Published August 10, 2023 · 4 min read

The principle of compounding is a concept most often tethered to the world of finance. We understand it as the cycle where an investment earns interest, and then that interest earns interest, creating a snowball effect that amplifies growth over time. Yet, this very principle, provides a compelling angle to view our personal lives. Just as money multiplies over time with consistent additions and compounded interest, so do our actions, experiences, and learning. These activities lead to unforeseen and often profound outcomes in our lives.

Our daily choices, even minutes, serve as these small "investments." Initially, their impact might appear negligible, much like a single drop of water in a vast ocean. However, with time, persistence, and the right environment, these drops can converge to form a powerful wave, impacting our personal growth, relationships, and even our career trajectories in ways we hadn't envisioned.

Steve Jobs captured this idea beautifully in his Stanford commencement speech. After dropping out of college, he took a calligraphy class and learned “about serif and sans-serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great.” At the time, he said, “none of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life.” Yet a decade later, those lessons influenced the design of the first Macintosh computer and, ultimately, the way typography appears on every modern device.

Like Jobs’s calligraphy class, the seemingly minor choices we make today may one day define the texture of our future.

Life's compounding effect

Little Investments, Big Returns

Like planting a seed and tending to it day after day, our efforts rarely bloom overnight. But with time and persistence, those small actions can grow into something we never expected. My own journey after finishing my undergraduate studies is proof of that. Despite the doubts and skepticism surrounding my decision to pursue a master’s degree, that chapter shaped me in ways I couldn’t have imagined. What I didn’t realize then was that growth often hides inside the things we resist the most.

During my thesis, I’ll be honest. I hated the process. The long nights, endless edits, and pages of academic jargon felt pointless at the time. But without realizing it, I was learning how to write. I learned not only academic writing, but also how to handle structure, consistency, and intent. That skill turned out to be invaluable later on. It helped me write and publish books later.

Then, in 2021, I applied for a lecturer position, with zero expectations. I just thought, “Why not?” To my surprise, I got the job. The only reason I even qualified was because of my master’s degree. If I hadn’t gone through that tough period, none of it would’ve happened. Looking back, it’s a reminder that the things we resist the most often become the ones that shape us the deepest.

Unexpected Skills and Rewards

Life is full of different experiences, and some of them teach us things in unexpected ways. My time at the university kitchen, for instance, began as a simple cost-saving endeavor. Yet, it went into a journey of culinary discovery. From simple meals to elaborate dishes, the experience proved how a small step born of necessity can grow into a passionate pursuit. Check out my Fusilli with Yogurt recipe!

Parallelly, my childhood was filled with memories of hours spent in my grandpa’s carpentry shop. Surrounded by the scent of fresh wood and big and small saws, I learned more than just the basics of carpentry. Those early lessons, subtle at the time, later revealed themselves as practical skills I still rely on. Whether laying laminate flooring or handling minor repairs at home, the carpentry skills I acquired during those formative years proved to be unexpectedly beneficial.

Trust the Journey

In life's grand scheme, it's easy to underestimate the value of the small moments, skills, and experiences we gather along the way. Yet, as time unfolds, we often find that these very elements compound, manifesting in ways we hadn't imagined. It's a gentle reminder that in the journey of life, nothing is truly insignificant. Each step, no matter how small, has the potential to ripple into something larger, something monumental. Embrace each experience, for its value might just be realized in the chapters yet to be written.