Sometimes we look at the success of others and we wonder how we can get there… fast! Sorry, but it doesn’t work that way. Chances are fair that not only will you never get there fast, but you might not reach those gross levels of success… ever! But that’s okay, because simply moving forward one step is enough.
It’s Not Overnight, but One Step at a Time
Many people are working their asses off trying to get ten things done at once. That’s stupid. Something will get done crappy. Instead, focus on one step at a time.
Personally, I don’t have much desire to be mega successful… anymore. I used to want to be a rock & roll star. Then I wanted to be the next bestselling author. Then I wanted to be a super blogger. But I discovered something.
There’s a price for taking the fast track to success. You have to hustle, side hustle, and side-side hustle. You’ll wind up with no time for family and friends. You won’t really enjoy life, but you will become a slave to your trek for success.
After years of chasing success, I decided to look at everything through new lenses. Rather than working my ass off in vain, I just take one step at a time without huge expectations. It’s a little bit of a “build it and they will come” philosophy. Except I don’t care if they come or not. I just do what I love and prepare for the future.
Personal vs. Professional Success
I guess this is where the rubber meets the road in my book. I choose personal success before professional success. In other words, I’d rather prepare for retirement than operate a startup. I’d rather improve my production skills and musicianship than produce a hit record. And I’d rather be blatantly honest in my writing than cater to money-making formulas.
My home life isn’t perfect. I struggle as a single parent of a teenage daughter. I don’t live in my dream home, (although our apartment is pretty cool). I’m not living by the ocean or in the prairie (poor man’s ocean). But I am working toward being prepared to retire comfortably. And I continue to create and network with other creators. That’s good e-fucking-nough for me.
That should be good enough for anybody. But unfortunately our world has turned the perception of success into something it should never have become. Thousands of people have made millions of dollars playing off other’s desire to become successful. “Send me money and I’ll teach you how to be successful!” That’s messed up.
Be Satisfied With Each Little Step
My advice is simple. Rather than drooling over the big prize while feeling inadequate because you can’t reach it fast enough, just be satisfied with each little step. If you found a new client as a real estate agent, be satisfied, and then go find another. If you write a page toward a chapter of a book, it’s better than blank white. Be happy. Then write another page.
You don’t have to become a millionaire next week, next month, or even next year. In fact, you don’t have to be a millionaire at all. Don’t judge your own worth based on the outcome, but rather know your value in every little thing you do. That’s real success.
So go ahead and work toward your goals and dreams. But keep yourself in check as you intentional move forward one step at a time.
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