“We all spend a lot of time being impressed by folks we’ve never met. Somebody featured in the media who’s got a big company, a big product, a big movie, a big bestseller. Whatever.” So writes cartoonist Hugh Macleod.
He’s describing me all right.
Add to that list, being impressed by folks who’ve got a “big income, big volume in the business, thousands in the downline in 15 months, is now a big hitter, etc”
Then, he adds, “we spend even more time trying unsucccessfully to keep up with them. Trying to start up our own companies, our own products, our own film projects, books and whatnot.” Has he been in my brain today?
And add to his list, ” trying desperately to get our own big fat organizations with accompanying checks and recognition” yes?
Especially when that is all that is talked about by leaders and those on stage.
What gives someone’s good work in, say in Hugh MacLeod’s field, art, an edge? Hugh explains his own (years in coming) success by telling us simply, “Put the hours in; do it for long enough and magical, life-transforming things happen eventually.”
Note: He cautions those seeking success: “don’t quit your day job, I didn’t…I spent 1-2 hours each day (for years) doing this, and I spent the days at the office, like a regular schmo.” Why? To manage his stamina for it. Since it WAS a challenge for him, like it is for us.
His conclusion?
“Simply put,” he writes, “my method allows me to pace myself over the long haul, which is important.” Because,
“stamina is utterly important. And stamina is only possible if it’s managed well.”
So ladies, if you are one of the almost 8.5 in 10 people in our industry who is PART TIME, consider these words of advice, from a wonderful person who’s gone through the same thing we’re going through now…and who has finally made it by managing his own stamina and attitude, over the long haul.
Give yourself that hour a day or two, and decide to get just one more customer, or perhaps one distributor, and give each moment of energy and resources to that single goal. SMALL, tiny goals are easier for the mind to believe it can achieve than big, huge giant far out ones. Chunk your dreams down into little tiny goals: One customer right now, or perhaps one new rep. (Versus 200 customers, and 5 new big hitters, goals which are certain to kill off your belief, stamina, will and self esteem in short order given they are unlikely to be achieved within the week, month, or year.)
Can you let yourself plan for the long haul? A day and a customer at a time?
So you don’t give up on yourself by mistake?
