I’ve always believed the greatest gift we have is time. Unlike money, health, or even people, once time slips through your hands, it never comes back. The way we use it is directly linked to our success or our delays. Think about it. The world’s best achievers, sportmen/women , leaders are always pressed for time. They don’t have 25 hours in a day. But they stretch the same 24 we all have. How? By pushing themselves to the limits. Whether it’s working long nights, training their creativity, or even scheduling time to have fun, enjoyment or even to celebrate….they make every second count.
My Gym Lesson
I see this clearly in my gym. Muscles are built when you push them to the extreme (but safely). The first 10 reps are easy. It’s those last 2–3 painful, shaky ones that actually build strength. If I just stick to the comfortable 10, I’ll stay the same. No growth, no transformation. i might have some stamina, but high performance or endurace … a No NO….
Life is no different. If we only stick to our comfort zone, we won’t grow stronger. we’ll only stay content in the regular flow.
The Formula I Use that I’ve boiled it down into a simple formula I live by:
Growth = (Guided Discomfort × Consistency) ÷ Time
Guided Discomfort is the push. Consistency is the habit. Time is the currency. Hence… If you drop consistency, you waste time. If you avoid the guided discomfort, you waste potential.
The Tiredness Trap
Of course, it’s easy to get tired. And tiredness often becomes procrastination. I’ve seen this in myself. Take illness, for example. A cold that needs five days of rest sometimes stretches to a month, not because of the body, but because the mind convinces us it’s easier to “take it slow.” That mental acceptance of delay is deadly.
Over the years I’ve seen two types of people i.e. Those who push themselves, fall, get up, push again, and reach success faster and there are Those who wait for destiny, saying “everything has its time.” The second road may sound peaceful, but more often than not, it’s procrastination in disguise. I’ll take the first option any day, because at least it’s in my hands to control my time and ultimately my success story.
As a mentor, I’ll be honest, I push people. Sometimes to the extreme. Not because I want to torture them, but because I know that’s where growth is. My job is to shorten your journey. To help you see visible success earlier and then that visbility will become permanent based on your consistency.
But I also follow a no-force policy. I can guide you, hold your hand, even walk with you through thorny paths. But I cannot drag or force you. If you refuse to move, it’s your choice. they say you can take a horse to the water, pulling it pushing it. but you cant force it to drink the water. Throwing the horse into the water, will be consider abuse. and i really dont want to get there.
However, It surprises me when people choose other priorities over what’s really needed for them. But lesson for me at the end of the day is I cannot want success for others, more than they do for themselves.
but i will end it with the truth I live by:
- If you have no guidance, no resources, and no opportunities. you have every right to complain.
- But if you do have help, resources, and skills, and still don’t use them. you lose the right to complain about failure.
Because in the end, success or failure is in your hands. And time? It never waits regardless of anything you choose.
