By Cancelo Alvarez
Energy — that internal force most of us had in abundance in childhood — becomes rarer in adulthood. And yet, adulthood is when we need it most.
One of the most eye-opening, yet basic truths I recently discovered: The professionals, the icons, the best creators we look up to — are simply the most energetic individuals — most productive, most curious, most consistent — mentally & physically. And then, we cannot help but call them talented, brilliant, intelligent.
But here's the heart of the matter: Anyone can be curious, anyone can be consistent. It just costs a tremendous amount of energy. Which the winners & creators are willing to pay.
And as a result - they build incredible speed, which, over the years, widens the gap — like a marathon — where we all begin as a large group but finish scattered around — the winners & leaders of the pack miles & years ahead.
It is energy, it is eagerness, best articulated as:
The most glowing successes are but the reflections of an inner fire.
So — dear reader, in pursuit of ambitious goals — it is less talent, luck, or intelligence that will get you there, but energy, volition, courage to act.
The courage to ask again after rejection — the energy to run this week, again — the volition to create on a blank piece of paper again after throwing the draft in the dustbin.
...
This article was inspired by these two profound reflections on what separates those who achieve extraordinary things from those who don't:
When you think something’s impossible, consider this: people who achieve extraordinary things are willing to endure what others won’t.
Take SpaceX. In 2002, most experts said private companies couldn’t build orbital rockets. Musk accepted years of failure and ridicule that others wouldn’t.
What you call impossible is often just pain you’re unwilling to endure. — Shane Parish ⭐
"I have a theory: if you put in 80%, you get back 80% back. But if you put in 100%, you get 1, 000% back. The last 20% is where the magic happens. Because almost nobody is mad enough to go all in. Only a perfect storm of delusion, obsession and a pinch of childhood trauma makes that extra 20% possible. It's the part where you keep going long after logic says retreat. Where your biggest weakness becomes your biggest strength: an inability to stop. Because at a certain point, success isn't about talent or luck. It's about who's willing to suffer for the longest. Pain is the filter. Few pass it." — Seif El‑Sahly
Wow. First of all, I love how the image you included perfectly aligns with the theme of the blog. Secondly, I’m honestly struggling to find the right words to describe how I feel after reading this article — it’s exactly what I needed. Every line carries deep wisdom and speaks volumes about your growth as a writer.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me wonder what kind of brilliance I’ll be reading a decade from now if you keep writing like this. I’m so proud of you — but more than that, your writing is making a powerful impact on my life. I truly hope more people discover your blog and feel inspired to take action in their own lives too.
There’s a lot for me to reflect on, but this line will stay with me throughout the week:
“What you call impossible is often just pain you’re unwilling to endure.”
I’ll be holding onto that until I re-read this article again.