Yesterday, we looked at Ezra’s lifestyle of Study, Do, Teach. Some people balk at the “teach” part. “I’m just not a teacher.” But the answer to that is, “Sure you are.” Teaching is the natural result of growth.

Check out this section of a Sahil Bloom blog, The Three Stages of Life:

Last week, I had a conversation with entrepreneur and investor Christ Vasquez, who shared an interesting idea related to professional progression.

He believes that there are three stages of your professional arc:

1. Get Fed: You receive opportunities to execute on.
2. Feed Yourself: You create and execute on opportunities for yourself.
3. Feed Others: You create opportunities for others to execute on.

Early in your professional career, you rely on others to give you the opportunities. You don’t know what they look like yet, and you certainly don’t know how to create them, so this is a necessary first step in building your foundation.

As you progress, you are able to create the opportunities for yourself. You’ve developed an understanding of “the game” and are able to see the patterns that allow you to win.

In the final stage, your focus shifts to creating opportunities for others. You get the most leverage by feeding others with these opportunities, rather than trying to execute on all of them yourself, which would be impossible given the sheer number that come to you at this level of mastery.

I believe the same holds true for your life outside of work:

1. You learn the game.
2. You master the game.
3. You coach the game.

The third step is important, because not only does it provide leverage, but also the lasting fulfillment and happiness derived from acting in the service of others.

Get fed. Feed yourself. Feed others.

Learn the game. Master the game. Coach the game. – Sahil Bloom, November 15, 2024

Sounds like Study, Do, Teach to me!

I am writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven for his name’s sake. I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one.

I write to you, children, because you know the Father. I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one. (1 John 2.12 – 14 , ESV) – children need to be fed, young men feed themselves, fathers feed others.