Do the things others won’t
“If you want to have what others do not have, you must do what others do not want. “Lisa Ryan
How often have you heard conversations similar to these?
John: “I would love to go back to college and get my degree. “
Jane: “So why don’t you go “
John: “I’m so tired when I get home from work, and it will take me a long time to get there. I just don’t have time to do it. “
Sally: “Wow, you are so lucky to have such a fantastic job. “
Dan: “I started in the mailroom ten years ago and worked my way through the company. I’m quite happy with what it has brought me. “
Sally: “The mail room? I wouldn’t even consider a job like that. Wow, that was so lucky you did that! “
Charles: “They offered me this really amazing job, but I’m not sure if I’m going to take it. “
Doug: “Why not? “
Charles: “Well, he’s paying $ 1.00 an hour less than what I make as a landscaper, and I don’t want to take the pay cut. “
All of these examples are based on real conversations. The only thing they have in common is the need for instant gratification, the bane of our existence. The person who goes to college after work, gives up sleep and time with friends and family, one day they will receive their degree as a reward for their hard work. John, on the other hand, will remain stagnant, never reaching his full potential until the pain of staying the same becomes greater than the pain of changing. (The funny thing is, he will be the same age with a degree as without it.)
Dan, on the other hand, was willing to start a menial job to learn how to manage and move up the organization. He knew that the mail room would provide him with ample opportunities to meet people within the organization, by name, department and title, as well as in person when he delivered the mail. He worked hard, he made connections, he became the best person he could be in the mailroom. His tenacity was noted and his progression within the organization gave him everything he wanted in his career.
Sally believes that jobs, titles, and corner offices should automatically be awarded to her through tenure. She does what she is paid to do and nothing else. She assumes that she is simply not “lucky” and that her career is stagnant. Until you push yourself and do more than you get paid, you will stay the same.
And Charles? Have you seen people get caught off guard by a temporary step backwards and never seize the opportunity to take ten long-term steps forward? We all have. When you have long-term goals, you are willing to do whatever it takes and invest the time to achieve them. We generally overestimate what we can do in the short term, but we underestimate what we can achieve in the long term.
To achieve your dreams and goals, you must, as Stephen Covey put it, “start with the end in mind.” Set your sights on all the things you would like to accomplish in your life and stay focused.
Celebrate your little victories along the way. Acknowledge your progress and don’t forget to acknowledge others for their support and encouragement. Minimize the time you spend with people who want to keep you where you are, they will only keep holding you back.
Don’t try to figure out exactly HOW your goals will be achieved. The most important thing is that you do not forget to enjoy the journey along the way.
Remember to make things difficult now and your life will get easier. If you take the easy path now, your life will likely get a lot more difficult.