If it Looks Like Overnight Success, You're Not Looking Closely Enough

"Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out." - Robert Collier 

I recently had a conversation with a friend and at a certain point I shared a quote that I felt pertained. Once I finished she said "I wish I could do that.". "Do what?" I replied. "Pull out the perfect quote right when I needed it."

Admittedly I felt pretty good about myself for a moment. Then I remembered I had listened to the audio with that quote on repeat every morning for over a year in the past. And I have shared that same quote dozens of times over the years.

I honestly couldn't forget it if I wanted to. It's a part of me now.

The reality is, what seems to most people as a "miracle gift" or "overnight success" is actually the accumulation of small efforts repeated over time.

There is no overnight success—at least none that lasts. 

All lasting success is built on good habits.

I love this example from the book The War of Art by Steven Pressfield: 

"Someone once asked Somerset Maugham if he wrote on a schedule or only when struck by inspiration. “I write only when inspiration strikes,” he replied. “Fortunately it strikes every morning at nine o’clock sharp.”"

Whenever you see someone who has achieved success or a high level of skill, there is ALWAYS a trail of consistency behind them.

Small daily actions + small daily improvements = compounding results. 

The habit tip for today is to fall in love with building habits. They are they key to creating the life you desire.

One Idea to Explore:

While eating at a restaurant Picasso was approached by a fan who asked if he would sketch her something on a napkin. He agreed and spent a few moments drawing a picture. Delighted the fan asked how much he thought it would be worth. Picasso replied "$1 million dollars". The fan was surprised and incredulously said "How could that be, the sketch only took you a few moments to draw?" Picasso replied "No, Madam, the sketch took me a lifetime."

Although Picasso had taken only a moment to draw that picture, he had spent his entire life perfecting his artistry and building his brand.

So it is with all who achieve lasting success.

One Great Read or Listen

If you haven't read The War of Art by Steven Pressfield and Shawn Coyne, go snag a copy (amazon affiliate). It will help you develop your own habits around your goals and dreams. You were born for greatness and engineered for success as Zig Ziglar  always said. It's time to unlock the greatness within you.

What if the next "overnight success" could be you?

P.S. Here's a podcast conversation with Mark Leruste who is the author of the new bestselling book Glow in The Dark which is a goldmine of strategies for unlocking your personal story. I'm loving the process of digging into my past to discover the many lessons I have learned and how to share those experiences in a simple and meaningful way.