Success Has Its Own Schedule
“Success is never owned; it is rented, and the rent is due every day”
- J. J. Watt
Those driven to success will find themselves caught in a constant race toward milestones. When I was 8 years old, I told Nate Low I would win a Super Bowl. If success were on our schedule, I would have won one in my 20s, not when I was almost 50. John Wayne wouldn’t have had to wait until he was 62 to win his only Academy Award. Bruce Springsteen, who has sung his heart out for over 50 years, would have had at least one song make it to number one.
Success is one fickle bitch!
But I know one thing. Those who succeed didn’t get there by luck. Success demands that you pay the price without any guarantee that you will ever get the prize you have chased your whole life. But that’s where the fun is; more importantly, it is what separates those who only “want” to be successful and those who have a “passion”.
The Wisdom of Seasons
Life is like nature's seasons. Each phase has its own lessons, shaping us into who we are meant to become. We can’t rush through them to get to our desired outcome.
A friend of mine, a chiropractor, told me that when my son was born, don’t hurry him into walking; each phase of the process is a learning stage that he must get through at his own pace. If we hurry them through, he will never achieve the level he was meant to.
This stuck with me as I watched him go through his movement stages until he took his first steps when he was ready for them. I took Dr. Petty’s words and applied them to my career. I couldn’t rush it because it wasn’t my season to be successful. I didn’t have the know-how to be successful. I needed to keep learning so when the time was right, I would have the answers needed to shape a championship team.
During my career, I saw many excellent coaches stop the learning process and jump to jobs they weren’t prepared for. They wanted the outcome before they had learned the steps of the process. How was I so lucky to understand that lessons came with the seasons? Because I was that coach when I was young. I didn’t think there was any more to learn. So, I became a head coach and learned the hard lesson that long-term success doesn’t come to those who are unprepared.
Imagine standing in an orchard during springtime. Buds are just beginning to bloom; everything feels fresh and full of potential. Yet, if you were to pluck those buds prematurely, they would never reach their full glory as ripe fruits. Similarly, rushing through educational milestones can lead to missed opportunities for growth and understanding. It wasn’t until later that I realized how each challenge I encountered was a blessing in my development as a coach, just as each season had prepared me for the next step.
Preparing for Your Future
Education is not merely a series of checkpoints; it’s a difficult path with experiences that prepare us for our futures. Every lesson learned adds depth to our skill set and broadens our perspectives. The hard part is that preparation requires time, a luxury that we often overlook when we are young as we race down our path trying to become successful.
Most don’t appreciate this fact until they have traveled through most of their seasons. Age gives us perspective. I hope young coaches and professionals read this and slow the pursuit of their next conquest. I hope that they stop looking for open jobs on the internet. Instead, they spend time studying their craft. Searching for the answers that they will need to have to be successful
Too often, we get so focused on the outcome of our dreams that we forget to prepare for the day when we get to our dream job. It’s the process that makes the outcome happen.
Surround Yourself with Truthtellers
As you navigate your path, surround yourself with truthtellers who offer honest feedback rather than empty praise. These people will help you understand which milestones are worth pursuing and which will take you off your path to being who you were meant to be.
A truthteller may be a lifelong friend, someone with similar professional experiences, or someone you work with. The thing to remember is that your truthtellers don’t just highlight strengths; they aren’t afraid to point out areas needing improvement while at the same time encouraging you to grow at every stage of your journey.
Seek Mentorship
Mentors are not always your truthtellers. They play a vital role in transforming dreams into reality. These types of relationships take time to develop. Finding someone you respect and whose passion parallels your path is sometimes difficult. Being a mentor is time-consuming and a matter of great trust on both sides. These people will give you access not only to their wisdom but also to their secrets of success and the networking that allowed them to become successful.
Creating a smart plan involves identifying potential mentors early on, not just when seeking jobs or making transitions but throughout your work experiences. This forward-looking approach ensures you build relationships based on mutual respect over time rather than hastily seeking assistance when needed.
I made huge leaps in my journey when Vince Anderson, the smartest person in speed development in the world, allowed me to sit with him while he watched his track practices on video. From there, he saw I had a spark, which he could kindle by giving me hours and hours of speed tape to watch.
Vince wouldn’t give me the answers; I had to ask the right questions to “earn the information.” Because of this method, I not only learned the techniques but also learned how to see the problems develop before they become problems.
Trusting Your Journey
Ultimately, don’t rush your dreams; allow yourself space for exploration and discovery along your unique path! Life unfolds beautifully when we embrace each season's lessons—just as nature intended—with patience leading us toward the much-desired outcomes.
So, enjoy where you are today while preparing for tomorrow. Trust that everything has its rightful season, and know that each moment paves your way toward something extraordinary ahead!
Have an amazing day!
