Success is rarely easy.
It typically comes at a high price paid in a currency borne out of hard work and perseverance. To read of someone’s smooth ascent to success is to learn nothing — the battles for success are where the real lessons are learned.
Success is a topic at the forefront of my mind right now as I struggle with a health and fitness program called P90X that I started seven weeks ago. My story so far is a textbook example of everything that is real about the path to success: the hard work, unanswered questions, unforeseen complications and inevitable setbacks.
In this post I want to explain what I think it takes to succeed with anything in life — be it a fitness programme or an online business. Although the circumstances can be very different, the story is often the same.
You Will Never Be Completely Ready
Before I started P90X I had more questions than answers. There was so much about the program that I didn’t fully understand. That lack of knowledge was in part why I had never undertaking such an endeavour before.
So what changed? Well, I decided that I wouldn’t let a lack of knowledge stop me from trying. It was the same attitude I took to making money online — when I started back in May 2011 I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but I decided to try something and see where it took me.
In reality I still have a huge number of questions and concerns about P90X. I wonder if I’m eating right and whether I have been pushing myself hard enough. I am concerned that my substitutes for the official supplements are not necessarily suitable. These are the type of concerns that can be seen as ample excuse to give up or never even try in the first place.
Success is not black and white. If you lack understanding in certain areas it does not make failure a certainty. It may reduce your chances of success, but the chance is still there to be taken. Furthermore, ignorance at the onset of an endeavour is often replaced by understanding gained through experience. There is no better feedback than that from personal experience.
It is highly unlikely that you will ever feel fully prepared for a potentially life-changing undertaking. As such, don’t use a lack of preparedness or understanding as an excuse for inaction. Someone with half the understanding that takes action has a far greater chance of success than someone with a complete understanding who does nothing.
You Will Struggle
Struggle is an inevitable presence on the path to success. By virtue of the fact that you are trying something challenging and outside of your comfort zone, you can expect to be presented with challenges and complications that you could not have possibly foreseen.
You will probably struggle more than you originally envisaged in ways that you could not have imagined. The key is in expecting to struggle and accepting it as an inevitability to be dealt with as and when it arises.
Those points at which you come up against a previously unforeseen challenge are typically pivotal moments. It is at those times that doubt will creep in. The temptation to simply give up will be strong. You will probably be required to work harder for the same outcome. Your actions in the face of those challenges play a huge part in determining your success.
Struggle shouldn’t be seen as an imposition — it is a marker of the potential for progress. If you are struggling you are not pushing yourself; if you are not pushing yourself you will not progress.
You cannot have success without struggle. It is something you should welcome as a sign that you are pushing yourself in the right direction.
You Will Question Yourself
As human beings we have a tendency to question our actions. Such questioning can be extremely valuable and should be welcomed, but you must ensure that the actions you take as a result are in your best interests.
In attempting to achieve something potentially life-changing, you will likely question yourself as to the worth of your endeavour. You will ask if what you are doing is worth the effort. You will ask if you what you are doing is actually likely of leading to the success that you crave. These questions are fuelled by doubt that can ultimately destroy what you are working towards.
Under such circumstances, you must seek to give yourself a valid answer. And there is only one way in which you can do so: to complete your undertaking.
You will only know if what you are doing is worth the effort by doing it. You will only know if what you are doing will lead to success by doing it. Anything else is guesswork.
In one respect, success and failure are both positive outcomes. Succeed and your reach your goal; fail and you will probably learn what you did wrong. That new understanding is invaluable and can fuel future success. If you give up then you have probably put in half the effort for none of the benefit. You must have more respect for yourself than that.
I am not saying that you should start something on a whim, but I am saying that once you have made the decision to try something, only the most compelling of questions should stop you from following the path you have started walking down.
It Isn’t a Case of Success or Failure
We all know what success is. We hope that we can achieve it through endeavour. But on the other hand, we fear failure. It is often what stops us from trying in the first place.
But in my opinion, if you try to succeed then failure is not an option. Even if you do not reach your goal, what you perceive as failure has probably empowered you with the potential to succeed in the future. You can dwell on the fact that you did not achieve your goal or you can recognise the value of what you have learned and move forwards.
Something you should be far more fearful of than failure is accepting the status quo. If you simply choose inaction then you are giving yourself a life sentence. Inaction gives you no chance of success. On the other hand, failure represents an opportunity to succeed in the future. It is a promise. It is one of the most valuable forms of education. It walks hand in hand with success.
What do you choose: inaction or action?
Its like what Paul McKenna says, “you have to increase your failure rate to succeed.” Invariably you are not going to get everything right first time but it is better to take action than to sit still. However, artists can sometimes struggle by never truly being able to finish, you have to reach that point where you need to suck it and see. Press submit, push the button.
I never thought I’d have someone quoting Paul McKenna to me but it’s a good saying nonetheless 😉
He has to come in useful for something! 🙂
Thanks for the inspiring words! I also always say to other people that they must take action to see what happens. Only then will you see results that lead to success or failure. And like you said, you learn your lessons and succeed partly through failing.
This one is your best blogs ever. You have really put up the intricacies of path to success or failure in such a simple way. I have taken a print out of this post and pasted it in front of my study table.
That’s awesome, glad I can help!
I love this “Struggle shouldn’t be seen as an imposition — it is a marker of the potential for progress.” You inspire me in more ways than one. I’m currently working towards making money online so I can support my family more than I am now.
I’m on week 4 of my P90x journey. I haven’t seen any noticeable changes but my work pants were a little looser when I put them on, so I’ll take what I can get!
Keep bringing it, as they say, stay the course! It’s tough but I’m sure it’s worth it.
Great post! I am making the switch in less than a year. The thought of failure scares me, but I know that I need to do this.
Absolutely — the alternative is simply to accept the status quo. That should not be an option for you.
Great post! The only way to fail is to never try at all. Sage advice and something to always keep in mind when pursuing anything be it career, personal or otherwise.
My husband and I did two rounds of P90X and not only lost weight but gained energy as well as a clearer mind. You can do it, don’t second guess yourself. If you don’t feel hungry or burned out after the workout then you’re fueling your body right. Like Tony says “Get your mind right.”
I think that’s the key Jenn — to listen to your body and not worry too much about what other people are telling you. Thanks for the advice!
You can do it Tom. I did my first beachbody work out 4 years ago and have since been hooked on them. Did P90x few times, P90x+, P90X2, Insanity, and Insanity Asylum and i’m 40 now with the next challenge arriving this week. I figure if someone almost a decade older than me (Tony) can pull that off, I have no excuses! They’re all tough but sticking with them gets you in a better place mentally and physically and then there is no turning back. Just don’t work your arms out so hard you can’t contribute to the blog we all read!
Haha, thanks Jeff, appreciate it 😉
The funny thing is that while you’re doing P90X some folks are still asking questions…And started their question session long before you did…
Very true Brooks…
Taking action is key
Hey Tom
Thanks for another honest and inspiring post
I guess its all about attitude and how you perceive life in general.
You cant see everything with a success/failure mindset. If you’re trying, you’ve already succeeded in learning something new. You’re much wiser and ultimately in a better position to make your moves.
Exactly right Jawad 🙂
This is a beautiful piece of writing – just what I needed this morning. Thank you, Tom. I’m enjoying your emails and updates.
My pleasure Monica 🙂
Great piece. I love the advice about just seeing things through. I think that is my single biggest reason for struggling in setting up my online endeavors. I’ve pulled the plug on so many things just because I “thought” it wasn’t working. Well, finish it. Then I will know for sure!
Exactly!
Another great post Tom. I’ve just started training for a half marathon having never run more than 5k before in my life! Plus I quit my job last year to become a freelance writer instead so this post speaks to me in all sorts of ways ;o)
Congratulations! It is truly amazing what we are capable of if we try to discover our limits (or get anywhere near them in fact).
Funny how out of failure success can come.
I have gone through the posts on your PX website and have read about your struggles.
I think that this is one of the best posts I’ve read from you – personal, clear, and visceral.
Many people look up to you, but don’t realise that you’re human as well.
The most important thing is a bloody minded dedication to succeeding, and understanding that as long as you keep trying, then you haven’t truly failed.
Great to see that you’re still trying . Keep it up Tom!
I am very human 😉 Thanks Daryl!
I hold much the same values you put across in this post, but this is something I haven’t thought of before:
“If you give up then you have probably put in half the effort for none of the benefit”
Why let your efforts be for nothing? Instead, continue to try and your efforts will eventually be fully jusified.
Great post Tom
Thanks Dan!
“Inaction gives you no chance of success” I think that sums everything up right there. If you don’t try you will never succeed and you will never know if you could have succeeded. I’ve given up on multiple sites before, each one gaining some experience that I hope will make the next one better. Always gotta keep trying!
THat’s the kind of attitude that’ll lead to success!
Completely agree with you. I’m always reading. There’s tons of good info in the books, no doubt. But they all mention “Just get Started!” — we kind of can’t go anywhere without that can we?
PS – nice Chuck Norris jokes 😉
In what books?
The latest 3 I’ve read were ‘Click Millionaires’ by Scott Fox, ‘Choose Yourself’ by James Altucher, and ‘Art of Non-Conformity’ by Chris Guillebeau — all undoubtedly have that message hidden within — I swear it’s implanted somewhere in Every book that I read!
Hi Tom !
I found you thanks to the Matthew Woodward income report, he is a great guy !
I am from Costa Rica (sorry for my poor english), and I know what do you mean with this post. I had panic attacks for more than 6 years, I went to different doctors, psychologist, etc. and it was always the same sh#$, pills and no sense speaches. After 6 years of panic and fear I decided to end it. I just said to myself ok buddy if you are going to die let´s do it fighting for a better life. Tom the process was very hard the human mind is so powerful but I won and like you said “you can expect to be presented with challenges and complications that you could not have possibly foreseen” I have more than that 🙂 … Everything is possible no matter how bad you feel and or if you think that there is no way out, there is always a solution, we all are going to die someday but in the meantime you choose who to live.
Now I have a travel blog with my girlfriend we left our jobs behind and we are in the process to learn how to make our living out of it, we don’t know how right now but like you said “You will only know if what you are doing is worth the effort by doing i”.
Pura vida Tom and talk to you soon. take care
Thanks for sharing your story Yeison, I appreciate it. As a past sufferer of panic attacks myself I appreciate what you’ve been through.
Well, I started working my body two years ago and I’m glad that I do that.
Being over 40, it was pretty hard for me at the beginning. but month after month, I realized that working and taking care of my body, my look and my general health is the perfect activity for men over 40.
I feel much better now, I am stronger, I have better stamina and I look good 🙂
Good for you Mark!