The Power of Long-Term Thinking

In this episode, I explore the concept of long-term thinking and its profound impact on civilization. I challenge viewers with hypothetical bets to illustrate how modern society often prioritizes short-term gains over exponential long-term benefits. Highlighting examples from the Catholic Church to the Dutch flood control systems, I discuss how some organizations successfully think centuries ahead. I propose the creation of a '100 Year Lab' where decisions are made with the future in mind, aimed at benefiting generations to come.

00:00 The Bet: $1 Billion vs. Manhattan Real Estate

00:15 The Penny vs. The Million: A Lesson in Compounding

00:24 Modern Society's Short-Term Thinking

00:35 The 10,000 Year Clock: A Symbol of Long-Term Vision

00:57 Human Blind Spots in Long-Term Planning

01:33 Examples of Long-Term Thinking

02:06 The Power of Long-Term Decisions

02:31 Imagining a Long-Term Future

02:55 Survivorship Bias and Building for Permanence

03:38 A Modest Proposal: The 100 Year Lab