The Benefits of Short Term Pain

I’ve had the privilege via Absolute Internship (I never take this for granted) to speak to thousands of students and young people over the last decade across many countries (e.g. Sweden, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, China, Hong Kong and many others). The most common question people have no matter their background is “how do you become successful fast?”

As I’m a firm believer in empathy and kindness, there’s so much I want to tell them. I want to invite them for a coffee and I want to tell them all my struggles and the price it takes.

But I can’t with so many people—so I tell them the short story.

What’s the short story?

People overestimate what they can achieve in one year, but underestimate what they can achieve in ten years.

Let me repeat that for you so it sinks in. People overestimate what they can achieve in one year, but underestimate what they can achieve in ten years.

Think about what takes ten years in our lives. You can achieve a black belt in jiu jitsu. You can earn three Bachelor’s Degrees. You can become a doctor. You can learn several languages. You can travel to 10+ foreign countries. You can run ten marathons. You get the point.

Most people are not willing to suffer short term for long term gain.

Most people are not willing to move in with their mother in law for a year.

Most people are not willing to eat pasta with tomato sauce and cup noodles for years.

Most people are not willing to wear two pairs of trousers for years.

Those that are willing to sacrifice these short term pains will win in life.

What does the picture have to do with it all?

The cover photo for this article was my office/kitchen/journaling table/table for dates for years. We were often two people working on the desk simultaneously. Couldn’t even fit my cup of coffee if we were two. I even got interviewed by Bloomberg from here. Why do I tell you this?

Because people don’t see the benefits nor the wisdom in short term pain.

Open your eyes to it. Embrace it. You’ll win.