Every Success Has
A Price

Spoiler Alert

I didn’t get my Black Belt by claiming I was too busy and I couldn’t find time. SIMPLE AS THAT!

At the Canton Martial Arts Academy, the leadership team has been set a challenge. Listen to a Jim Rohn podcast for a minimum of 20 minutes every day for 30 days.

Simple right?

Erm, no, not really.

This challenge comes with a caveat, albeit not a big one, that we have to intentionally listen, make written notes – not on a phone, hand-written notes – about what we like and what resonates.

To ensure we’re accountable, we have to take a picture of the notes and send them to our senior instructor.

Now, if you know me or have met me at an event or day to day, you’ll know I’m not someone who likes to be bored. As a result, I’m a pretty busy person, but the crucial question here is…

What am I busy doing?

I’ve got my own business, Sarah A Pearce. I manage a karate dojo, and I’m an ambassador for a charity. You’ll find me at a networking meeting every week. You’ll find me training in my own karate, you’ll find me running, and you’ll even find me at an adult gymnastics class.

Hard Work VS Showing Up

The following is an excerpt from my Black Belt essay, which all students have to write ahead of their Black Belt grading at our Academy.

It’s simply not enough to just show up if you want to be a black belt.

In class, the question is often posed, “How long does it take for the average person to get a black belt?” It always elicits a range of responses – 5 years, 7 years, 10 years. The answer always given is “The average person doesn’t get a black belt”, and I, as well as other black belts, know why.

It takes years of dedication. It takes showing up to every single class ready to learn, ready to push and ready to do whatever it takes.

I’ve trained with injuries (not serious injuries – ones that I’ve been able to make adaptations for), and I’ve trained when mildly ill.

I’ve trained when friends have been going out for the night (sometimes I’ve just joined them later, sometimes I gave it a miss).

I’ve trained when I’ve only just got back from travelling for work or holiday, at times driving straight from the airport, having left my kit in the car at the airport. I’ve trained with jet lag.

I’ve trained when I really didn’t feel like it.

What Does Success Mean To You?

Have I been as invested in myself consistently over the last 30 years?

Honestly, no!

As with everything, life happens and sometimes gets in the way. But the key thing here is that I’ve not been respectful to myself. At times, I’ve let myself down.

Right now, if I am to be successful with my business, with the new Dojo and supporting the charity, I have to be actively investing in myself. I have to be putting the work in before I reap the rewards. I have to sow the seeds, cultivate and tend them and only then will I be rewarded with a harvest. After I have paid the price.

The challenge for you is to take time to think about what it is that you want to achieve. What does success mean to you? When you’ve done that, you need to look at your calendar/diary and figure out where you are going to invest those hours to reap the success. Depending on what it is that you want to achieve, you may not need to find much time, but you will need to be purposeful about it, and you will need to be consistent.
Consistency will always beat intensity. Every single time!

Remember, the only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.