As you grow older, you will live and work in different communities. These communities play important roles – identity, tolerance and scale.

Identity and Culture

When you are young, depending on the knowledge and environment you grow up in, your taste palate begins to form. The music you listen to, books you read, places you visit and the values of your immediate family – all these things shape you and create the filter through which you process life later on.

Cultural exposure starts early and more consequentially, agency – the chance to make small decisions (like walking to the playground) and then progressively bigger ones (like choosing your degree or university, and finally leaving home).

If you are a parent, you ought to have a list of top books, movies, songs and experiences your child should be exposed to before they turn twelve.

Risk-taking and entrepreneurship are not spiritual gifts. They are a result of a childhood spent taking progressively bigger decisions. 

You notice these abilities in young adults we call “street smart”. They can find their way in the world because they were allowed to experience it in controlled measures as children. They think for themselves because of the curated knowledge they were exposed to early on.

Tolerance and Teamwork

As you join larger communities such as church, school or work, you will encounter new perspectives and ideologies. This can be life-transforming in adolescents leaving home for the first time.

If they grew up poor, they learn of a world where people have enough. If they are rich, they suddenly understand lack. They see how different tribes and tongues approach life and start appreciating the strengths of others.

Focus and Impact

When you reach your twilight years, your circle becomes progressively smaller. You no longer have time and so, you wish to collaborate with people who already speak your language and have similar values.

You are seeking complementary strengths and a shared mission so you can scale faster.

At this stage, you no longer weigh in on issues that are none of your business but instead focus on your core mandate.

There’s a destination in mind and you are seeking people who want to travel the same road and share a vehicle to keep each other company along the way.

Cultural exposure starts early and more consequentially, agency – the chance to make small decisions like walking to the playground and then progressively bigger ones like choosing your university, and finally leaving home.

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For more, read You Are Not Alone