I do know, the catchy title has you rolling your eyes and saying to your self clearly there’s not just one factor that results in success, however hear me out.
After years of pursuing my profession in music, I lastly caught a break final 12 months and my single performed on over 100 radio stations worldwide, which led to tons of of interviews in 2022 and shutting out the second half of the 12 months being provided my very own tv present on a brand new community which was shortly picked up by New Jersey Tv.
After all, this whirlwind of success led to the subsequent logical query that nobody has requested me over the past 10 years of wrestle; How’d you try this?
I’m reminded of the nice Chinese language proverb in regards to the Chinese language bamboo tree.
The story goes that the Chinese language bamboo tree doesn’t develop in any respect for the primary 5 years after it’s planted however on the sixth 12 months the tree grows 80 ft in simply 6 six, which results in the age previous query “did the tree develop in 6 weeks or 5 years and 6 weeks”?
You’re educated and articulate sufficient that I don’t have to state the plain that it took 5 years and 6 weeks for that tree to develop, regardless that it didn’t appear like it was rising in any respect for the primary 5 years.
So after assembly with a brand new pupil in my course for creatives and enterprise homeowners and he or she requested “How’d you try this”? It led me to actually dig in to what has now develop into the entire idea for my tv present in addition to my programs I educate and it actually does come down to at least one factor.
The plain and technical reply to her query is hours of analysis, chilly calls, rejection from radio station after radio station, some interviews that have been a success and a few interviews the place I logged on and the host was smoking weed (true story lol).
However that’s the plain reply, and it’s not what she meant, and I knew it. Yea the technical day after day transactions spark curiosity however what she and lots of others after her actually needed to know was how’d you DO that. How’d you keep so dedicated? How’d you get by means of the occasions if you felt misplaced? How’d you grind it out when no one believed in you. HOW did you do it?
I journeyed again by means of my expertise and like so many people reflecting on life, particular reminiscences started to face out to me.
Just like the time I went to a music convention, waited within the foyer for all 200 attendees to take an image with the well-known music composer who was the keynote speaker, after which when it obtained to my flip requested if I might purchase him a cup of espresso and if he ever had interns. Then requested for a job and ended up working for him in Hollywood for 3 years.
Or the time I obtained fired from 4 completely different jobs as a result of “I cherished music” greater than I used to be devoted to my job. Sure JCPenney, I do love constructing my very own empire somewhat than buying and selling my time for $8 an hour. (Minimal wage again then lol).
Or the time I obtained pulled onto the notorious stage at SOB’s in New York Metropolis by the previous President of Haiti and after the present his supervisor pulled me apart and stated “You weren’t prepared for that”. And the previously shy, uncomfortable, awkward wallflower inside me smiled and stated, “Yea, perhaps not. However I did it. Good for me”.
“The largest distinction between profitable individuals and unsuccessful individuals is that profitable persons are prepared to do what unsuccessful persons are not.” – Darren Hardy
So what did all these items have in frequent. That was the reply.
It was the willingness.
The willingness to ask for a possibility when it was offered to me, and never let the paralyzing concern of asking overcome the paralyzing concern of questioning what if for the remainder of my life.
The willingness to do what I like and pursue a life I like, as a result of why the hell not. As a result of I understood this treasured and unpredictable factor we name life for what it’s, simply that; unpredictable. Right here as we speak and gone tomorrow. Not in a morbid approach, however in a dwell in each second, absorb each sunshine kind of approach.
The willingness to go for it. To take an opportunity. To not wait “till I used to be prepared” however to dwell within the second, and be happy with myself for pushing previous limiting beliefs, fear and concern of what individuals may say and simply going for it.
All of us outline success in a different way, however I’d argue that whether or not success seems like a dream job, a fats checking account, an attractive household or the entire above, the willingness to ask and dwell and love and overcome and be taught and develop and so many different issues all stem from one factor.
You’re proper, there are MANY issues it takes to achieve success, however they’re all only a department on the bamboo tree of willingness.