One of the greatest lessons I learned early in life actually came from my younger brother, Brett. Brett has lived an incredible life of accomplishment and precision, achieving success both publicly and privately. Growing up, it sometimes frustrated me because, despite being three years younger, he had a talent and tenacity that meant he could beat me at almost everything we tried. But it wasn’t just his natural skill and intellect; it was his unwavering discipline.
As we transitioned into young adulthood, I asked him one time what his “secret” was, and his answer left a lasting impact on me. It was simple: Do the hard thing. Brett always chose the more challenging path. Even in getting to medical school, he didn’t settle for an easy route. He first took on one of the toughest engineering programs committing what the counselors called “GPA suicide”. When it came time to apply for medical school, he aimed for one of the most rigorous—Columbia. And when it was time for his internship, he went after the toughest placement at Johns Hopkins.
The result? His life is marked by impact, respect, and an extraordinary ability to add tremendous value wherever he goes. Brett’s choices taught me something profound: choosing to take on hard things changes everything.
My friend Garrett Gunderson teaches a powerful concept called Hard Easy, Easy Hard. It’s the idea that if you take the easy way out now, life becomes hard later. But if you tackle the hard things first, life eventually becomes easier and richer.
Consider your finances. It’s easy when you’re young to ignore savings, skip pursuing an education, or avoid developing a profession. That’s easy… for now. But down the road, it becomes very hard as you face the stress of financial insecurity, a challenging retirement, and a lower quality of life. If you invest in learning skills, gaining knowledge, and finding meaningful work, though, life becomes far more enjoyable and fulfilling as you age.
The same goes for health. It’s easy to eat fast food every day, neglect exercise, and skip vitamins when you’re young. But that easy choice compounds, and as time goes on, health challenges grow and life becomes difficult. When we choose discipline early, taking care of our bodies and minds, the return later is immense.
I taught this Hard Easy, Easy Hard principle to my sons when they were younger, and it’s become a compass in their lives. When you choose the easier path, you’re signing up for the price later, with interest. But choosing to tackle hard things now, not only benefits you in the long run—it also brings a sense of pride, impact, and joy.
So don’t shy away. Start facing the hard things, teach your kids to do hard things, and see the transformative difference it brings to your lives.
All My Best,
Rich
