Have you ever noticed that most of the “stuff” they try to sell us here on the information super highway, on television, and at the big box retailers has the tag “easy” attached to it? In fact most everything I see has “quick and easy” attached to it. Whether it’s about getting rich (never quick or easy), losing weight (definitely not quick or easy), finding a soulmate (you must be kidding me!), or any other variety of solutions and schemes, rarely is anything truly quick or easy. (I know OfficeMax would argue this with their Easy Button, really it should be a “simple” button.)
Most things though are “simple.” We make them hard or perceive them as difficult because they require discipline. Losing weight isn’t easy, it is simple. It means adjusting your diet and adding exercise. This isn’t rocket science but to hear most complain about it and to see how few do it, you’d think it was. The same goes for success in business. Most people would rather look for a quick fix (doesn’t exist) than take the simple solution of applying themselves with discipline, day after day to turn their short term results into long term rewards.
A colleague of mine, Rory Vaden, has an awesome quote:
Success is never owned, it is only rented; and the rent is due every day.
(and if you doubt this applies, just substitute any word in the front of this, for example: great health, loving relationships, a fantastic self image, confidence and more.)
When you give up on easy and go for simple and apply that long lost self discipline to take the steps necessary, you will find that your rewards will come more easily. With exercise and proper diet, the weight will come off. With the regular strategic implementation of marketing strategies and customer communication, your business will grow. With a concerted effort to get rid of your emotional baggage and get yourself out there in fun activities, you can meet your soulmate. It’s simple, it’s not easy. Don’t get confused, use self discipline.
What have you done lately that required discipline, brought you rewards and proved this adage: It’s simple, it’s not easy?
Love Rory’s quote and this post. Well-stated, as you usually are Melissa. We can be our own worst enemies by failing to apply systems and strategies. Our lives would be so much simpler, you are right, if we were consistently more disciplined!
Hey Sarah,
Yes Rory rocked it at the Nashville Speaker Training event I attended and inspired this post! I’m renewing my own lapsed disciplinary practices.
Full speed ahead.
Hugs, Melissa
Good stuff Melissa. So true! We use that phrase in Mary Kay, so to read it here was a breath of fresh air. There are indeed many simple things in life but they sure aren’t easy and self-discipline and commitment are definitely needed to make those goals come to pass. Love it! Thanks 🙂
Thanks Detra,
Sounds like you know this well and it has led you to where you are!
Hugs, Melissa
Short term pain vs long term gain comes with clarity about what you want and why you want it. When the passion has been tapped into the discipline usually follows. If you are not willing to do the things necessary, like eliminate procrastination, success is further away than you would like. That’s one of the many reasons to work with someone of tour caliber. You help break through the fog and see the road ahead and come up with the strategy to get to the next mile marker. Can you tell I read about your travel troubles in your newsletter?
That was suppose to be you caliber. Thats what you get when commentingon blogs at the doctors office from your iPhone 🙂
Grrrr. Your! Your caliber! I need a delete button like on Facebook 🙂
Thanks Nora,
Ahh yes, roads ahead are clear indeed!
And this is why I don’t text but instead rely on my full laptop keyboard, LOL.
Hugs, Melissa
Interesting how difficult it is to keep it simple.
Multi-tasking, jumping from one thing to the next constantly, leads to tiredness, confusion and the feeling that there is never enough time in the day.
Whenever I’m mindful to just do one thing at a time life become simple and everything flows.
(Like you, I stopped believing in the “quick and easy” a long time ago!)
Thanks Melissa.
Kate
Yes Kate,
It can be surprisingly difficult to KISS! Being mindful is key and something I am constantly working on.
Hugs, Melissa
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