The following are modified excerpts from my new book, Choose Hard, Live Easy—the Art of War for Decision-Making, which is now available for pre-order reservations.
You’ve probably seen the phrase “Carpe Diem,” or “seize the day,” on an office wall or proudly displayed on a desk. Forget it; it’s worthless.
Instead, think Carpe Momentum, or seize the moment.
Take a look around.
Nearly 72% of Americans are now overweight, with over 40% classified as morbidly obese.
Most people have smartphones glued to their faces, mindlessly texting, scrolling, and swiping their lives away.
In more “humanity is doomed” news, a 2024 Gallup survey found that teenagers now spend almost 5 hours a day on social media, stealing their moments and doing irreparable harm to their future.
Does that sound like anyone seizing the day?
How can we seize the day when we can’t even seize the moment?
Days cannot be seized, because they are merely large containers of moments. The moment is the physical point at which all decisions are made. It is where everything happens or doesn’t. It is the fundamental building block of life itself.
I always like to frame life as a game of baseball.
If moments are the building blocks of life, innings are the building blocks to the game. If you consistently lose 8 of 9 innings, can you honestly expect to win a game? Carpe Diem? Seize the day? LOL.
Imagine your life as an hourglass—in my book, I call it the Hourglass of Lifespan.
The sand waiting at the top represents your future; the sand at the bottom reflects your past. Life unfolds in the narrow center, the vortex, where grains of sand converge and pass through one at a time. Each grain is a single moment, a decision you either invest in or waste, win or lose. Once it passes, it’s gone forever, but its ripple effect endures, influencing every grain that follows.
You see, the Carpe Momentum—not the day—is the axis of your Power. And you’ll use that power to transform, destroy, or waste your life.
If your life sucks, or is treading down into the ruts of mediocrity, there is only one place to look…
The moment.
Your Axis of Power.
Forget the day.
Target the moment.
Win more than you lose, and you’ll win the game.
MJ DeMarco, Author/Entrepreneur
Check out Choose Hard, Live Easy— The Art of War for Decision-Making and start making decisions with complete confidence and clarity.