Success requires a paradoxical mindset: commit to a long-term vision (e.g., a decade) while being relentlessly consistent with daily actions. Compounding only works over long time horizons, so outlast competitors by sticking to the process for the 'thousand days' it takes to see exponential growth.

Founder Nima Jalali describes the first five years as an all-consuming period with no work-life boundaries. He frames this intense sprint not as a sustainable strategy, but as a necessary, finite phase to build a foundation that later allows for hiring a team and establishing balance.

Success for a year or even five is common; success for decades is rare and contains unique lessons. Prioritize durability above all else by studying and speaking with people who have maintained high performance over extremely long periods. This provides a filter for timeless, compoundable wisdom.

The best long-term strategy isn't the one with the highest short-term growth, but the one you're genuinely passionate about. This intrinsic motivation leads to sustained effort and eventual success, even if it seems suboptimal initially. It's about playing the long game fueled by passion, not just metrics.

To find your true calling, divide your life into five-year increments. For each block, list what you loved doing and what others said you excelled at. The seven or so themes that repeatedly emerge point directly to your core purpose and passion, which often get lost in the pursuit of money.

According to investor Mike Green, your investment portfolio is secondary to your life's goals. Frame financial planning around a 'calendar of events'—major life needs and cash flows—first. The portfolio's role is to serve that calendar, not exist as an end in itself.

CZI targets a 10-15 year time horizon for its major scientific initiatives. This is a strategic sweet spot, similar to a venture-backed company's lifecycle, which is long enough for ambitious goals but concrete enough for a team to see a project through.

To make better long-term decisions, annually ask what you will respect in 5-10 years across key life domains (work, family, health). This forward-looking self-judgment, inspired by his parents' end-of-life reflections, creates clarity and urgency to act now, rather than in the "ninth inning" of life.

Large goals are paralyzing without a clear path. Instruct an AI to take your five-year vision and break it down into a logical sequence of yearly, quarterly, and weekly milestones. This ensures you do the right things in the right order, preventing wasted effort and making the goal approachable.