Many times I’ve been asked about “the secret”, you know, how you got to where you are, what should I do, How should I start, etc. “Faith” is the short answer. The longer one? I try to relate to these individuals the importance of “supporting legs”, that is, creating a personal library in your mind of what worked for you in the past and recalling those whenever you need some encouragement in the future. Some items in your personal library there may be events such as winning a race in first grade, helping another, or being praised by your parents for something good you have done. Whatever the case may be, having such a library will make your journey so much easier.
In my personal library there are many items, from critical decisions I’ve made before school and in my school years, time during the army, sports, and business. Whenever I pick up on some new hobby, or whenever I feel like moving forward on new concepts, I always look back, try to find the similarities, and make sure I have all I need to take on this new challenge. It is so easy to give up. All you have to do is stop trying and you are back to just as things were before you started. In order to succeed you have to believe in yourself when no one else does. You have to believe that the time, effort, investment will work out even though it at times look like it won’t. The alternative to having no faith in yourself, to not walking the extra mile, to not trying, to not pushing, to not believing, is always the same - No Reward. In my eyes that is not an option. I rather fail a million times than not try. I know very well that if I try, if I dedicate to anything the same amount of time and energy as I have with other areas in my life I will make it to the greatest levels. Over the years I did hear the “talent” argument, that is, that some people were “born with it”. I must disagree. While talent is somewhat important and of course can help I have never met anyone who excelled at anything without hard work. Stephen King once said:
Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.
Pick up any master at any level, from musical players to business, artists, writers. The common thread is hard work. The common thread is dedication, faith. Rarely things work out as planned. Rarely one succeeds on first try. In many instances it is pure faith.
So if you are interested in “the secret”, the only thing I can say, what I believe, it is within you.
Have a great day,
Sahar
What an inspiring post