Success isn’t sexy.
A lot of “gurus” (especially of the online variety) want you to believe success is sexy.
Their business model depends on it.
They want you to buy into the seductive belief that they hold a Golden Key (in the form of a system, product, seminar, etc.) that will unlock untold riches with practically no work at all on your part… if you’ll just fork over $997 first.
But, alas, success doesn’t work that way.
If it were possible to copy and paste your way to riches, the whole world would be filled with millionaires.
But you know this already.
Me too.
(Even though, sigh, I’ve fallen for a few “Golden Keys” in my time. Spoiler: They were a waste of money.)
No, we all know that at the end of the day success is a product of hard work.
Right?
Well, that’s where things get a bit trickier...
Think of someone who has excelled in their field in a truly exceptional way.
I’m talking about Michael Jordan. Steve Jobs. Mozart. Beyonce.
Folks who represent, without question, the pinnacle of success in their particular field.
Now be honest:
When you think of these Titans of Success you probably envision someone with oodles of drive who isn’t afraid to work hard… but… are ideas like “talented”, “special” and “gifted” creeping into your mind as well?
For most people, the answer is yes.
And it’s been that way for thousands of years.
Literally.
Homer’s Illiad (8th century BC) speaks of mortal men who possessed gifts of oratory, song and warfare from the gods.
We’ve long held (at least here in the West) that success on a monumental scale is determined by some quasi-mystical innate ability: talent.
We pay lip service to hard work, sure.
But really MASSIVE success?
C’mon.
You’re either born with talent or, well, you’re not.
When Prince died suddenly last month newsfeeds were filled with stories about how the world lost a “rare talent”.
What you didn’t hear as much about was the fact that Prince, as the son of a jazz pianist, grew up in a home that encouraged his interest in music.
And by the time Prince made his national debut in 1978, he’d been practicing, playing and performing intensely for the previous 15 years in his native Minneapolis.
No doubt Prince was an incredible songwriter and performer.
But a rare talent?
Nope.
He just worked harder than most of his peers.
The idea that Prince (or Steve Jobs or Jack Welch or Beyonce or whoever) achieved greatness as the result of a profound, unique talent is appealing.
It’s sexy.
But just like the idea of a Golden Key that brings riches without effort it’s also false.
And that’s a wonderful thing.
Why?
Because it shows that success on a massive scale is within reach for all of us if we’re willing to put in the sweat, tears and damn hard work to achieve it.
I don’t reckon the idea of success as a product of intense effort will sell many info products.
It’s not gonna make any of the so-called gurus rich.
But, that’s fine.
Because it’s an idea I can put to work in my own business and take all the way to the bank.
To your success,
Paul
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