When you are working on building anything on your own or trying to form new, better habits, it is imperative to keep in mind that great things are not done suddenly or by accident.

They’re done one step at a time, and they are done on purpose.

Jim Rohn once said, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment.”

“Success” is not an accidental occurrence.

“Overnight success” is a complete myth.

Behind every artist or entrepreneur or business that you look up to is a well-trodden path of struggle, trial and error, discipline, focus, years and years of obscurity, and work.

You will arrive at your goals only when you become intentional about doing as such and have so organized your life and your focus that achieving them becomes inevitable.

We designed this poster a number of years ago and have had it hanging up in our office as a constant reminder that this is about discipline and focus first, long before it is about “feeling” inspired.

It is a constant reminder that “success” at any level is always about putting in the work and the discipline required to get it done.

Inspiration usually arrives when you show up, sit down and get to work.

There are highs, there are lows, and there are plateaus.

Most of the journey will often feel like the plateau…where you feel like you’re not getting anywhere.

Those are the moments that are the most important - because it’s where you learn that it’s not about the highs or the lows as much as it’s about learning to enjoy the process and getting better at your craft.

(For more on this particular bit, make sure to check out Mastery by George Leonard.)

It’s where you learn to lean in and do your art - whatever that is for you - for the sake of doing your art.

It’s where the rubber meets the road and you discover what you actually are doing all of this for in the first place.

It’s where you have to put in the work to remind yourself why you first got started on that album, or that book, or that campaign, or that painting, or that dissertation, or that research project.

It’s where you have to be one to remind yourself what is really important to you instead of looking for a quick fix or a microwave solution.

In order to see the kinds of results that you currently might only be dreaming about, you’ve got to put in the work and you’ve got to do so in a way that coincides with regular, intentional periods of rest.

You can make it easier on yourself by recognizing that it is the discipline of showing up day in and day out that gives you the strength to handle the success that you are working towards.

It might not feel glamorous (…in fact, I can all but guarantee that it will NOT feel glamorous) – but you will be able to look behind you as time goes on and say to yourself, “Wow - look at all that I’ve built and created and the connections I’ve made in the process.”

So don’t quit just because it might feel like you’re not getting anywhere.

The journey is the point…one step, one brush stroke, one word, one customer at a time.

Enjoy the ride.

What I’m Reading:

I read George Leonard’s book Mastery about a year ago and have been revisiting the concepts in it a good bit recently. He talks at length about how our collective addiction to climactic moments of triumph and success do great damage to the cultivation of our own skills, our environment, and our society…and more importantly, how to remedy it.

You can pick up a copy of the book here.

Thanks for reading - we hope this has inspired you and encouraged you to keep creating.

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Have an awesome day and keep making cool stuff!