The problem with overnight successes that we see on TV and read about in the newspapers, is that they are so rare! That’s why we hear about them. And truth be told, it’s never normally overnight. So many celebrities and people of note have quoted that it often took them 10 or 20 years to become an “overnight” success.
Don’t kid yourself.
Success comes through constant persistent action. Day after day, month after month, year after year.
The problem is that many people start something, take some action and then become disheartened because they don’t see the fruits of their labour quick enough.
So they give up.
Never realising how close they may be, or just how much work is needed. Time after time.
I am also in a situation of building and striving – and my ego side wants to see bigger and better results – and quicker.
But I constantly remind myself of the moso bamboo tree when looking at my life, career and ambitions.
The moso bamboo tree doesn’t just become this super strong bamboo overnight – well it kind of does as you’ll read about soon.
Bamboo is so strong that it’s used as scaffolding in Asian countries.
How the moso bamboo grows is phenomenal.
You plant the seeds. Water it every day and then after the first year of watering it – every day – NOTHING HAPPENS.
So, you water it the following year – every day– and again – NOTHING HAPPENS.
Year 3, same thing. Water every day and nothing happens.
Year 4 – the same.
But…..
In year 5 – around the 1825th day, it starts to sprout. And it doesn’t just start to sprout. It really starts to sprout.
It grows about 3 feet in every 24 hours. After 6 weeks it grows to 90 feet tall – the same as a 9 story building!
The growth and success of the bamboo comes so quick that it literally looks like it’s grown overnight. In fact, there are no signs of anything growing for over 4 years. Just a patch of ground. And then the success comes – seemingly overnight.
Why can it grow so tall and fast like that in a matter of weeks?
The roots.
It’s the roots that create the fruits – as they say. Strong foundations.
People don’t see that. All the hours and hours of practise and effort that goes in behind the scenes.
I really appreciate this when my ex-girlfriend started to see success as a yoga teacher. She’s very popular in London, on YouTube and instagram and at festivals and shows. When I first met her she was teaching in no-so-great venues and covering. She’s now in top yoga locations around London. Her private rates have more than tripled and she’s a big sensation on a few yoga dedicated websites.
But…. what people haven’t seen is the years of graft put in. The 5am starts to teach private clients in their houses at 7am before work. The 5 years where most of her classes had only 2 or 3 students in them – and I was one of them! The vocal training she did to learn to deliver her classes excellently while both projecting and protecting her voice. They don’t see the hours spend doing online related activities like YouTube editing, Instagram posting and Mailchimp communications – after a long day of traipsing around London.
They didn’t see the hours and hours of practice, hundreds of pounds spent on private lessons and courses just to get a handstand!
I learnt a lot from her approach. And now her bamboo is starting to sprout. I used to always remind her when things started to get a bit overwhelming, or we both got tired of putting all the effort in and not seeing the results, that we were just “watering the bamboo seeds”.
And it did take her about 5 years of teaching to start making the traction and seeing the success she currently is enjoying (and in bamboo terms she’s only in the first hour of growth).
I remind myself to water my bamboo seeds every day too. If you miss a day with the bamboo, it doesn’t sprout. Crazy, right?
It might not be as bad in our lives to miss a day, but slowly, if you do, it becomes two then three, so it’s best to do something – no matter how small – to move you towards where you want to go. To water your bamboo seeds.
Whether you’re at work looking to get somewhere with your career, role or business. Or in life in general. Water the bamboo.
You might not see the results of your labour for many years. But if you’re committed, it’ll happen eventually. Provided you have the right strategy, coaching and are prepared to adapt based on new information. As Tony Robbins says, it’s doesn’t matter if you go East looking for a sunset and you are committed and do it every day – you’re not going to find one.
So, assuming you have that strategy in place – be patient.
Be like bamboo.
What do you think? Has this helped with your ambitions? Comment below and share.
