I love when people dream big, I mean real big, Big enough to change the world forever. Like how Henry Food said that his vision was to make the automobile affordable for everyone. Or like Johannes Gutenberg inventing the printing press in 1440, and Timothy John Berners-Lee who had a crazy idea for the World Wide Web.
All these individuals had a dream that changed the world forever. When I saw the vision of Shai Agassi I know he is going to be one of those great stories in the making. Shai’s vision for his company Better Place is to going to change the way we fuel your cars and maybe even our addiction to crude oil.
You see, Shai Agassi’s company is going to ensure that we can confidently drive an electric vehicle (EV) anytime, anywhere, Better Place is developing and deploying EV driver services, systems and infrastructure country by country, and I am not talking about in 10 years from now. I mean right now it says it is totally possible right now and he is moving fast and growing by leaps and bounds.
Shai Agassiand has already gotten approvals from governments and country leaders. This is going to happen whether you like it or not I believe, I excited about this change. I think the plans are great it is about developing and replacing one industry for another not just patch work. Finally someone is thinking right; I don’t know why we haven’t already done it yet.
The basis of human behaviour and what drives all of us is the pursuit for pleasure and the avoidance of pain.
What is very interesting about this however is that most people will do whatever they can to avoid pain instead of what they can to gain more pleasure.
I know this sounds funny and strange however when you think this. If you won $50000 cash would you feel more comfortable about putting it in the bank so it is safe and so no one can take it off you or would you prefer to invest it and try and turn it into $100000 or more?
For most people the pain of losing the money is more powerful than the pleasure of doubling it.
This happens with everything in life and influences every decision you make. This is often what the difference is between someone who succeeds and someone who fails.
Most people focus on the action that brings them the instant pleasure and avoid the pain rather than experience a little bit of pain in the present to experience a lot of pleasure in the future.
Take exercising for example. If you haven’t created the habit of exercising regularly going to the gym for a hour session may bring up some pain in the present however if you go to the gym and do an hour session and create that habit you may experience a bit of pain in the present however what impact would this habit have in your life over the long term?
Ultimately it would bring you a lot of pleasure in the future and you could also have more energy and vitality which could save you a lot of pain in the future.
The difference between success and failure is the actions you do in the present that take you closer to your goal, not the actions that bring you short term pleasure in the now moment.
Have a look at the actions and habits you are doing and ask yourself “Are they taking you closer to your goal or just providing some short term pleasure?”
