There’s a quote I love by business legend Jim Rohn…
“Don’t wish it was easier – wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges wish for more wisdom”.
The reason I love it is because it sums up the journey that I see two types of people go on.
One type, wants things to be easy.
Often they say they don’t, but they do.
They want the fitness program, the business model, the relationship etc to be easy.
And when they don’t find one that it is, well, they go in search of another one.
They go through life wishing things were easier.
That kind of person drains my energy.
Can’t be around em’.
They whinge, moan and bitch about how “tough” things are all the time.
All the while wishing things were easier and saying so, in their head or to others.
The others they surround themselves with also often wish things were easier.
They too bitch, whinge and moan about how it’s the governments fault, the food industries fault, their parents fault…
Misery loves company and all that.
“Don’t wish it was easier – wish you were better”.
The “I wish it were easier” folk are always focusing on the wrong thing.
Trying to find things that fit their current level of comfort, confidence, capacity for negative emotions.
And because they’re so focused on their current skillsets, confidence levels, ability to overcome challenges etc they stay stuck in the present spinning their wheels and not getting very far.
They’re not future focused.
Not focusing on developing the courage, mental strength and skills neccessary to get to where they want to be.
They’re life’s question is “how can I make my life easier now?”
Rather than…
“Who do I have to become and what do I need to do to get the future I want?”.
I really, really struggle to help people who want things to be easier.
Don’t get me wrong, I get it. In an ideal world we’d all get what we want in an easy way.
But it doesn’t work like that compadre.
The pains, struggles and strifes are almost like a tax that you have to pay before you can create the life you want.
And the easier folk – well they want to get what they want without ever paying the tax.
Ain’t gonna happen.
Then you have the people on the other side of the equation…
“Don’t wish it was easier wish you were better“.
These are my kinds of people. The “better” people.
They’re not looking for “easy”.
Maybe they used to, but realised it didn’t exist.
Instead these people focus on becoming the type of person they need to be to get to where they want to.
And they do it for themselves.
They want the better body for themselves.
They want the better bank account for themselves.
They’ve learned it’s OK to be a little selfish when it comes to your dreams because, well, they’re your dreams.
Whilst the easy group are focused on doing things for how other people will see them, the better group is bettering themselves primarily because of a vision of living their own life on another level for them, not others.
Think of it this way…
The easier group focus on things outside of themselves – be it a course, piece of software, loophole, fitness program, other peoples opinions of them or whatever.
They’re looking for the answers outside.
The better group focus on themselves.
They focus inside.
They know if they change, most business models or fitness programs or relationships are open to them.
But if they don’t change, these doors are closed to em’.
The word “easy” almost puts off this group because they WANT challenges as challenges grow them.
They WANT discomfort because it gives them an opportunity to learn to handle negative emotions.
They WANT failure because failure means they learn something and are getting closer to where they want to be.
The better group refuses to accept average
An average body.
An average bank account.
An average day.
An average life.
They hate the word average almost as much as they hate the word easy.
Average means mundane, the status quo and what those looking for an “easy” life are happy with.
“Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better”.
It’s SUCH a great quote.
And it really does sum up my experience of working with people for over a decade now.
A person will either want things to be easier or they’ll be focused on getting better, stronger and more capable.
Now time to be truthful with yourself…
Which camp do you fall into?
The easier camp?
Or the better camp?
If you’re not a regular action taker, you’re in the easier camp.
Better people better themselves through action – not learning.
Learning is easy, action ain’t.
If you’re mainly focused on doing things for other peoples opinions of you, you’re also in the easy camp.
The better group focus on knowing they are a better version of themselves than they were a week, a month and a year ago.
Other peoples opinions are irrelevant to their quest. It’s their life, not someone else’s.
If you want a life most people can only dream of you can’t get there wishing things were easier.
If it was easy, everyone would have it, as they say.
Instead you have to focus on becoming a more capable person than who you currently are.
Don’t try to find business models, fitness programs or whatever else that fit your current levels of comfort – that’s the easier route.
Become someone who can handle whatever challenges come your way.
THEN you stand a chance.
THEN you’ll feel the power and control over your life that most of us want.
You’ve GOT TO hold yourself to a higher standard in order to get results in life.
Put down the chocolate bar and eat that piece of fruit for you, not because if you eat it you’ll put on weight and others will think you’re “fat”.
Don’t give up on that business for you, because you want the dream life, not because you’re scared of failing in front of others.
Exercise for you…
Master skills for you…
Find that dream partner for you…
Become a better version of yourself for you…
Hold yourself to a higher standard in life and refuse to accept average thoughts, behaviours and days…for you.
“Don’t wish it was easier wish you were better”.
Become the person you need to be to deserve the life you want…
…don’t look for an easy route to fluke your way to a life that won’t last.
I’ve recently stopped hanging around the “easy” folk.
Focused on the “better” folk.
Because that’s the standard I hold myself to.
I want an amazing, fun packed, exciting life for me and will accept nothing less of myself.
Whilst friends sit in the pub getting shitfaced, I’ll be working out and listening to inspirational talks on my ipod.
Whilst they sit watching TV in the evening, I’ll be working on my business or book.
I’ll socialise with the right people, the “better” people, rather than the easy folk.
Hold yourself to a higher standard my friend.
Because this world is set up to lead you to average if you let it.
Hope this sparks something in you.
I’m about to take my life to a whole new level…and it’s for me, no one else 🙂
Jon Street