Short-term pressures are loud. Long-term consequences are quiet. This imbalance explains much of human folly. We sacrifice tomorrow for today because today is vivid and tomorrow is abstract.
Long-term thinking is a competitive advantage. When others optimize for the next quarter, you optimize for the next decade. When others take shortcuts, you build foundations. Time amplifies the difference.
Extend your time horizon. Ask not just “what works now” but “what will I be glad I did in ten years?” The answers differ significantly. The long view reveals different priorities.
What decision would change if you extended your time horizon?