Tweak How You Think to Maximize Results.
How accidental advice can be a contributor to success.
Back in 2008, after the sky had seemingly fallen and the world imploded during the mortgage crisis, I found myself on the phone with a good friend of mine, Dave. He’s a very successful entrepreneur, the kind of person who’s relentlessly driven and never sugarcoats his words.
During our chat, I casually mentioned that I was considering buying a 13” MacBook Pro instead of the larger 17” model.
“Upsize, not downsize!” Dave scoffed.
His response caught me off guard. Not because of his delivery, but because of the assumption behind his words. He seemed to think I wanted the smaller laptop to save money, but that wasn’t the case. My choice was about practicality: I planned to travel a lot, and a 13” laptop just seemed more portable.
Still, his words stuck with me. I could have brushed them off as irrelevant, but something about them wouldn’t let me, as if there was something valuable I could take away for future use.
I knew what he meant. Dave was talking about mindset. He was urging me to think big, not small; to be offensive, not defensive; to focus on making more money to cover costs, not just saving or pinching pennies. Upsize, not downsize.
Sixteen years later, what started as moot or irrelevant advice has actually become a favorite motto of mine. I use this phrase exactly how my friend meant it. Whether in business or personal life, I’ve learned that when money gets tight, it’s all too easy to focus solely on cutting costs to stay within a budget. But that mindset can be limiting and can have a negative impact on your mindset. When you fixate on downsizing, you’re essentially retreating—and retreating without a plan to advance leads to defeat.
It’s like an army in battle that retreats endlessly, surrendering ground until there’s nothing left. Or a boxer who spends the entire match backpedaling until they’re cornered. If you only move backward, you’re bound to lose.
That’s why I always keep Dave’s words in my pocket as a reminder: Upsize, not downsize. If I need to cut costs, fine—I’ll downsize where necessary. But at the same time, I’ll look for opportunities to upsize, to grow, to push forward. Especially, in uncertain times—or times of despair— I want to be on the offensive, or at least prepared for the next offensive, and not get left behind.
It’s also a reminder that advice or knowledge can be unintended or accidental. Almost like finding a diamond in the rough when you’re least expecting it..
It’s not just advice; it’s a mindset. Downsizing can be a survival tactic, but upsizing is how you thrive.