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The Longevity Game

Read time: 3 minutes

Welcome to David Beats Goliath, where we challenge the Goliaths of conventional thinking.

Does a Decade Feel Long to You?

If it does, either:

• You're under 40 or
• You've never nurtured something—or someone—for 10 years or more.

There are countless founders, yet so few companies last over a decade.

That's because most founders are playing the 'get rich fast' game, but not the longevity game.

Paid to Help the World's Biggest Companies See the Future

​Thomas Frey earns over eight figures predicting future trends.

No joke.

He’s essentially a 'fortune teller' (not for individuals) for companies like Google.

Back in 2017, he predicted that one day people could earn a PhD without ever writing a single word.

I thought it was crazy talk.

But fast forward to today—with the rise of AI, it doesn’t seem so crazy anymore!

I once asked him, half-jokingly.

In his usual delicate and gentle manner, Thomas replied:

That stuck with me.

Outlasting 99% of People

The unspoken truth about most of the entrepreneurs we admire:

• They’re not geniuses
• They weren’t born with a silver spoon
• They don’t possess some secret 'hack'
• And they’re not cutting corners to get ahead

Take, for example:

• ​Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba – After years of rejection and struggles, it took him nearly a decade to turn Alibaba into a leading e-commerce platform in China.
• ​Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx – With just $5,000 and no experience, she spent a decade growing Spanx from a simple idea into a global brand.
• ​Reed Hastings, the founder of Netflix – For 10 years, he navigated setbacks and evolving technology before Netflix finally transformed into the streaming giant we know today.

These founders weren't overnight successes.
They committed, embraced the grind, and persevered.

One step at a time, every single day, for 3,700+ days.

That’s the real secret.

They kept:

• Going long after others had called it quits.
• Showing up day in and day out, even when nothing was guaranteed.
• Thinking in decades, not just years.

Paradox of AI

Social media and AI have made attention spans shorter, instant gratification easier, and success seem 'effortless.'

But here's the irony:

As everyone else plays for quick gains, those who think in decades—not just days—will find less competition and more room at the top.

It’s like the 'get fit quick' schemes—lipo, fad diets, and endless weight loss shortcuts.

As technology advances, fewer people choose the slow, natural path.

The easier it gets to cut corners, the less willing we are to put in the time for real, lasting results.

Play the Longevity Game

So here's a contrarian thought:

In the race to scale faster and faster, I’ve watched countless founders cut corners and stretch themselves too thin—all for that extra million.

But was it worth it?

Why not go slower, earn less, and outlast everyone?

Everything I Do Today...

...are 10-year projects.

That doesn’t mean I’m done after 10 years.

It means I’m committed to staying the course without any major adjustments for the next decade.

I’m going to keep plugging away, even if what I’m doing stops being 'sexy' to the rest of the world.

It takes this sort of commitment to win.

And I want to win.

What about you?

Are you playing the longevity game? Or are you chasing short-term wins?

Let’s connect!

Send me an email and share your 10-year commitments.

Maybe we can keep each other accountable as we aim to outlast the rest!