Three Eric’s Ago

Written by Eric Hultgren

Rob Bell has this mantra I love: “That was 5 Robs ago…”

For me, this idea sparks two things. The first is that we are always evolving. The second is that we reserve the right to change our minds.

Neither you nor I are immune to the moronic political ads in our mailboxes, our streaming shows, or our consumption on TikTok. The premise of all these ads is that “the other” has never had a good idea or done something useful in their entire life. The premise itself is just silly. The lesson, however, is caustic.

Yesterday I wrote about the Angry Girlfriend Variant of Spider-Man #14, and I might bet that if you talked to that woman today, she'd tell you that was not a shining moment for her. I might also postulate that she has gone on to make millions of other choices between now and then. Some of those choices made the world better, and still others were the result of wisdom and experience that caused her to change her mind.

As much as the internet would like to believe otherwise, she is not the sum of 30 seconds with a Sharpie, and neither are you.

That was 8 of hers ago…

What might happen to your week if you walked into Monday with the idea that you CAN change your mind?

Like many, we are working through 2027 strategy presentations. Unlike some, I am approaching them as though they are written in dirt, not concrete, able to be changed into something else as more information becomes available and markets shift like sand.

There are all sorts of military quotes for this, but the one I have always loved comes from Mike Tyson.

“Everyone has a plan until they are punched in the face.”

Next week there will be punches, and while not every one of them will change you, one or two might. Afterwards, you might change your mind and become the next version of yourself, allowing you to look back and think:

That was 3 Erics ago.

-E