Everything worthwhile I’ve ever accomplished in my life has boiled down to reliance on intellect, fortitude, and patience.
It’s never had much, if anything, to do with luck, “secrets”, and especially not short cuts.
Moreover, I don’t think I’ve met anyone who’s accomplished much of significance any other way.
Have you? (I’m really curious – please let me know below)
And if not, then why are we all so perpetually curious and hungry for “the secret”? What stops us from just getting down to the work of getting things done? Of course, we all need to work SMART, but why do we all hold so tight to the fantasy that things will be different “someday” when we finally learn that magic something? (“Someday” isn’t on the Calendar, I’ve checked)
What do you think?
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
DUDE!!!!
If we were at church, I’d stand up and shout :
“PREEEAAAACCCHHHH!!!! — AMENNN BROTHAAAAA!!!!!”
F*ck it, I’ll just do it now, no church needed
Best,
Caleb
I think most of us in this culture are inherently lazy. We know we should just stick to our plan, but those shiny objectives are so seductive.
I’ve tried most of them and they just don’t do much. My sites that are modestly successful were built and maintained using processes that everyone of us are aware of. It’s just not that sexy.
And I think that we just want to be entertained. When you are buying the shiny objects internet marketing seems like so much fun. Great post.
Glenn – was just thinking about this the other day. Someone asked me what it’s like doing an Ironman Triathlon. It’s too long to “kinda fake it”. Nope – hard work, focus, determination. There was a shortcut – I got a coach. And I did get lucky – I found a great organization that had introduced me to a world-class coach…. I love your approach and honesty.
Be great eh!
Chris
AMEN!
Glenn, I’d also add: “develop the discipline to take action and implement every single day.”
The following scenario happens to me all the time:
Day 1:
I’ll have a conversation with a fellow entrepreneur who is flowing with passion and excitement about an idea they’re going to execute in their business – whether it’s trying out a new advertising medium, email broadcast idea, or whatever…
2 Weeks Later…
I’ll ask how everything turned out. And their response? They don’t know, because they “haven’t gotten around to it yet.” What??? Well, why the hell not?!?!?!
NOTHING HAPPENS until you commit yourself to take action (and say “screw it, just do it” to that nagging fear of failure / criticism that holds us all back in one way or another…)
Good stuff!
how about creativity, calmness, compassion, collaboration?
Avigail … great points
Avigail…you forgot to mention “alliteration” (however, your actions/post show that you see its importance)…he he he
Happy 4/20
Shortcuts are much sexier than patience – and magical solutions are much more appealing than grit and grace.
(and I for one DO have “someday” penciled in on my calendar…….but in a sort of bucket list kind of motivational mantra that keeps the “everyday” stuff in focus..:-)
Hello Glenn,
You mentioned that luck and secrets aren\\\’t the real deal and you said \\"I don’t think I’ve met anyone who’s accomplished much of significance any other way.
Have you? (I’m really curious – please let me know below)\\"
I have been inundated by get rich quick internet schemes lately. It seems like the peddlers of these programs have put many years in to their own success but are now promising overnight success with their programs.
So what do you say about….. the promises made by Jeff Johnson and his Traffic Voodoo program?
…..and Perry Lawrence and his Ask Mr. Video.com membership?
…….and John Carlton\\\’s Simple Writing Program?
All of these people are promising pretty large incomes in very short periods of time. Or at least that is the lure that they throw into the water.
Harold Grams
The fact is that most people (myself included) hate failure and would do anything to avoid it. People don’t try because they are deadly afraid of failure.
Being perceived by their social circle (wife, husband, family, friends) as a failure equals death on a primal level. We are instinctively afraid of being ‘thrown out of the tribe’ which translates to ‘death’ to our primal brain.
Fortitude means that you need to understand that failure is the only way to reach success and to be able to push through the primal fear of being ‘thrown out of the tribe’. And man – that’s hard.
So to reconcile this and the lust we have to succeed, we turn to the ‘magic bullets’. And they are fun at first, but the morning after we wake up feeling dirty and used.
That’s the life of the entrepenuer.
Yoav… very pertinent and well said!
Very astute observation. A great lesson we all need to abide by.
I think our brains are always looking for the easy way to accomplish any task. We seem to be hard wired to try to find the easy path. Our culture has adapted the fast food or instant mentality. We want things now, without having to wait or expend any significant effort.
As you have observed, in the long run we will get the results much faster if we simply buckle down and get to work.
the beauty of all this is to know ahead of time that this problem occurs to the majority of people. Relating to The Ironman, many of us can hang for the beginning, but the fortitude strength and patience really pays off when the rest of the pack gasses out. as marketers, be aware when the luster wears off, that-that is where all the wannabees pull over. switch gears, replenish and keep driving to the goal you started out for.