Many people know how to be successful. Usually the information (in most fields at least) on how to learn and master skills is fairly public, especially with the internet and social media these days, not to mention the example of so many of who have achieved success. In the end, there are very few actual “secrets to success.”
Yet while the knowing may be easy, doing what needs to be done to be successful certainly is not.
For some reason, as a child, I was very aware that tons of soccer players my age said they had the same goals as I did. I actually used to be embarrassed to state my goal at times because I knew that “everyone says they want to be a professional soccer player.”
I was determined to not be someone who just said it. I was going to figure out how to do it, and then actually do what it took.
I found out along the way that there are basically four steps:
1. Figuring out what you need to do.
2. Learning to accept that the path won’t be glamorous. In fact, it may be difficult or even ugly at times.
3. Actually doing it. Every single day. For weeks, months, years. Practicing when you feel like doing it, and crucially, even when you don’t feel like it.
4. Continuing to aim for your goal even if and when it seems hopeless, you’re disappointed, someone tells you you can’t, or you’re doubting yourself.
You literally have to go through this challenging cycle again and again and again. And you can’t just be okay with the difficulties, you have to embrace them and even enjoy them.
I’ve found that this applies for my soccer career, in growing a business, Techne Futbol, and now being a parent. It’s crazy sometimes how many parallels there are in all endeavors--the physical, mental and emotional process, and the grit and grind that go into “just doing it.”
And, interestingly enough, I know now from my soccer career and my business that quite often the moments in which I “rolled up my sleeves and did the dirty work” are iconic moments for me along my journey. I derive a lot of pride from those times.
There’s a day years ago that my sister, Shira, and I always remember. It was when I needed to do a fitness workout. We were at the field sitting in the car. When I say the weather was bad, that’s an understatement. It was brutally cold and windy with sleet pelting sideways. I know I wouldn’t remember that day if we had turned around and driven home, which I really wanted to do. But I think about it often, and draw upon the mental strength it took to complete my shuttle runs in those conditions, when I’ve faced other hard moments.
And any time I see the original set of demo videos in the Techne app, I think about the six hours a day I spent filming those videos at the tennis court where I lived in Arlington, Virginia, exhausted, sweat dripping onto the court, cursing at the wind for blowing over my tripod.
There are times in building my business or being a parent when I find myself searching for a shortcut. And then I remember that most things, if done right, aren’t done by cutting corners. And they certainly aren’t going to be easy.
That sweat equity (sometimes quite literally, in my line work) can be so much more valuable than any expert tips or robust financial backing.
And I guess that really is the only “secret” to success: The more deep, heavy, gritty, or difficult your investment, the more quality the result, and the more joyful the reward.