 Take the Easy Way Out :
Recently, I called a friend to compliment him on yet
another successful project. In turn, he
complimented me on a recent deal I'd put together.
Before long, our conversation resembled a meeting of
the Mutual Admiration Society. I'd compliment him
and he'd say, "That's nothing. What's amazing is
how you did - " And I'd reply, "Oh please! That's
simple. What's hard is the way you did -"
If someone had been eavesdropping on our
conversation, they probably would have thought that
we were being falsely immodest. Yet, the truth of
the matter is that neither of us is tremendously
impressed with our accomplishments. This is because
they come easily to us. In short, we take the easy
way out.
By taking the easy way out, I don't mean that we
take shortcuts or give less than our best efforts.
What I do mean is that we concentrate our efforts on
those things that come easiest to us. For example,
sales and marketing comes easily to me. On the
other hand, organization and record keeping isn't my
strong suit. As a result, I spend most of my time
engaged in sales and marketing and almost none of my
time organizing files or keeping records. The same
is true for my friend, who is a gifted communicator
and spends most of his time doing just that.
Take the Easy Way Out (Part II)
In fact, taking the easy way out is the key to
success for most super successful people. Take, for
instance, Bill Gates. Do you think he started
programming computers as a teenager because he knew
that it would be a multibillion dollar industry?
Perhaps, but I doubt it. I suspect that he started
programming computers for the same reason that
Michael Jordan started shooting hoops and Barry
Bonds started hitting baseballs - it came easily to him.
What comes most easily to you? Are you really good
with your hands? Or are you a really creative
person who can create colorful stories and
characters? Or are you a natural at planning and
organization? Or are you naturally gifted with
people? Can you walk into a room and instantly
strike up a conversation with anyone there?
Whatever it is that comes most easily to you, that's
what you should be spending your time doing.
By taking the easy way out, you greatly increase
your chances for success. Sure, you can't just
coast on natural ability. You need to hone your
craft. However, by working on a craft in which you
have a natural ability, you greatly improve your
chances of achieving mastery.
On the other hand, by trying to do something for
which you don't have a natural inclination, you
almost certainly guarantee failure. For one, the
level of frustration at the early stages will tempt
you to throw up your hands and ask, "What's the
use?" And even if you are tough enough not to quit,
you will most likely scale back your expectations.
You'll correctly perceive that if it was hard for
you at the beginning level, then you have almost no
chance at the advanced levels. Therefore, at best,
you will consign yourself to a life of mediocrity,
in which your aim is to just "get by."
For me, just getting by in a world full of
opportunities to "get ahead" is unacceptable. And
as someone who is taking the time to read this
newsletter, you probably feel the same way. You
want (and deserve) to enjoy the best that life has
to offer. And, ironically, the way to make the most
out of your dash is to "take the easy way out."
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