If you’re a beach person like me, you no doubt have had this experience – in order to get to your spot on the beach, you have to trudge through a seemingly endless duration of scorching hot sand, carrying your umbrella, chairs, cooler and many other things. If you don’t properly prepare yourself for the pain, by wearing flip flops, sneakers or shoes, that journey through the hot sand towards the cool ocean can be almost unbearable.
The success journey is a lot like walking on the beach without sandals – you have to endure the pain of the journey before you can reap the benefits.
For an entrepreneur, that pain is obstacles, pitfalls, mistakes, failures, rejection, indifference and the roller coaster of emotions that make the journey almost unbearable.
Most, unfortunately, never make it to their spot on the beach. They underestimate the pain of the journey. As a result, the scorching hot sand is simply too hot for them to handle. So, they quit, oftentimes right before they get to their spot on the beach.
The few who do succeed, are able to because when the pain does come, they are prepared for it.
The key to realizing success, is not tolerating the pain of the journey towards success, but preparing for it. You have to get very good at anticipating obstacles. You have to get good at anticipating pitfalls. You have to anticipate potential mistakes and failures.
But above all, you must anticipate that the journey will be a long and painful one.
So when those who succeed encounter the hot sand along their path, they’re ready for it – they bring along their flip flops.
Being prepared for the pain enables you to focus on one thing and one thing only – getting to your spot on the beach.
The journey and the destination–worth it! Bring needed equipment–a good mentor, your passion, your plan, your readiness to get up again. (And all those awesome good habits you have learned!!!)