Hello friends. The last time we talked, I’d just received my cancer diagnosis and was about to kick off an aggressive chemo treatment. I just wrapped up that treatment a few weeks ago and have spent some time reflecting on the journey.
In all honesty, I’d hoped to have some grand epiphany that unlocked the key to the universe and the secret of life, but it never came. No clouds parted and no angels sang. Instead, I got a great reminder that success comes not from one giant earth-shattering stroke, but from thousands of steps, tiny victories, stumbles, triumphs, and pitfalls.
Early in my treatment plan, I tried to envision the finish line and plan the steps that would see me through. I planned healthy eating and exercise aimed at crushing cancer. I read blogs and asked friends about what worked for them. I even organized work so that I could continue to make progress on my projects.
Then the reality of chemo set it and threw all my plans out the window. It’s hard to worry about maintaining a balanced diet when chemo puts you in the hospital for 6 days with an 80% mortality rate. At the same time, we had some incredible moments of laughter with family and great friends, and a deeper appreciation for the community that surrounds us. Talk about a roller coaster.
Isn’t that just like any success we want to create for ourselves? Whether career advance or kicking cancer to the curb, we have some grand picture in mind, and create the perfect plans to go make that dream a reality. We believe in ourselves and pull together everything we need, only to have all of that go up in flames every other step along the path.
Since we can’t avoid the ups-and-downs, what do we do instead? Start with understanding what you’re passionate about and use it to point yourself in the right direction. Then take steps to create daily or weekly micro-successes. You’ll find joy in these victories, because they’re manifestations of your passion. You’ll also more easily weather obstacles because you’re acting from a higher purpose, and you’ll see pitfalls as a necessary part of acting out that passion.
Whether you want to beat cancer, start a company, get a promotion or something else, there’s no easy straight path to the finish line. If you want to create your next great success, start with passion and use that to fuel you along the jagged path forward.
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Photo by Hello I’m Nik on Unsplash
