Is there one Thing that makes your heart sing?
Something you get lost in? A pursuit that drives you, animates you, and exhilarates you like nothing else? Hours fly when you’re immersed in it?
Then why are you not doing it every day?
Would you like to turn this interest into something greater and let that crackerjack within you out? Guess what? There’s no secret to it. It’s all about mindset and work.
Let me tell you a story.
I excelled at middling for years. Wasting precious time on the most trivial things in the history of the universe.
Aspiring to mediocrity was my specialty.
My template was a standard issue boilerplate for living.
I defined unexceptional. I was oh, so run-of-the-mill.
So concerned with what people thought of me, I never learned to let my heart sing.
You know what I call that kind of internal babble? Distraction. Nothing more, nothing less.
People will suck the life out of you if you let them. The only way to kick those vampires to the curb is to change your internal dialog.
Silence the negative chatter, keep dreaming, but do the work.
Life can be amazing, yet most of us take the easy route and skip extraordinary.
The path of least resistance was my speciality for years.
The power was in me, although I wouldn’t let it out.
I worked frantically on all the wrong things.
I let people get to me and distraction ruled.
I gave up too easily and never stuck it out.
If you’ve ever accomplished something special: Completed a marathon, gave a killer speech, or finished a giant project, you know the feeling that comes after such an achievement. It’s like a pulse grenade of euphoria, tranquility and satisfaction.
It’s pretty damned spectacular really. Kaboom, right?
The intoxication never lasts though. You win, you receive praise, yet that cloud nine sensation vanishes in the blink of an eye.
This was part of my problem. I wasn’t prepared to grind it out. To turn my passions into work. I thought there was a “finish line” and wasn’t prepared to start anew when the fireworks were over.
Note to self: When you think you’re done, you’re not. Keep going.
Do you want to rock that craft and make your heart sing?
You need to prepare for a long-ass haul and become the work horse you know you are.
The three pillars below helped me. Once I got out of my dreamland and created habits based on these three “non-secrets,” I felt like I had discovered gold nuggets of wisdom.
There’s nothing special about these three regulars, unless you practice them every day. In this case, consistency equals power.
3 Simple Steps to Hone Your Own Special Form of Genius
1. Focus
You don’t need me to tell you this right? I’m not saying put blinders on, but for success, other pursuits should be peripheral. You need to hone in and spend more time on Your Thing.
2. Dedication
Dogged perseverance. Resolute tenacity. I think Thomas Edison coined the term, Sticktoitiveness, which just about sums it up. There’s power in slogging it out day after day.
3. Stamina
There is nothing like good old Patience, but you need endurance to see things through. The pro’s train doesn’t stop. When you think you’re done, you’re not. But most of all, don’t give up. Many give up when they’re 90-percent there.
Laser in, stick with it and prepare for a marathon.
It sounds simple, but it’s not. It’s so basic, yet few follow through.
If you’re mostly focused on an end point, you will be sorely disappointed. Stop driving blind.
If you’re looking for rewards, money or recognition, you’re going down the wrong track.
Focus on what makes you sing. Work will be your reward.
Trust me, comfort is your adversary. It was my nemesis for years and I’m still fighting if off.
Passions are great, but without the work nothing ever comes to fruition.
Passion. Focus. Tenacity. Endurance. There is you. There is work. There is love and there is now.
Keep dreaming but start working.
What is your craft, your thing?
What gets in the way of this pursuit?
Do focus, dedication and stamina work for you?
If you liked this piece, you should check out my Art of Breaking Out Podcast. I interview guests who will help move the needle in your business, and motivate you to push through the fear, uncertainty, and self-doubt any aspiring business owner faces on a daily basis. Get the details on why I started the Art of Breaking Out Podcast here.
Craig McBreen
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