“We are made to persist. That’s how we find out who we are.”
Tobias Wolff, American author.
Ever have one of those days when dealing with the details bogs you down? When you’re working in the trenches on your business, it’s too easy to lose sight of the importance of consistent, incremental improvement. You may begin to feel that your small efforts won’t pay off, and then the negative self-talk begins (“What’s the point?”).
We all have these days. Accept them. Your job on these days is simply to prevent them from extending into seasons. One off day? No problem. An off month? You’re sliding into the danger zone.
One thing you can do to mitigate the impact of an occasional down day is to remember that the profound effect of your efforts today are most likely to pay off in the long run. Restore your faith and rebuild your future.
Much like the power of compound interest, a few dollars deposited today can mean a significant difference in a distant tomorrow. Imagining all your smallest efforts as a kind of retirement account can help you take the long view.
Impatience is often our greatest enemy, because it works against our faith in ourselves. The best way to restore our faith is to continue to show up. Adjust your sights for the long view. Canyons were cut by rivers, and glaciers moved steadily and slowly to change the face of the Earth. You possess a similar power. Trust what you do today matters: Your tomorrows depend on it.
