From what I can gather, to succeed is not a complicated thing. You don’t need superior intelligence, uncommon charm or extra-terrestrial skill. Success relies on something that all of us can do.
The key to financial success:
Work at something that you have a passion for, long enough to become skilled at it.
Market it to others who have a similar passion.
Become part of a community that appreciates and supports your work.
That’s it.
The key to personal fitness:
Choose a plan that will work for your needs.
Work at your plan on a regular basis.
Be part of a community of like-minded enthusiasts who will encourage and support your efforts.
That’s it.
I could go on at length about any number of meaningful ventures. Once you have a plan in motion, the results are virtually automatic. They appear as expected.
Why all the struggle, then? Why are few of us as successful as we would like to be?
The catch seems to be the issue of perseverance. Perseverance in the face of doubt. Perseverance in the face of criticism. Perseverance in the face of failure.
When I see a man who is cut, I am more impressed by his ability to handle tedious exercises on a daily basis than I am about his actual biceps. How did he go to the gym all that time without slipping out and ordering a Big Mac, just out of sheer boredom? And where did he get the patience to wait for his occasional injuries to heal?
And what of the billionairess with untold power and influence? Again, I am more impressed by her devotion to a business plan than I am about her properties and fancy jewels.
Like everyone else, I have a tried several ventures only to retreat in disappointment. Excuses and distractions emerge from unexpected places in order to derail our best intentions.
But if you are among the lucky ones who can sustain effort in any one direction, you are sure to succeed.
Work is the answer to self doubt. The “imposter syndrome” vanishes when you work at something with regularity. Your work will yield results that are sure to silence your critics, too. Continued work will propel you past failures and setbacks.
My father was right. Work has a healing property. Work helps us identify the purpose in our lives. Whatever we desire, our willingness to work for it guarantees our success.