Everyone is looking for the edge that will take them to the next level. We are looking for the secret that will unlock a world that seems just beyond our reach. It appears that others have found this secret and are tight lipped. If we could just figure out what they know then all of our problems would be solved. We would finally be able to achieve our dreams.
No matter what you are trying to do there seems to be a hidden secret. Magazines, emails, blogs, conferences, and seminars all push this secret…”The Secrets of Weight-Loss,” “The Secrets Every Millionaire Knows,” “The Secret to Looking Younger,” “The Secret to Explosive Growth in Your Business.” I’ve even seen the same idea used to push spiritual ideas…”The Secret to Effective Prayer,” or “The Secrets to Church Growth.”
I’m sure you could list a few “secrets” people will sell you if you are willing to shell out enough money. Let me save you a lot of money and I’ll tell you the secret right now…there is no secret.
The big secret in weight-loss: It comes down to calories in vs. calories out or in other words- eat fewer calories than your body consumes. (Shocker!)
The big secret to retiring rich: Spend less than you make and invest at least 10% a year over your working years. (Mind-bending!)
If you have a basic understanding about any of these topics you’ll do fine. If you chase wisdom instead of secrets you’ll really excel! The problem is not that a few elite people are keeping a secret from everyone else, the problem is that most people don’t want to do the hard work that success requires. They want a quick easy fix.
If you’ve done anything that took time and considerable work (finished a degree, competed in an endurance race, etc.) you know it doesn’t happen without perseverance and faithfulness…keeping your hand to the plow and fixing your eyes on the goal. There are lots of boring and routine days that eventually lead to success. The temptation is that anytime we see someone who accomplished something great is to think they were born with superhuman talent or they possessed some secret that the rest of us have yet to discover.
It’s easy to confuse the rewards of success with the habits of success.
You don’t get a great free-throw percentage without taking 1000’s of practice shots a week. You show up in the rain, sleet, snow and you shoot. You show up when everyone else is going on vacation or going to the movies. You show up when you’re throwing up and it’s the last thing you want to do.
The reward of success is a great free-throw percentage, the habit of success is showing up to practice. When the habit stops, so will the success.
When we act like success is a secret we unintentionally take on a victim mentality. We tell ourselves we aren’t successful because we don’t know a secret. That kind of thinking will keep you chasing after lighting wondering why you can’t get ahead.
The real secret is what you are willing to take responsibility for. Whatever you take responsibility for will eventually get better. Whatever you ignore, excuse, and blame will always get worse. (But who wants to buy a secret like that?)
When people look for a secret they are trying to find a short-cut that avoids hard work, persistence, wisdom, and self-control. Those who understand and embrace what success demands through hard work, persistence, wisdom, and self-control will be getting closer to their dreams with every passing day. Those who don’t will keep wasting time and money buying the next secret.
So don’t worry, you aren’t missing out on a shortcut. Keep being faithful to the habits of success and eventually the rewards of success will find you.
