How many of you thought it was going to be easy? Do you remember the days when you were 14 or 15 years old? “I can’t wait until I am old enough to drive, get out of school, life will be awesome then!” Ha, what a joke! Sure, there is no way I would ever want to go back to being 15 years old again, however, my expectations of the world then, versus now, are extremely different.

Since becoming a “responsible adult,” that is being able to live on my own, pay my own bills, and support my own family, life has given me a reality check. It didn’t take long either, to realize how much different “The real world,” is versus what I was expecting, more like hoping, it was going to be. You don’t realize how fast time really goes until you get behind on a car payment, electric bill, or worse, your rent/mortgage. The harsh reality of working as hard as you can, sometimes holding multiple jobs, just to make ends meet. “Oh how easy life is going to be once I am out of school and living on my own…”

Now, let’s get to the good stuff. Generally I like to start all my posts off on a positive note, however, I simply couldn’t resist. With all that is happening in our world these days it is important to recognize and understand that life isn’t easy, and nobody better tell you that it is. In addition to just making a living, what about actually becoming successful? What is the journey like for those of us who want to achieve something great and fulfill our calling while we have our chance to do so? I mean, it isn’t fair that some people are Wealthy while others struggle just to make ends meet, right?

Over the years I have learned that just about everyone who is Wealthy, at one point in their life, they were also broke. They struggled to pay their bills, and worked multiple jobs just like many do today. However, they did something else also. There was a time when they made a decision to do something about it! It wasn’t easy, just as it isn’t going to be for you, but that didn’t matter. Life wasn’t going to get any better if they continued to do what they were already doing. That by definition, according to Einstein, is insanity. (Doing the samething over and over again expecting a different result)

How about you? Are you ready to overcome the obstacles that have been placed in your path? Is today the day you come to grips with reality and finally say, “I am not going to take it anymore?” What is keeping you from achieving your dreams? Are you afraid you’re going to fail?

Thomas Edison could fill up a two-story building with burned-out filaments for two years before he found the right combination of metals, what does they say about the human condition? It tells me that for 729 days I am going to be struggling with one problem or another until I finally find the solution on day 730. And that’s only if I am persistent and courageous enough to struggle until that day comes. Because, like it or not, pain and suffering, failing and falling, are parts of the human condition.

I know it’s hard but you gotta hang on! I have seen it in business, experienced it myself, for the past 7 years. People start to dream again, they finally decide it is time to stop the insanity and do something different. They take a leap of Faith, give it everything they got, and after their first few rejections, or failures, they give in. They start to tell themselves, “It’s too hard, I just can’t do it, I am not good enough,” and cheat themselves out of unleashing their potential. Persistence is painful!

Don’t believe for a moment that the quality of persistence is going to earn you the admiration and praise of all those above and below you. On the contrary, you will most likely be skewered out of earshot, and you will be the butt of jokes from those afraid to oppose you publicly. Expedience and compromise, especially upon issues touching virtue, honor, and integrity, are the norm and expected behavior for today. Persisting in your principles in a course of action, in a way of conducting your business, or in living out your life is discomforting to those who blow with the wind.

Persistence is best understood when you watch the person or business pay the price for staying the course while everyone else is making what is viewed as the “smart play,” or worse, “the safe play.” I’ve watched a lot of talented people fail because they lacked the quality of persistence.

Life only changes when you decide to change. Change isn’t easy, nor is always comfortable, however, it is a necessary part of life. Your dreams are worth pursuing! It doesn’t matter what other people think, it doesn’t matter what they tell you, it doesn’t matter if they support you. All that matters is you have a dream and you are willing to pay the price!

For those of you who haven’t stepped out, this is your call to action. What are you waiting for? For those of you who are already on your journey, persist! Keep going! As Winston Churchill said, “Never, Never, Never, Never Give Up!”

Edison’s axiom was that genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. You don’t perspire the moment you start working–that comes after you’ve burned a lot of calories and midnight oil on a project.

Is it going to be hard? Yes! Is it going to get easier? Doubtful! Will it be worth it? You better believe it!

Dream Big!
Ron

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