May 22, 2018 |

Success Has a Price

There have always been people who want something for nothing. But there are many more of them now. Technology has made important things free. Take knowledge, for example. My nephew flips diesel pickups as a hobby. He researches dozens of pickups online in search of one that has problems – sometimes significant problems. Occasionally the problems are significant to the owner, but somewhat easy to fix…if you know what you’re doing. He buys the truck at a deep discount, fixes it, and sells for a tidy profit. I asked him once, “How do you always know how to fix these things?” His reply was classic. “I don’t,” he says. “When I get stuck, I just go find a YouTube video and teach myself how to do it.”
Technology has made important things free. But success still has a price. For my nephew, the price is time, effort, money, risk and the willingness to learn. And fail. And try again, but with more knowledge.
More than ever, people want to experience success without paying any price. The universe isn’t designed that way. If you want to win, you have to play. If you want to play, you have to practice. You have to learn. You have to fail. And you have to try again.
So, the next time you find yourself feeling aggravated or being impatient, pause. Are you expecting something for nothing? Success has a price. Perhaps you’re paying it. If you are…take a deep breath, smile and dive right back in.