By Mike Bossy

I was searching the International Movie Data Base (IMDB) looking for a new Sci-Fi movie to watch. I stumbled upon an older movie called WALL-E. There is a spaceship in the movie called Axiom which seemed sort of funny to me given the premise of the movie. In the end, I didn’t finish the movie but decided to go for a walk instead. The name Axiom stuck with me.

An axiom, according to Oxford Languages is “a statement or proposition which is regarded as being established, accepted, or self-evidently true.”

As I often do when out for a walk, I listened to one of Dan Sullivan’s podcasts. POW! The one I selected on that particular walk was called “Two Axioms for Entrepreneurs to Live By”. I love coincidences.

Back to the walk and the podcast. Sullivan describes two axioms, the second of which is that the world is not designed with you in mind. If it’s not designed with you in mind, then it’s up to you to control your behaviour in the given circumstances. You can either be a complainer or a creator.

My parents always taught me, that you should give back more than you take. I had always taken that literally- give back when you’re successful because you’re obligated or feel guilty. What I’ve realized though, is that what you create can be an act of giving back. Your success may leave things a little better than they were before you came along.

My conclusion is you do have a binary choice. Be a complainer or a creator. Just chose and live with your choice.