordinary: everything she makes is a masterpiece, and every gathering is a culinary adventure. Thanks for sharing your gifts Elizabeth!

Who’s one person to share this issue of the newsletter via text, social media, or email with? Just copy and paste this link: RobertMallon.com/Newsletter

Hope you have an incredible week!

Robert

Minute With Mallon: Microwave Society vs. Crock-Pot Wisdom