Shane Parrish quotes on compounding

If you want exponential returns ... replace the need to be proven right with the need to achieve the best outcome possible.

Compounding works with consistency over time. While eating healthy once is easy, doing it for a year is transformational. It's easy to get one win. It's hard to get a lot of wins. Boring progress makes for exceptional results.

You don't need to be twice as good to get twice the results. You need to be slightly better and let it compound over time. The world will do the rest of the work for you.

Results are the compound interest of: 1. Consistent effort in a focused direction 2. Constant incremental progress 3. A long period of time Consistency matters more than intensity.

Simplicity compounds. Complexity zeros out.

Getting over yourself offers exponential returns.

It’s not what you start with it’s how you compund. Our entire universe began as smaller than an atom.

To get exponential returns, forget learning the latest thing. Instead, focus on what lasts.

To go faster we can add energy, do fewer things, or reduce friction. A race car is similar. To make it go faster you can reduce weight, increase power, or reduce drag. Racing resets everyone after each race. We don’t. Small initial advantages compound into big ones.

What ends as a big advantage starts as a small one and compounds over time. Stop looking for big gains and start grinding on the small ones you can repeat day after day.

It’s not what you start with it’s how you compound. Our entire universe began as smaller than an atom.

When you learn something that doesn’t change, you can step off the treadmill of keeping up and start to compound your knowledge. While this compounding may at first slow you down, it offers exponential returns.