Struggling Through The Pain

“I did not get to the point I am at by focusing on what would I enjoy doing. I got here by saying what pain am I willing to sustain?”

A successful entrepreneur with whom I work shared with me these words of wisdom about his journey through several successful incarnations starting with in his twenties being a Grammy-winning musician.  He left the globe-trotting band he led when he realized it wasn’t his true calling.

“I thought I wanted something, but turns out I didn’t. End of story.

I wanted the reward and not the struggle. I wanted the result and not the process. I was in love not with the fight but the victory. I realized in a lot of ways who I am is going to be defined by the things I am truly willing to struggle for.”

He nicely captured what leads so many people to failure. They want success but aren’t interested in fighting the battles they face and persevering against all odds in order to attain it. They want the good things that success brings but aren’t interested in doing the difficult work to obtain them.

My client had achieved what many of us would consider the pinnacle of success, yet he wasn’t willing to do what it took to sustain it. He simply didn’t want it enough. Knowing what you truly desire is the first step toward success. When you truly desire something, you will be willing to put in the hard work that is necessary to achieve it.

To reach the highest level of success and stay there you must be willing to struggle through the pain that faces you along the way. You have to want it that much.

Where  are you in your own journey forward? Do your struggles seem worth it? Does pain hold you back?

Or are you so driven to achieve your goal that you’re willing to endure anything to attain it?

If not, maybe it’s time to reconsider what it is you truly want…

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