Isn’t It Easier to Read About a Success Story Than Do It?

I’ve been asked a lot about paying off $70k, quitting my job even though I made two thirds of the income, or getting national media attention. It’s easy to talk about because it’s done. I worked hard when we were getting our finances under control. I was out of my comfort zone when I quit my job or went on national television. It was hard when I was doing it. But it feels much better on the other side!

When we read success stories, they serve as inspiration and motivation. It also sounds a lot easier than it might have been. Why?

Memory fades, and things are always easier when someone else does them.

Memory Fades

We don’t remember everything. I’m a mom so I have to relate this to having a baby. It’s ridiculously hard to do. It’s painful and miserable.

Then a few years later I did it again. Mothers do it again because the pain was temporary and the results were worth it.

I remember a couple points of struggle in my journey so far, but otherwise though it didn’t seem that hard. Was the problem not that hard or did my memory fade?

When I’m asked questions about my success story in paying off debt and quitting my job, it’s easy to take out the hard parts.

• Spending hours researching health insurance for self employed people and realizing what ever I choose it will cost way more than I thought.
• Working ridiculous hours each week in a different state while I was 7 months pregnant, because I was paid more when I worked on-site.
• Never seeing my husband because he was working so much too.
• The insane first three months of my sons life filled with colic and milk allergies. Did I want to quit my job?
• The immediate fear I felt before and after telling my boss I quit. (what if it doesn’t work out?)
• The thought of my husband breaking an arm and not being able to work. (he’s a performer – Audiobody)

I can give tips on how to get through these things, but I really don’t talk about the struggles a lot. When I’m interviewed we always touch on how hard it was, then talk about how great it is on the other side.

So next time you listen to or read a success story, keep in mind that it’s not the whole story.

Hearing It Is Easier Than Doing it

Listening to a successful person struggling or starting from zero is easy.

First, you already know the ending. You know they become successful in the end. You don’t doubt that they are going to push through and become incredibly successful.

Second, you weren’t there. The months and months of struggle or being broke can be summed up in a few sentences. A few sentences is extremely different than living it with emotions, and obstacles in your way. Since you don’t live in their head you really don’t know what happened during that time. They might be going through the EXACT same thing you are right now.

Third, we give successful people super powers. When people are successful, we assume they have something that we don’t. Since we haven’t achieved as much as them we must be missing something.

Three Things You Can Do To Become A Success Story

Know Your Ending. Since I was little I “knew” I would be a millionaire. I’m not yet, but I still know my ending. I knew that no matter what it took I would quit my job. Even if it took a long period of time, eventually my ending would come true.

What would it be like if you really knew your ending? Would you make different decisions today?

Accept Struggle. Every business owner I talk to has some sort of problem they are trying to solve. That’s why they are in the business! They are problem solvers. Problems aren’t always fun. Many times they come with struggle.

You may even feel like everything sucks one day, and everything is great the next. Even when nothing actually changes. That happens, and accepting it will allow you to move forward anyway.

No One Has Super Powers. We are all human. As much as I would love to have super powers, I don’t. But guess what? Successful people don’t either. They are just human beings living with fear, embracing it and moving forward towards their dreams anyway.

I’ve heard over and over from very successful people, that they can look around a room and see people smarter, more talented or qualified then they are. They aren’t super human. They are just like you, but they have been able to create better opportunities for themselves.

Whenever I read success stories, I get wrapped up in the inspiration and motivation. That’s what they are for. Let me tell you from experience it’s a whole lot easier talking about it from the other side.

So remember if it feels hard right now, that’s normal! Successful people have gone through really hard times too. Actually living it will hurt more than reading about it in a book, or listening to it in a podcast.

It can suck to accomplish difficult goals. It can be very uncomfortable. But it’s temporary, you are growing and it really is easier on the other side.

Never wish life was easier, wish that you were better. – Jim Rohn

Do you have anything to add?

(I just came back from vacation in the Caribbean with my entire family. Controlling your money to get what you really want out of life is an amazing thing!)