Quit Looking for Shortcuts…Play the Long Game
I’ve had some time to reflect over the last 2 weeks while I’ve been on vacation with my family in California. As some of you are aware, we went on this trip because of some personal stuff that caught up to me in a very public way and it put a decision that I needed to make a long time ago right smack dab in front of my face. I needed to get my shit together, it’s been gotten together, and the proverbial tumblers are all falling back into place. I’m not wanting to tempt fate here, but things are better than they were before.
I’ve gotten to spend two weeks with my amazing family tromping around Disneyland, lounging at the beach, and just doing some good old fashioned family bonding. I even got to help some super hungry coaches during a one day seminar with Dave Ward.
But while I was looking back over the last decade, one question was bouncing around in my skull over and over…how did I get here? I don’t know if it was because of the conversations that I’ve had with people over the last few months that are in funks or hitting a plateau with their own businesses and looking for advice, but that question needled itself into my brain and I just had to pick at it.
I mulled it over for days and you know what I came up with? I’m too damn stubborn to quit. That’s it! That’s my secret to success, folks. Pure obstinacy. But you know what, it flipping works.
A lot of the time when people get started, all they see is the light at the end of the tunnel. Their coveted promised land. It’s the place that they’re going to be one day and while they’re looking far, far, faaaaaaaaaaar into the distance, they overlook all the rejections, frustrations, failures, and hidden hours of grinding that lie in the darkness between where they are now and where they want to be.
I learned very quickly that if I wanted to get to that light at the end of the tunnel, I was going to have to fumble around in the dark until I found my path.
It may have taken 10 years and there’s still a long road ahead of me, but I found it and it’s allowed me to provide a great life for me and mine and I wake up everyday thankful that I didn’t give up years ago when the road got a little bumpy and shook my confidence.
Stop comparing your behind the scenes to someone else’s highlight reels. Creating the life you’ve dreamed of takes hard work, time, and patience. Stop “trying things out” and then bailing when times get tough. There isn’t a magical single move that causes you to break out. Nothing beats good old fashioned hard work and determination.
As someone who has busted their ass for 10 years to get where I’ve gotten & someone who constantly jumps out of my comfort zone to learn, grow, & stretch —- I find that offensive!
Make a f&*k!ng long term commitment and stay the course for once in your life.
Watch Gary V’s video if you haven’t already – I couldn’t have said it any better!