Whenever you first begin a new pursuit, whether it’s building a new business, working on an advanced degree, changing careers, training for an athletic event, or anything else, it’s easy to get discouraged when you think about how many steps are involved and how far away your goal appears to be.
I believe that anything worth achieving comes through hard work and determination. I also know that anything worth doing comes with plenty of obstacles and difficulties. It can be overwhelming when we think about how much work is left to be done and how many hurdles we have yet to leap over. We invariably ask ourselves questions like, “Is it worth it? Can I do it? How long will it take? Will I ever get there? Should I just forget about this dream?”
No one can answer those questions for you – the answers lie with you and the internal drive that is pushing you forward toward your goals. However, I can offer a bit of encouragement through this quote from author Mike Dooley:
“The one thing all famous authors, world class athletes, business tycoons, singers, actors, and celebrated achievers in any field have in common is that they all began their journeys when they were none of these things.”
This is an obvious statement, but also an often-needed, inspirational reminder. Everyone who has achieved any measure of success started exactly where you and I started. One of the great lessons and equalizers in life is the reality that we all have to start at the beginning. No person was ever born who could already walk, run, talk and carry on a serious conversation. We can’t even see clearly when we are born. We all start at the beginning.
So if you’re just starting out on a new journey – good for you! Go for it. If you are wondering if you’ll ever make it to your destination, please remember two very crucial facts of life:
- Every celebrated achiever in the history of the world had to start somewhere. And there’s no better or more rewarding place to start than at the beginning!
- In virtually all cases, the journey is far more important, enjoyable, fulfilling and valuable than the destination. The true fulfillment and value is in the journey!
Go ahead. Find some new journeys, destinations and goals for which you have great passion. Start at the beginning with the end in mind. Then enjoy the journey as you invest your life in service to others!
