I was just like you. I used to constantly share quotes and lyrics by motivators who inspired me. I bought books and watched every second of content available on people like Grant Cardone, Tony Robbins, Warren Buffett and my idol at the time, Mark Cuban. I had less than nothing and needed to believe that I could become “something”. It wasn’t until recently, when I saw a couple younger friends of mine shared content by Gary Vaynerchuk that I noticed something about my personal development.
I no longer actively seek celebrity idols to look up to. The quotes that once shook me, no longer move me. Over the years, I have developed beliefs that are too strong to be shaken up by generic captioned photos.
There are so many articles discussing the grind and what success is like. This is a little different. I’ll be focusingin on the early stages of success, how you know you’re heading in the right direction, and what it’s like.
How you know that you’re heading in the right direction:
Everyday I watch a younger friend of mine share inspiration and motivational quotes on Instagram. I’ve typed up countless responses and deleted them without sending. I get it; he’s trying to find himself. He’s trying to figure out what kind of man he wants to become and how to become that man. That used to be me.
Looking back, I now see that I somehow managed to hang on to a few of the thousand quotes I used to share. I now realized that I took the ones I believed in most and made them a part of my identity.
At some point, you need to just pick a few quotes and ideas, and focus on implementing those into your daily beliefs.
“Do what they’re not willing to do for the next five years, so you can do what they can’t for life. “
A common mistake I see people make before heading in the right direction is asking for too much advise from too many people.
My advice is to weed out the noise. Have self discipline. Implement and repeat actions built on strong beliefs until they become habits. Once you do all that, you’re more likely than not heading in the right direction.
Even if you can’t see it, trust that repetition and consistency will prove to be your ultimate keys to success.
Things about yourself that change once you start becoming successful:
The type of grind that leads to success involves hard work, developing habits, accumulating incremental success, surrounding yourself with the right people, and holding yourself accountable.
Through your journey along the pass of success, you’ll begin to notice occurring changes.
You’ll realize that other people’s definition of hard work is far different than yours. Most people are always searching for shortcuts and home run swings, rather than incrementally build towards something meaningful. Your consistent habits have become a part of your DNA. Most of the people you surrounded yourself with and shared dreams with, have fallen off the path you chose.
On top of all that, you’ll learn to hold yourself accountable. No one can be hard on you, because you hard on yourself. This will also give you the false illusion that you can hold people to the same standards that you hold yourself to.
The people closest to you will not understand you. You will struggle with it at first. You may alienate yourself. You will soon learn that not everyone is capable of what you are capable of. Do not take it personally. Be proud of yourself.
Your pursuit of greatness will ignite deeper curiosity.
Your focus and drive will keep you on the path that others have fallen off of. You will probably outgrow your mentors. Despite years of growth, your desire to be great will shine as bright as it ever has. That desire will ignite the flame of deeper curiosity within you.
You start to look for people you can learn something from. You will ask questions you did not in the past. Your additional questions will enable you to meet various people at deeper levels.
That one old guy that’s a liability on defense may be bringing in half a million dollars annually and is more than happy to help you. The nicest guy at the gym may turn out to be the most ruthless savage in business you have ever met. That one old, quiet person, may have countless lessons in store for you.
People will surprise you.
The people you look up to change.
I still respect the accomplishments of celebrity influencers like Gary Vee and Cuban. I don’t blame young people for relating and looking up to them. However, the harder you work, the greater your appreciation for common folk becomes.
You will reach a point where your drive will outshine your need for motivation. If you’re lucky, you’ll learn to be inspired everyday by people all around you.
You’ll learn to appreciate the sacrifices that foreigners make when they come to your country, just so their children can have better futures. You’ll learn that sometimes people are so rich, all they have is money. You’ll envy those who can appreciate the little things in life. You’ll meet great people, in person and online, who are going through what you’re going through. You’ll be inspired by those people, and learn how to root for their success. You’ll draw inspiration from the unlikeliest of sources.
You’ll look up to siblings, who can’t even see how far they’ve come. You’ll look up to your mother, who works too hard because that’s the only thing she has ever known. You’ll look up to your father, who appreciates family more than anything. You’ll understand your family better. Hopefully, you’ll ever forgive them for whatever it is you’re holding on to.
You’ll learn the differences between wisdom and knowledge.
You’ll start to realize that you have far surpassed the type of person you aspired to become.
There will come a time when people older than you start to say they are proud of you and are inspired by you. Younger people will start to ask you for advice and in-directly share their fears with you. You’ll find yourself in my position, looking back and wondering how you got here.
Your new habits and commitment to your beliefs will yield new results. Your resiliency will develop your confidence. Your commitment will only strengthen your pursuit.
You’ll realize that being a good person is more important than being a professional sports player. You’ll realize that honesty and integrity are greater gifts than athletic ability. You’ll realize so much more about yourself and the world.
At some point, even your goals which shift to something more meaningful in the grand scheme of things. Setting new goals does not mean you failed. It means you’re growing.
“Don’t Follow Your Passion, Follow Your Effort”
-Mark Cuban
There’s beauty in the struggle, ugliness in the success. There’s also beauty in the success.
For the real go-getters, a taste of success triggers us like a shark tasting blood. We crave more of it and relentlessly chase it. However, it is also important to take a step back and appreciate how far you’ve come.
Financial burdens which troubled you for years will evaporate. You will laugh in the face of what used to frighten you. Your drive will far outshine your motivation. The rewards will outweigh the sacrifices. You will develop new, exciting goals.
You will also learn more about yourself, your strengths and weaknesses. Knowing yourself is the ultimate key to confidence. You’ll also discover your deeper fears throughout the process.
My deepest fear is having my time wasted without knowing it. I have become very selfish with my time. I cherish my time with my family and focus the rest on my development.
I’m lucky. Many aren’t.
My last pieces of advice.
I am 27 and currently in what I believe to be, and hope to be, my early stages of success. While I am aware that most people have different definitions of success. I hope this article helped you in some way. I’d also like to leave with some advice based on my personal experience.
It isn’t a race. Don’t rush it. Try to be patient. There are many adults my age and older than me who are content with what I consider mediocrity at the moment. Success means something different to everyone. The butt of everyone’s joke can have the last laugh. Challenge yourself, not your peers. Focus on your personal growth and development, not the results. Believe in yourself, not a sales pitch from a motivator. Face your fears. Hitting rock bottom only teaches you how to climb out of it. Going through hell and back only toughens you up. Take it one step at a time.
And as always,
“Forward, never backwards.”
You can tweet me @TPRx11