Success is something that seems so far away, but is often closer than you think. Think of the times you began working on a new project only to feel like you completed it without success. You probably felt like a failure. The difference between failure and success is drive. We tend to settle for mediocrity when we could easily push just a little harder to achieve the success we desire.
Being able to see success more consistently in your life, is in your ability to continue the task at hand. It is critical to push past the idea of being “normal.” Stop using phrases like, “it’s not perfect, we did our best” or “we’ll come back to it.” Chances are you have used these phrases, and you probably have settled and never came back to the project. Once we make up our mind to move on, even for a moment, we settle and pull out. Newton’s Second Law of Motion tells us, “a body in motion stays in motion.” Ceasing to move is the most critical determiner of failure.
Consider the fable about the tortoise and the hare. The hare started off making fun of the tortoise, because he was slow and was seemingly unable to beat the hare during a race. I’m brought back to the imagdry that was exibited during Disney’s 1934, “Tortoise and the Hare” cartoon. At first you see the Hare who is presented as the obvious winner. The tortoise is laughed at, as the begins to leave his house. The tortoise wishes the hare good luck and “let the best man win,” but the Hare so arrangantly thanks tortoise and says, “I will!” Everyone begins to laugh. It is the toroises great attitude that brings him through the race, while the arrogence of the hare brings about his loss. The hare begins the race quickly, as the tortoise begins slowly. The hare decides to take a break and rest, while the tortoise slowly moves forward. The hare wakes only to zip past the tortoise and stops for some female rabbits who sit upon a fence. He gloats about how good he is, while the tortoise goes past him. The hare takes time to play with the female rabbits. During his time of showing off for the girls, the hare hears a celebration taking place, as the tortoise approaches the line and the hare speeds off to complete the race, but it is too late, the tortoise has won.
Think of your ability to achieve the ultimate win. If you run as fast as you can, you will soon run out of drive. If you continue along the journey at a steady pace, you will reach your goal. It may take you longer than expected, but as long as you pursue it, you will accomplish the task-at-hand.
I challenge you to keep moving toward your goal(s). Do not slow, but consistently run toward your goal(s) and see the fruit of drive.