Living an Amazing Life: "Your Oxygen Mask First" by Kevin N. Lawrence

Life is not merely about achieving success in the conventional sense—it’s about thriving in all aspects, living joyfully, and finding fulfilment. Chapter 1 of Your Oxygen Mask First by Kevin Lawrence speaks directly to this idea, encouraging high achievers to focus on more than just career milestones and financial goals. This message holds even more weight for GenZs, who are entering a world where hustle culture and constant achievement are often glorified. But what if success is not just about the grind?

In this article, we’ll dive into the insights from Chapter 1: "Live an Amazing Life," and explore how you, as a member of the GenZ community, can build a life that’s not only successful in the traditional sense but also deeply fulfilling. Let’s challenge the conventional narrative of success and reframe what it means to truly live.

1. The Trap of Head Success vs. Heart Success

The first chapter challenges us with a question that cuts to the core: Would you want someone you love to live your life? If your answer is less than an enthusiastic "yes," it’s time to reflect. Many of us are so focused on "head success"—the outward achievements like grades, job titles, and income—that we neglect "heart success," the things that make life enjoyable and fulfilling.

GenZ, growing up in the age of social media and hyper-productivity, often feels the pressure to achieve early and visibly. But what are we sacrificing in pursuit of these external wins?

If you don’t stop to enjoy what you’re achieving, your life might look great on paper, but it won’t feel great. Head success is only half of the equation. To truly thrive, you need to prioritize heart success: how you feel about your life and the joy it brings you.

2. Don’t Wait for "Someday" – It May Never Come

We often tell ourselves that someday we’ll take that trip, spend more time with loved ones, or focus on our health. But Lawrence reminds us that "someday" habits can turn into a lifetime of missed opportunities.

For example, many GenZs are already falling into this trap. You might think, "I’ll enjoy my life after I finish college," or "I’ll take care of my mental health once I land my dream job." The truth is, the longer you put off living fully, the harder it becomes to shift your habits later.

Robert’s story in Chapter 1 illustrates this point. Robert spent years focused solely on accumulating wealth, always planning to enjoy life later. But when his father’s health declined, he realized that "later" might never come. Only then did he learn to balance his financial goals with experiences that brought joy to himself and his family.

The lesson for GenZ: Don’t wait until you’ve "made it" to start enjoying life. You can and should live fully now. Take the trip, spend time with people who matter, and pursue activities that make your heart sing.

3. Redefining Success: What Does an Amazing Life Mean to You?

What does success mean to you? For many, it’s easy to default to societal standards: a prestigious job, a certain salary, or a well-curated social media presence. But Lawrence argues that to truly live an amazing life, you need to define success on your own terms. It’s not just about what you achieve but how you feel about your life.

- Head Success refers to traditional markers like promotions, wealth, and accolades.

- Heart Success encompasses joy, satisfaction, and a sense of purpose.

GenZ, with its unique emphasis on social justice, innovation, and meaningful work, is already redefining what success looks like. But this chapter asks you to go deeper. It asks you to assess if the life you’re building truly brings you joy—or if you're just following a path laid out by others.

Action Step: Think about your most amazing memories. Were they based on accomplishments (head success) or feelings of connection, joy, and fulfilment (heart success)? Understanding this distinction will help you craft a life plan that’s aligned with both success and happiness.

4. The $50 Million Inheritance Test

Here’s a thought experiment to help you uncover what truly matters: Imagine you’ve just inherited $50 million, but there are two strings attached:

- You must continue working at least 30 hours a week.

- You must enjoy your work and life at an 8/10 level, or the money disappears.

What would you start doing? What would you stop doing? This exercise forces you to think about what really brings you fulfilment. Money and external achievements might lose their allure if they don't align with a life of enjoyment.

For GenZ: Use this scenario to reassess your priorities. What activities light you up? What pursuits feel draining or meaningless? The goal isn’t to quit everything you don’t enjoy but to begin aligning your life and work with your core passions.

5. Seeking Wisdom from Different Versions of You

To gain perspective on your current life, Lawrence suggests you seek advice from three versions of yourself:

- 12-Year-Old You: What would your younger self say about how you’re living now? Would they be proud of the choices you’re making, or would they want you to embrace more play, wonder, and excitement?

- 82-Year-Old You: What would your future self tell you to change? Would they advise you to prioritize your relationships, health, or hobbies more?

- Game-Over You: If this were your last year on Earth, how would you spend your days? What would you stop doing, and what would you invest more time in?

This advice is invaluable for GenZ, as you have so much time ahead of you to course-correct. By imagining these different perspectives, you can begin to make changes now, ensuring you live without regrets.

Tip: Don’t just consider this wisdom as hypothetical. Write down answers from each of these "yous" and use them to shape your decisions today.

6. Planning for an Amazing Life

An amazing life doesn’t just happen—it takes commitment and planning. While spontaneity is great, some of the best experiences in life come from carefully scheduling the things that bring you joy. Lawrence emphasizes the importance of making time for vacations, hobbies, and time with loved ones.

For GenZ, this means being proactive. Book that concert, block out time for self-care, and make plans with friends and family. Don’t wait until you’re less busy—because, let’s be honest, life won’t ever slow down.

Long-Term Planning Tip: Use birthdays, holidays, and personal milestones as triggers to plan joyful events. Set goals not only for your career but also for your life’s enjoyment.

7. The Gut Check: Are You Really Enjoying Your Life?

The final step in living an amazing life is to be brutally honest with yourself. How well are you balancing your "head success" and "heart success"? Lawrence’s advice is clear: If you’re not enjoying life now, it’s unlikely you’ll enjoy it later.

Many GenZs might rate their current enjoyment of life lower than they’d like. If this resonates with you, it’s time for a gut check:

- Do you look forward to things in your life, or are you constantly saying, "I’ll be happy once I achieve X"?

- Are you using all your passion at work, leaving little for your personal life?

- Do you often find yourself thinking, "woulda, coulda, shoulda"?

If you find yourself in any of these scenarios, it’s a sign you need to prioritize heart success and shift your focus from the grind to a more balanced, fulfilling way of living.

Final Thoughts: Building an Amazing Life as a GenZ Leader

Living an amazing life is not just about reaching career pinnacles or financial goals—it’s about feeling alive, connected, and fulfilled. For GenZs, the challenge is even more pressing, as you're navigating a world that emphasizes speed, visibility, and constant achievement.

But remember this: Success isn’t only what you achieve or possess. It’s how you feel about your life.

Source: The Book "Your Oxygen Mask First" written by Kevin N. Lawrence - 17 Habits to Help High Achievers Survive and Thrive in Leadership and Life