When Everything Happens at Once

We've been sold the straight-line myth.
Go to school, graduate, get a job, get married, have kids, retire. One step after the other.

Sounds tidy. Feels safe.
But here's the truth: life rarely works like that.

You might be in school when you meet the person you'll spend your life with.
You might get married before you land your first "real" job.
You might have a kid while you're still figuring out your career.
And sometimes, when nothing seems to be moving, everything changes at once.

You're single, jobless, and unsure what's next—then in a matter of weeks, you land a job you love, meet the mother of your kids, and move to a new city. All at the same time, not one after the other.

It feels like luck, but it's not. Psychologists refer to it as the "cluster effect"—life's significant events often happen together. Think about it: research from Stanford shows that major life transitions tend to trigger other big decisions, setting off a chain reaction. One bold move creates the momentum for the next.

Here's the kicker: that "overnight success" moment people talk about? It's usually years in the making. Decades. What looks sudden is often the result of seeds planted long ago—skills built, relationships nurtured, risks taken quietly until they bloom all at once.

They only make sense when we look at them backwards.

So stop stressing about following the perfect sequence. Your path won't look like anyone else's.

Be ready for your time. Pay attention when the pieces start moving faster and double your bets.

Because sometimes, a few weeks will define the next few decades of your life.

Nothing happens, and then life happens all at once.