I recently went to a networking event…yes, despite the fact that I don’t generally enjoy them and see them as about as exciting as root canal work, a client of mine asked me to go with them and share some of my knowledge - seemed a bit like going back to school…!
But, I was taken with one person - Jason.
Jason was an online marketer - or at least wanted to be. But it appeared from our brief(ish) chat that he was about to give it all up as it wasn’t working for him.
“Oh that’s a shame, Jason,” I said. “How long have you been trying to make it work?”
“Four months,” he replied.
FOUR MONTHS!!!!!
FOUR MONTHS - and he was looking to give it all up???
“Did you go to university Jason?” I asked (already knowing the answer from an earlier “60 second round table introduction session” at the event.
“Yes.”
“And for how long?”
“Oh, four years.”
And yes, dear reader, I did it. The following words fell out of my mouth. Said with love, but a little incredulity (if I am honest)
“So you spent four years learning something and never gave up, however the thing you want to give you the life you want, you are willing to give up on after FOUR MONTHS!!!”
“Oh. I see what you are saying.” He replied, somewhat shocked that I had taken this relative stranger to task about his life choices.
You see, whilst the saying of “good things come to those who wait” is a little trite, we need to think about how much time and effort we are putting into trying to get to the success we want and deserve.
Yes, you can feed yourself with a Pot Noodle.
Or you can learn to cook like Gordon Ramsay.
One takes four minutes. The other?
Well, a lot longer.
But if the goal is worth it, then time shouldn’t be the barrier or the reason to give it all up.
Best,
James