“It takes ten years to become an overnight success”

Habits, backing yourself, asking for help and support. Early mornings, late nights. Focus. Keeping going, when it’s hard, when it feels hopeless, when it feels like it’s never going to work.

Real success often starts with a decision. It continues with discipline, consistency and relentlessness, on repeat, and through all conditions, until positive outcomes start to peek through.

It sometimes appears as though a person has simply decided to start a business, write a book, move abroad or buy a house, when in reality, those happenings came after years of preparatory work. Learning, saving, working, and committing continually to the vision.

If the tip of the iceberg – the visible part above the water – is today’s success, the rest of it, hidden under the ocean and going far down in the depths, is all it took for that success to become a noticeable, visible, tangible reality.

I cannot think of this analogy without also seeing the well known image depicting a miner unknowingly about to reach diamonds, but turning back because he’s tired and hasn’t yet been lucky. If only he had kept going just a little longer!

Success comes from tenacity, commitment, and a level of ‘tunnel vision’, which allows you to remain connected enough to the eventual outcome to continue your quest, regardless of circumstances.

Adopt an attitude of creating, building, compounding, and being in it for the long haul, rather than a desire for a quick fix, easy win or superficial success. Consider how much more you’ll enjoy success made with integrity and determination, which will offer you reliability and security in the long run.


PS – If you want some more guidance and to ponder on the big questions in life, why not check out the Philosopher-in-Residence series. Out every fortnight on a Thursday, and written by our Principal Planner, Anna Pascoe.  You can take a peek at the latest edition here: ON MIDSUMMER - Make Me A Plan