The Open Secret to Success

Not everyone wants to get ahead in life.

Most people think they do.

But few people put in the effort.

We’ve all got dreams. That promotion or raise. Becoming skilled in that hobby. Running that marathon or race. You might have even started once (or many times).

And, if you’re like me, have stopped.

You get worn out. Busy with life and responsibilities. Distracted.

But the people who get ahead in life get there by slow, steady persistence.

They tackle new challenges. New responsibilities. And they don’t stop.

They start out terrible. And they don’t stop. They’re persistent.

I can grow and learn

Persistence starts in your mind. If you’re convinced you can’t succeed, well, you won’t succeed.

This isn’t some kind of mumbo jumbo. It’s a way of looking at the world that needs to shift in your mind. Here’s my personal example:

I used to say, “I want that. But I don’t have the [money/skill/personality] for that.”

I said that for years, about all sorts of things in my life. And I was right. I didn’t get any of those things.

Now, I say, “I want that. How can I get the [money/skills/personality] to do that?”

Knowing that you can make progress is the first and biggest leap. And it starts in your mind.

I can already hear you: “Joel, my goals are just impossible!” We’ll get there in a minute. Stick with me in the meantime.

Getting to the starting line

There are two main challenges to persistence:

1. Knowing where to start
2. Having a plan to keep going

We’re overloaded with information and options. Take running, for example.

There are podcasts on technique. Reviews for shoes. Apps for tracking.

It’s easy to get overwhelmed before you even take a step. To get started, answer these questions.

1. What don’t I know how to do yet?
2. What am I afraid of when I think about starting?
3. What is the simplest thing I could do to get started?

For running, the simplest thing might be trotting three minutes down the street and back. You might be afraid of the cost or the time. Start small. You’re not an expert yet. Learn as you go. What can you start on today?

Setting realistic goals

Remember how I said you can grow and learn? Part of that is setting realistic goals at the beginning. I’m far too short for the NBA.

But that doesn’t mean I couldn’t have fun playing basketball with other people.

I’ve got a family and kids. Kids are a lot of work and I don’t have much free time.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t learn a new skill.

It means I need to be practical in my goals. It means I need to watch my free time like a hawk. It means I need to be okay with any pace faster than “stopped.”

Here’s how:

1. Break large tasks into small tasks that you can accomplish.
2. Celebrate when you complete a small task.
3. Don’t compare your speed to others.

Oops, I fell

You’re going to fail. That’s normal and valuable. We call that “learning.”

If you’re not failing, you might not be trying hard enough.

Nobody expects a baby to walk on the first try. Give yourself some grace. The only way to learn is to try, fail, and try again better. Remember:

• Failure is part of the process.
• Failure is fine, not final.

Call it an experiment. Call it learning. Call it whatever you need.

Just don’t quit because of it.

Learn and grow.

How to keep going

You’ve probably tried something new and given up. Everyone has.

How can you make this time different?

• Build good habits.
• Remember the big goals.
• Watch your time/schedule.
• Have mentors/friends keep you accountable.

Habits are the keys to success with persistence. Books like “Atomic Habits” by James Clear go into detail about structuring your life. Find a resource that works for you and use it!

Remind yourself of the big goals. You’re working through your small goals every day. They may not look like much. When you need that push, remind yourself of where you’re going. Dream a little. And then get back to work!

You get the same 24 hours as everyone else. How you use it is up to you. Even if it’s only 10 minutes free in a day. Guard that time. Use it wisely. Don’t get distracted scrolling your news feed.

Expand that time by becoming more efficient. Even better, stop doing things you don’t have to. Don’t let Netflix run your life. Tell it how much time it gets.

Finally, it’s easy to talk yourself out of a big goal. Find yourself a friend or mentor and tell them your big goal. That’s a little scary, but it will hold you accountable.

Don’t forget to look back

Want to get ahead in life? Persistence will get you there. Look back occasionally. See how far you’ve come. You’ll be surprised at how those small tasks have grown.

• Start.
• Keep going.
• Be amazed.