Live Life in Parallel
Pursue meaningful priorities now instead of postponing life sequentially
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time to result
- ~days to results
- Steps
- 4
- Confidence
- 92%
This mental model rejects the assumption that life must unfold as a rigid sequence: first education, then career, then money, and only later meaningful experiences. Start by identifying activities or aspirations that have been assigned to a distant future milestone. Test whether the delay reflects a genuine dependency or merely a conventional timeline. Where feasible, begin a small version now and run it alongside current responsibilities. The mechanism is not maximal multitasking; it is deliberate coexistence of important life domains. Regular review keeps the parallel commitment sustainable and aligned with personal identity. Sharma presents the model primarily as a route to greater happiness, not as a guaranteed career-success formula, making self-knowledge and realistic constraints essential.
Origin
Sharma says someone gave him this line early in life, and he adopted it while pursuing writing, investing, travel, and film interests concurrently. Extracted from Masters in Business.
Core principles
- 01There is no universal formula for success.
- 02Self-knowledge should guide major choices.
- 03Meaningful activities need not wait for a distant milestone.
- 04Acting now can improve happiness even without guaranteeing success.
How to run it
- 1
Find the Deferred Life
List meaningful activities you have assigned to a later age, income, or career stage. Identify the milestone you believe must occur first.
Pro tip Look for repeated phrases such as “in five years” or “once I have enough.”
Watch out Do not treat essential prerequisites as mere excuses.
- 2
Test the Dependency
Ask whether the future milestone is truly required or whether a smaller version of the activity is possible now. Separate practical constraints from social convention.
Pro tip Define the minimum viable version of the aspiration.
Watch out Starting now should not create reckless financial or personal exposure.
- 3
Start a Parallel Version
Schedule a bounded commitment alongside current work and obligations. Give it enough regularity to become a real part of life rather than an occasional intention.
Pro tip Protect a recurring time block instead of waiting for spare time.
Watch out Parallel living is not permission to overload every available hour.
- 4
Review for Happiness and Fit
Assess whether the commitment adds energy, meaning, and identity alignment. Adjust its scope when it undermines essential responsibilities or no longer serves the intended purpose.
Pro tip Judge both emotional benefit and practical sustainability.
Watch out Do not retain an activity solely because it once represented a passion.
In the wild
A young professional interested in both investment work and writing does not postpone authorship until retirement. They maintain a demanding finance role while publishing a regular analytical essay, allowing both identities to develop together.
→ The person gains present fulfillment and compounds skills in two complementary domains.
Someone who dreams of exploring world cultures does not wait for extended retirement travel. They attend international film screenings and festivals locally while continuing their normal career and responsibilities.
→ Cultural learning and enjoyment become part of current life rather than a deferred reward.
Common mistakes
Confusing Parallel Living With Overload
Trying to pursue every possible interest simultaneously creates fragmentation rather than a meaningful life.
Copying Someone Else's Formula
The model depends on understanding personal interests and constraints, not imitating another person's portfolio of activities.
Is it for you?
Best for
It is best for people who repeatedly defer passions, relationships, learning, or experiences to a hypothetical future stage.
Not ideal for
It is not ideal when parallel commitments would violate essential health, safety, financial, or caregiving constraints.
From the transcript
“live life in parallel and not in series.”
“if you can do it today, do it right.”
“I think it makes you happier to live life in parallel it in series.”
From the episode
Interview With Ruchir Sharma: Masters in Business (Audio)
Ruchir Sharma