E-couragement: Not Simple
Sweat was dripping from my face and forearms as I trudged along on my favorite cardio machine, the Stairmaster Gauntlet. With my ear buds secure and iPhone volume turned up, I was able to pay attention to the inspirational video over the distractions of people and machines nearby. He was nearing the completion of the message when I heard it. Noticing my own reaction, I immediately started writing notes for this blog.
He said, “That’s all there is to it. Follow these seven steps and make your millions like me. It’s that simple.” Simple? Is that how he achieved success? Was his goal to convince people that significant accomplishments are simple? What if I told you I had the blueprint to become a sought after professional athlete? A renowned classical pianist? A highly regarded cardiovascular surgeon? And the best part—it’s simple. Something inside of you should be alarmed. You know better. Achieving notable success has never been, or ever will be, simple.
Sure, a process or concept might be simple. Yet, the cost of executing that process or consistently applying that concept is difficult to calculate. In his book, Outliers: The Story of Success, Malcolm Gladwell studied highly successful people from a cross section of professions. A key factor to their outstanding accomplishments was the “10,000–Hour Rule.” Gladwell points out that a critical component for success in any field is a willingness to practice a specific task or skill for a total of 10,000 hours. Simple?
Let's rid ourselves of the infomercial mentality. Becoming a highly successful engaging leader is difficult and costly. Simple is the great equalizer, a wide path to mediocrity. That’s not for you. If you go after difficult with all that you are—all that you've got—it will set you apart. The result is meaningful, deeply satisfying, and significant work. That's why you do it, it's worth the effort and pain. Avoid simple. Embrace difficult. That’s EXTRAordinary!
Leave your comments: What achievements are you proud of that required a significant “cost”?