Now we transition into the motivation segment of our conversation. These posts will now focus on encouragement with some coach-level "tough love" mixed in. This is important, as it's the only type of messaging that actually says "I care." "I want you to see yourself as your full potential as a human being and know just how great life on earth is actually supposed to be." This isn't, though, about what I want for you. It's only about what you want for yourself.
Success isn't mysterious. As Jack Canfield says, "Success leaves clues."
It's just work, done repeatedly, with attention.
I think people overthink what it takes to get somewhere in life. They look for shortcuts, systems, secrets.
But when you strip it all down, it comes down to how many times you've actually shown up and done the thing. And whether you were paying attention to the details each time.
That applies to everything.
Writing. Reading. Learning a skill. Building relationships. Getting physically fit. Starting over.
The principle doesn't change. You put in the repetitions, and you try to make each one count a little more than the last. It's about consistency over time.
Everyone is "self made," but only the successful admit it.
The question isn't whether you're trying. Most people are trying; at least, that's what many tell themselves. The question is whether you're being honest about the quality and quantity of your effort. Are you really putting in the work, or are you just periodically going through the motions and calling it effort?
Because there's a difference. And that difference shows up over time.
Results don't lie.
You will mess up. That's part of it. But the mistake isn't the problem. The problem is when you don't stop to figure out what went wrong and adjust.
We're supposed to stumble our way to success, through the stubbed toes, trips and falls through the process called trial and error.
Even with things like working out, every rep that fails teaches you something, if you're willing to look at it in a meaningful way. The tear down is what builds you back stronger!
Silicon Valley's operating philosophy is: "Fail early. Fail often. Fail forward."
A survey of America's millionaires was once conducted, asking them how they became so successful. Over 95% answered, in one form or another: It's because of my failures that I'm a success today.
So keep going. Put in more reps than you did yesterday. More tries. More swings at the bat. Get up more often to dust yourself off and go at it again. And again. And again. Make each attempt a little better than the one before. You will get stronger. You will get further. You will learn more. Each ceiling will become a new floor.
Repetition allows you to turn your max into your minimum, making room for a new max. In this way, your stamina, spirit, and experience-base expands.
The details of success building isn't glamorous, and it's not complicated. It's just consistent, deliberate effort. And eventually, the results start to show up in ways you can't ignore. In ways beyond your wildest best imaginings. In ways that others start to notice, inspiring them to want to do more.
That's all success is. Showing up more than the next person, and caring about the quality of what you're doing while you're at it.
The shift: Take the extra time. Mind the details. Cross the "t's." Dot the "i's." We do today what others don't so we can have tomorrow what others won't.