October 20: The Fly-In-The-Car Principle

A fun question, but can you answer it?

If a fly buzzes in the car as you’re traveling 60 mph, is it moving at 60 mph to keep up?

Why or why not?

Hello, physics. When the car zips down the highway, the fly only needs to move relative to the cabin air.

That inside air flows with the vehicle, so the insect just cruises along with the passengers. No superhero effort required.

This reveals a powerful little truth: the “fly-in-the-car” principle.

Environments carry you, so surround yourself with people who operate at the speed you want to go. Like the air in the car, those around you will propel you forward or hold you back.

Effort is relative to your environment. With the right support, you don’t have to exhaust yourself to make progress.

A cheetah on a scooter will lose to a turtle riding a bullet train every time.

Since your success is a huge result of your positioning, being in the right place is a form of intelligence.

And you’ll go farther and faster.