Don’t be surprised by the results you’re not getting from the work you’re not doing

Read that again. 👆

I’m an impatient person.

I want feedback quickly. Is this on?

Is this working? Are we there yet?

I demand progress. I want to see change.

I change my mind. I change my plans.

I try something new. Maybe this will work?

I like working for it. But I like the work I like.

The hardest work is never the hard work you want to do.

Don’t be surprised by the results you’re not getting from the work you’re not doing

I’ve lost the source of this quote. (I’m not sure if it was from my typical teachers James Clear, Ryan Holiday, or maybe a drive-by kick in the butt from David Goggins.) This is one of the few quotes that has held an executive parking space in my mind; one of the few that I haven’t tried to move past for some new shiny idea.

The truth in it is undeniable: Why are you surprised?

You haven’t changed your diet. Why are you surprised that you’re not losing weight?

You haven’t been in the gym. Why are you surprised that you’re not getting stronger?

You haven’t initiated a tough conversation with your co-worker. Why are you surprised your project is behind?

You haven’t meditated in over a month. Why are you surprised that you’re feeling stressed?

You complained yesterday, then did nothing, so why do you expect today to be different?

Inaction removes any grounds for expecting progress. (To be clear, inaction is not to be confused with patience. We’re not questioning the need for patience to realize results.)

The bricks aren’t going to lay themselves.