Everyone wants to be successful at something in their life. It might be at our jobs or starting our own business. You might be searching for success with playing an instrument, singing or learning a new language. All of these are admirable goals that require a great deal of time and patience. If you are looking for a good book on how to achieve success, you will probably want to pour a cup of coffee and dedicate the rest of the afternoon. There are a plethora of great books on success in print. The biggest problem I have run up against over the years is human nature, which appears to be in opposition to success in some aspects. I want to address briefly some of those human aspects that keep us from training properly to reach our goals.

1. The evolution of the “thrill ride”. I know this sounds strange but stay with me. When I was a child the first ride I can remember is the carousel. The ride that have the horses with a pole through its body and this allows the horse to go up and down while the carousel turns in a circle. The first time I rode this as a kid I thought about it for days afterwords. Then I went on a small roller coaster and the carousel seemed a little dull. I progressed in age and the amusement park rides became faster, bigger, and more exciting. Fast forward ahead and by the time I was 25 the carousel seemed unbelievably dull. The ride did not change over the years but my desire for excitement certainly evolved. Is it possible training is exciting when first started until we realize the work and time it is going to require from us to become proficient? I think we all know this answer before it is ever asked.
2. Feedback, just tell me what I want to hear. This spills over into every part of human life. When we ask for feedback we are really asking another person to validate what we believe is true. The shock to the system comes when people are not overwhelmed by our abilities. The danger here is to adjust your training in whatever area of endeavor we are pursuing to the “Likes” of others. Social media did not create the monster of instant gratification, it just feeds this monster on a regular basis. I will give you a hint we should all adhere to: When you first start doing something, your skills are lacking. Be careful to develop your craft and not chase after the “Likes” of social media. Develop your skills over time and people that need what you have will begin to find you.
3. Training is dull in its very essence. Once you practice a skill, using and observing great techniques as your practice, you will get better. Unfortuately, you have to pay your dues with time and practice. It is for this very reason, we should always pursue things we have a passion for doing. Pink Floyd had a song titled “Dark Side of the Moon”. In theory, it is the side of the moon that the earth never sees. Can you imagine if your talents had the same description? Would you be content to write a blog that very few people might read? If you are not willing to do something for the sake of your own satisfaction, I doubt seriously if you will ever be satisfied by it’s results. You need to love the process of developing your talents as much as you love displaying the results. The whole process is meaningless without this step.

In conclusion, we need to understand our need to be wowed or thrilled by things. We also need to realize that while feedback is important for development it should not solely drive our reason for pursuing our goals. Finally, we need to realize that training is a dull process. We must enjoy the advancements we make without the constant need for social media feedback. Do you have a goal you have not started doing yet? Start today, and realize this is a long term commitment and just enjoy the process. The things we love and have passion for become our greatest talents. Just don’t rush the process.