A couple of mornings ago, as I took a final sip of my daily espresso, I noticed the dishwasher was full of clean dishes.
I was thrust into the position of making a small but telling decision.
Why does my reaction to a dishwasher full of clean dishes translate into a referendum on my character? For much the same reason that wealth can result from tiny, concerted actions taken over a long time horizon.
An intelligent investor knows that compound interest works its magic like erosion - many small investments, wisely and deliberately reinvested. What begins as a single grain of sand suspended in a stream and hurled in seeming futility against a granite wall becomes a raging river excavating a deep canyon. Wealth results from the accumulation of marginal gains.
A little more context for that morning: My wife has spent the past two years managing the family and household logistics, including the thankless work of keeping the house clean, doing laundry, changing smelly adolescent bedsheets, etc. She's borne the burden, at times unhappily, for the greater good of the family.
I had the opportunity to help with these tasks, but I was ambivalent.
I like to get to the office early. I can scan and address any crises in the day's inbox before my first meeting commences, I take a little time to prepare for the day ahead, and as a part-timer it never hurts to be the guy who shows up earlier than the boss (his office is next to mine).
My office is near a Costco, and the line for gas early in the morning is nearly nonexistent - it's the only time I fill up there. My tank was low this particular morning.
I had no trouble coming up with ostensibly legitimate reasons to pretend I hadn't noticed and walk out the door, but my internal compass would not abide.
I am the accumulation of marginal choices I make. My wife could use the help. I'd rather be the guy that empties the dishwasher than the guy that impresses the boss.
I may move onto a different job someday, but this was an opportunity to show my intention that this is my forever wife.
I rolled up my sleeves and emptied the dishwasher.