If you have asked yourself, like me did, why after years of “hard work”, you are still far away from where you want to be. There are two potential reasons. Reason no.1: You are working in the wrong field. A field that doesn’t match your raw talent. Reason no.2: The frequency and intensity of your effort are not enough.
If you haven’t found a field you feel strong about. Keep exploring. I know it might sound alien for people aged 40 or older, or have already been on a given path for many years. It is never too late to start and it is true.
But more often than not, the mediocre life we are living is due to reason No.2. Ask yourself, what is one thing you have done EVERYDAY for more than ten minutes in the past week, past month, past year? Not including our basic needs of survival of course. If you can’t name one thing, then you have your answer.
If you want to be really good at something, you have to show up, every day. Period. Frequency is the path to excellence. When you have frequency, then you need to push on intensity. But frequency itself will get you far enough.
What’s the enemy of frequency? Boredom. Repeat one thing over and over again is boring, even if it is your favorite activity. Playing tennis once a week is fun, playing tennis every day? Not so much. Playing tennis eight hours every day? It sounds like hell. But that is what differentiates pro and amateur.
Now, if you want to be good at something, embrace boredom. For tolerance of boredom is your ticket to something greater than you currently have. There are many ways you can “sweeten” the offerings, but it will be days that none of the sweeteners work. Those testing moments on every seemingly mundane day, form the watershed of a great and an average life.
Don’t break the streak.
Dreamerella 