So often we read about people having “overnight success” and wonder how they did it – was it luck or some exceptional talent?

However, when we dig down, it’s almost without exception that this sudden success has been the result of many years (sometimes decades) of hard work that has previously gone largely unnoticed. And in those very, very rare occasions where somebody has become successful in such a short space of time, they typically are like a shooting star and gone just as quickly. There is just no foundation for this success.

As the late American author, Robert Collier said, success is the result of small efforts repeated day-in and day-out.

True, lasting success comes from diligence and self-discipline – working away at one’s craft to become truly skilled at it, building strong networks and pushing oneself relentlessly towards the goal. Just as we don’t start with the penthouse at the top of a building, but the foundations, and then the support structures, building each floor and finally finishing with the penthouse, so success means solid foundations and a lot of hard work before one’s done.

It’s not for nothing that people talk about needing 10 000 hours of working on something to become an expert. While this is too simplistic, in that it’s more an average than a minimum target, it does underscore the need for dedication.

And remember, too, that ‘You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step’ on your road to success. Persistence will win through.

#BusinessFitness #Coaching #FailToSucceed #Growth #Motivation #Resilience #Success #Winners #QOTW

Some of my other recent short posts on achieving success that might be of interest include:

• “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese Proverb
• “The same boiling water that softens the potato hardens the egg. It’s what you’re made of. Not the circumstances.” – Unknown
• “We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” – Arianna Huffington
• “Whether you think you can or whether you think you can’t, you’re right” – Henry Ford
• “Every champion was once a contender that didn’t give up.” – Gabby Douglas
• “A surplus of effort could overcome a deficit of confidence.” – Sonia Sotomayer
• “Opportunity doesn’t make appointments, you have to be ready when it arrives.” – Tim Fargo
• “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow.” – English proverb