We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don’t let yourself be lulled into inaction. —Bill Gates
Bill Gates’ quote refers to the evolution of personal computing, but the world of self-discipline isn’t any different.
A staggering number of people give up on their goals just weeks or months into them,discouraged that they still haven’t reached their goals or that their results are lackluster.
Sorry to have to break it to you, but the world doesn’t work that way. With few exceptions, nobody can build a successful business in six months, achieve a perfect physique in three months, learn a new language in four weeks, or become a self-disciplined person overnight.
However, the sky is the limit for those who are in it for the long haul. Ten years of dedicated practice can turn anyone into a world-class expert. When you gain momentum, you’ll get exponential results. The trick is to stick to your goals long enough for the velocity to accrue.
For example, in the first year you might only get your business off the ground, but in its third or fourth year it can explode virtually overnight. What actually happens is not an overnight success, but a process that took place over several years, during which it built upon itself in an exponential way.
When you look at my catalog of books, you might be tempted to say that I succeeded right away. “Martin’s first book became a bestseller, so it’s possible to become a bestselling author in a few
months.”
That would be a great example of overestimating what you can achieve in a short period of time. My first book wasn’t actually my first book. I’d been writing — articles, blog posts, books, etc. for a long time before I started writing about self-discipline.
相关推荐阅读
【365天自律成长英语笔记】 DAY 44-On Optimism
【365天自律成长英语笔记】 DAY 43-On Making Continuous Efforts
【365天自律成长英语笔记】 DAY 42-On Diligent Practice
