Success: Focus on the Right, Not on the Easy
“Dark times lie ahead of us and there will be a time when we must choose between what is easy and what is right.”
- Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter)
In a world where instant gratification and shortcuts are often glorified, it can be tempting to choose the easy path. However, I have seen true success and fulfillment come from focusing on what is right, not what is easy. This mindset shift requires dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to embrace the challenges that life throws at us.
When we prioritize doing what is right over what is easy, we set ourselves up for long-term success and strengthen our resolve. This approach empowers us to make difficult decisions, step out of our comfort zones, and push ourselves beyond our self-conceived limits. While the easy path may offer temporary relief or quick fixes, it ultimately leads to stagnation and missed development opportunities. By choosing the right path, we control what we can control and pave the way for our personal and professional success.
Focusing on the right means stepping back and looking deeply at our choices and actions. It also involves considering the long-term consequences of our decisions and aligning them with our values and goals. This level type of mindset allows us to make choices that are good for ourselves and those around us. It reassures us that we are not making “knee-jerk” decisions but are taking into account our core philosophy, instilling in us the confidence to face any challenge that comes our way.
One of the things I like the most about focusing on the right is the personal growth it brings. We become stronger, more resilient individuals when we challenge ourselves and strive to be the best in everything we do. Each “wall” (See: Randy Pausch – The Last Lecture) we overcome, and each goal we accomplish builds character and confidence, bringing us one step closer to achieving our dreams. This journey of personal growth is a testament to the power of choosing what is right over what is easy.
Deciding on what is right over what is easy gives us a sense of who we can become. When we consistently make choices that align with our values and beliefs, we begin to trust ourselves more deeply. This trust forms the foundation for internal strength, both personally and professionally.
As a strength coach, I constantly focused on the technique the athletes used, whether in the weight room or on the field. If an athlete drifted into making the work “easy,” two things would occur. First, the athlete would cease to receive the value of doing the movement. Second, the athlete’s chance of injury skyrocketed.
Just like in life, when we decide to chase the easy, we stop growing as people and risk losing the ground we have gained to get to where we are. It is a lazy way to go through life. I am afraid that we will see the easy becoming more prevalent, but if we continue to strive to do what is right, we will outpace those who have traveled the easy path.
Ultimately, embracing the challenge of focusing on the right leads to personal growth and fulfillment and sets us up for success in all areas of life. We pave the way for a brighter future filled with purpose and meaning by approaching each decision with focus and a proper mindset.
Focusing on what is right rather than what is easy may require more effort and sacrifice in the beginning, but ultimately, it will lead to greater rewards in the long run. By embracing challenges head-on and making decisions that align with our goals and dreams, we set ourselves up for personal and professional success. Let us remember that true greatness lies not in taking the easy path but in having the courage to do what is right, no matter how difficult it may seem at first glance.
