Christopher Sommer, a former U.S. Gymnastics coach, encouraged Tim Ferriss with these words when Tim felt frustrated after working for three weeks on a new exercise with no visible results,
“Dealing with the temporary frustration of not making progress is an integral part of the path towards excellence. In fact, it is essential and something that every single elite athlete has had to learn to deal with. If the pursuit of excellence was easy, everyone would do it. In fact, this impatience in dealing with frustration is the primary reason that most people fail to achieve their goals. Unreasonable expectations timewise, resulting in unnecessary frustration, due to a perceived feeling of failure. Achieving the extraordinary is not a linear process.
“The secret is to show up, do the work, and go home. A blue collar work ethic married to indomitable will. It is literally that simple. Nothing interferes. Nothing can sway you from your purpose. Once the decision is made, simply refuse to budge. Refuse to compromise.”1
Jimmy Dugan, played by Tom Hanks, tells one of his baseball players, “It’s supposed to be hard. If it wasn’t hard everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.”2
Lionel Messi, arguably the GOAT of soccer, divulged the secret to his success, “I start early and I stay late, day after day, year after year. It took me 17 years and 114 days to become an overnight success.”3
Thoreau observed, “If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”4
Pro Tip:
If you’re feeling frustrated due to lack of visible results—regardless of the goal area you’re pursuing, albeit health, financial, marital, familial, social, spiritual, or intellectual—then you’re in good company: Ferriss, Hanks, Messi, and Thoreau. Each had their own mountains to climb before attaining the success they aspired to.
You’re on a path that if you consistently pursue will lead you to the success you desire. Hold on. Push on.
1. Ferriss, Tim. Tools of Titans, 162.
2. Marshall, P. (1992). A League of Their Own. Columbia Pictures.
3. Kidadl et al. (2022, July 08). 55 Messi Quotes from the World-Famous Soccer Player. Kidadl.coming. https://kidadl.com/quotes/messi-quotes-from-the-world-famous-soccer-player.
4. Henry David Thoreau Quotes. (2022, July 29). Brainy Quotes. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/henry_david_thoreau_163655#:~:text=Henry%20David%20Thoreau%20Quotes&text=If%20one%20advances%20confidently%20in%20the%20direction%20of%20his%20dreams,success%20unexpected%20in%20common%20hours.
You-Thrive.net 