So you’ve decided to separate yourself from the competitive crowd through fundamentally simple work over a meaningful length of time?
I don’t know how long it will take, but there is a good chance you expect your work to separate you too soon. You check and compare frequently hoping to see yourself rise above, stand out, be recognized, or gain the big payoff from your work.
This is dangerous and foolish. Quickly, I’ll tell you why.
It’s dangerous because it sets you up for regular disappointment during the extended time where you just need to do focused, purposeful work. It’s also dangerous because it sets you up to resent the people or institutions that don’t recognize your value the way you want. Keep your optimism and energy focused on today’s work.
It’s foolish because you never really see the separation happening up close while you’re working on it. No one does. You might feel it. You might sense it. I hope you believe it. But you won’t see it until late, late, late in the process almost like an epiphany.
Once again (let it sink in deep this time): Fundamentally simple work . . . with focused purpose . . . at intense effort . . . over a meaningful length of time . . . eventually separates those who gain value from those who lose it.
Everything is training for something. Do the work.
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