I’m addicted to two genres of book - Self-improvement and Business.
I’ve quite literally read hundreds of books and spent hours of my life absorbing as much as I can in these two areas.
I’ve always thought that’s because that’s where my interests lie. Improving myself and owning a business. And I think that is part of it but not the underlying truth.
Just a few hours ago on my family holiday, I was sitting on the sun lounger reading another book about self-improvement (obviously) when I asked myself ‘why are you actually reading this book?’
I’ve been reflecting on that ever since and I made a little discovery.
Since I was in high school I’ve been looking for a shortcut in most things that I do.
No matter what it is, I want the hack/trick/cheat code/shortcut to avoid putting in the hours it takes to arrive at the end destination.
That’s either hard-wired in me or has been influenced by my environment of short term dopamine in a technological society, who knows.
All I know is that nobody ever became a chess grandmaster without putting in thousands of hours and many years of practice, experimentation, failure and persistence.
And I’m willing to bet that’s the same for every single pursuit of something on this planet.
So why do I expect to one day discover a ‘golden ticket’ or take a shortcut to avoid putting in the reps.
That’s why I really read self-improvement and business books. I am searching for a shortcut in personal growth or owning a business.
But I missed the true essence of growth and fulfilment.
Relentlessly turning up every day, doing the boring stuff, putting in the reps, racking up the days, weeks, months, years is the rewarding part.
It’s not about finding a magical formula or stumbling upon a hidden secret.
It's about embracing the process, the journey itself.
Treasure is found at the depths of the ocean, it rarely floats.
In truth, the books I’ve been reading have been an avoidance tactic. A reluctance to admit the truth.
Everything worth having takes time, even longer that I think probably, and there are no shortcuts.
There is just showing up everyday and doing my best and then there is everything else.
Powerful insight, Jake. You’re not alone. Haven’t we all tried a million shortcuts? I don’t believe any of us wants to work hard for the sake of it. But I do believe we work hard because we think it’s less painful than not doing the work. And eventually we do it because it’s life. Curious to see where your path takes you post self improvement.