act before it's late

It's been 4 months since my last post here. Since the previous post:

1. I graduated from college.

2. I moved back to my parents’ house. Since my family discovered in 2021 that my mom had a brain tumor I had never spent more than a month with them due to college.

3. I'm fitter and healthier than ever. Before writing this I ran a half marathon. I've been sleeping 8hrs/day. Eating healthily.

4. I got promoted.

5. I helped friends find potential co-founders and jobs at roles they were looking for. I'm happy to be a catalyst for opportunities for people I admire.

6. I learned decent Python.

7. I built my website.

8. For the past 2 months, my no.1 life goal has been to be the best son I can be. This will remain my no.1 life goal for the next quarter. I've been doing my best to create great memories with my parents and boost their energy and optimism about the future. It's working. Will keep you posted.

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What's in my mind: the power of acting

I've been anxious about the future lately.

I turn 23 in 2 weeks, I have a large college debt to pay in the next few years, uncertainty about my career's next steps, how I can be a better son, the professional opportunities I might miss for not being in a city like São Paulo, etc.

All this uncertainty led me to inertia. I felt I should have all the “What if scenarios” figured out before taking action.

I quit writing. I haven't met new interesting people. I disappeared from WhatsApp and replied to no one other than my parents. I significantly decreased the amount of intros I'd make. I was paralyzed by endless “what-if questions.”

Then, I met Doctor Pausch…

Randy Pausch was an American computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He graduated from CS at Brown University and took a PhD at Carnegie Mellon. He received multiple national awards for “enabling the dream of students” and for outstanding projects built from his classes:

• Alice: a drag-and-drop software to teach programming. To this day, Disney is the major sponsor of the project as a gratitude act to Dr. Pausch;

• Building Virtual Worlds: course idealized by him and a group of students after building multiple virtual Disney theme parks attractions.

In 2007 he discovered a terminal liver cancer. Doctors told him he had 3 - 6 months of life.

6 months before passing away in July 2008 he delivered a famous lecture at the university he'd been lecturing for more than a decade called “My Last Lecture: Achieving Your Childhood Dreams”.

His lecture inspired a book named “The Last Lecture” which became a best seller.

His charisma and humor are impressive. He's energetic and smiling.

He tells stories of how he achieved his childhood dreams and enabled others to achieve theirs along the way. It's inspiring.

From becoming an Imagineer at Disney to writing an article on Virtual Reality for the World Book Encyclopedia to experiencing zero gravity, Dr. Pausch achieved most of his childhood dreams.

His drive for action is outstanding. You can tell from his stories that he won't take no for an answer. He isn't the “strategize” or genius-thinking type of guy. He acts, he's devoted to helping his students achieve their dreams, he delivers the message no matter his health state, he does push-ups, he's inspiring.

“What ifs” are destroyed by the speed of his actions and desire to achieve dreams and help his students.

He's the “move the ball" forward” type of guy. I'll let you watch the video and see the examples. If you don't have time to watch, at least watch the story of how he became an Imagineer at Disney (minutes 16 and on).

My takeaway from his story: my expectancy of progress is unmatched by my actions. I have more expectations than “acting track record/substance.” There are two possibilities: lower the expectations or act more.

By acting I mean overcoming the “What if paralysis state” and making any progress. It doesn't need to be huge. It should move someone's world forward to some degree, whether it's yours or somebody else's world.

• Overcome perfectionism and share your thoughts online even if it doesn't seem perfect.

• Make the unexpected, intentional introduction you think your friend would love.

• Call your friend and tell them you're proud of their progress.

• Say how much you appreciate and admire your parents.

• Take the risk of sending that cold message.

• Follow up if they don't reply.

• Try a side door if they still don't reply.

• Encourage ambition when people share their plans with you.

• Unsolicitedly use your resources (network, wealth, influence) to put people in a better position to execute their plans.

• Make people feel energized and hopeful for the future they have.

• Code that project you think it's great.

• If you can't code, be resourceful enough to build an MVP. Be agent.

• Invite your friend to go for a run with you. He'll like you remembered him.

• If you hear that someone is going through a tough time, think about how you can help. Don't let it go. The world is full of people who just don't care.

• If it clicks how you can help, be generous, and act fast. People receive less help than we think they do.

• Be prepared. Send meeting outlines 30’ before the start. Show up with structured thinking and sharp data.

Don't let intrusive thinking of “What if I wait until I have more experience to start writing my thoughts online?”, “How will my cold DM or follow-ups be interpreted? Like I don't have a network?”, “What if I help someone with connections and they don't do well?”, stop you.

In a nutshell, overcome the articulated “What Ifs” your mind tells you to prevent you from acting. Be the one driving action, fueling ambition, enabling dreams, connecting people, and encouraging others.

Final Thoughts

Coming back with my newsletter is one of the several steps I've been taking to act more.

I hope this essay inspires you to get out of the “thinking cave” and take one noble action at a time.

Do something for the world today.

I commit to doing mine. This essay is part of this act manifesto. Hope it inspires you.