“If you want to have what others don’t have, you must do what others don’t want.Lisa Ryan

How often have you heard conversations similar to these?

John: “I would love to go back to college and get my degree.”

Jane: “So why don’t you go?”

John: “I am so tired when I get home from work and it will take me a long time to get it done. I just don’t have time to do it.”

Sally: “Wow, you are so lucky to have such an amazing job.”

Dan: “I started in the mailroom ten years ago and worked my way up through the company. I’m pretty happy with what it’s brought me.”

Sally: “The mail room? He wouldn’t even consider such a job. Wow, it was very lucky for you to do that!”

Charlie: “I’ve just been offered this really amazing job, but I’m not sure I’d take it.”

Douglas: “Why not?”

Charlie: “Well, it’s paying $1.00 an hour less than what I make as a landscaper, and I don’t want to take the pay cut.”

All of these examples are based on real conversations. The only thing they have in common is the need for instant gratification, the bane of our existence. The person who goes to college after work, giving up sleep and time with friends and family, will one day receive his degree as a reward for her hard work. John, on the other hand, will remain stuck, never reaching his full potential until the pain of staying the same is greater than the pain of changing. (Funny thing is, you’ll be the same age with a title as you are without.)

Dan, on the other hand, was willing to start at a menial job to learn the ropes and work his way up through the organization. He knew that the mail room would provide ample opportunity for him to meet people within the organization, by name, department, and title, as well as in person when he delivered the mail. He worked hard, he made connections, he became the best person he could be in the mail room. His tenacity was noted and his progression within the organization gave him everything he wanted in his career.

Sally believes that jobs, titles, and corner positions should be automatically awarded to her only through tenure. She does what she is paid to do and nothing more. She assumes that she is simply “out of luck” and that her career is stalled. Until she puts in the effort and does more than she is paid, she will remain at the same level.

What about Carlos? Have you seen people caught off guard by a temporary step back and never seize the opportunity to move ten steps forward in the long run? We all have. When you have long-term goals, you are willing to do what it takes and invest the time to achieve them. We often overestimate what we can do in the short term, but underestimate what we can achieve in the long term.

To achieve your dreams and goals, you must, as Stephen Covey said, “begin with the end in mind.” Set your sights on all the things you would like to achieve in your life and stay on target.

Celebrate your little victories along the way. Acknowledge your progress, and don’t forget to acknowledge others for their support and encouragement. Minimize the time you spend with people who want to keep you where you are, they will only keep holding you back.

Don’t try to figure out exactly HOW your goals will happen. Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy the journey along the way.

Remember to do the hard things now and your life will become easy. If you take the easy way out now, your life will probably be much more difficult.