Stop Bullshitting Me, Man

One day, I was on the phone with one of my best friends, Erick.

We were having our routine success conversation.

Current projects, new things we’ve learned, and goals is what we usually discuss.

At one point in the conversation, Erick asked “Are you ready to be successful?”

To which I replied, “Yes!”

In a funny and sarcastic tone, he responded “Stop bullshiting me, man“.

In the moment, it was hilarious.

At the end of our phone call, I had an epiphany.

“This is exactly what most people do“, I thought to myself.

They bullshit.

They say they want and will do something, but never follow through or give up.

Ever heard someone say they’re going to start something, take the first step, and then quit?

I know I have.

Do you know why they quit?

The real reason, not the reason they gave you?

I’ll tell you why…

They were bullshitting.

To be taken serious, you need to start something and sacrifice whatever necessary to achieve it.

…and oh yeah, actually achieve it.

If you want to start a business, understand that night out with friends or watching hours of your favorite TV show will have to be put on hold for a while.

Starting a business requires time, sacrifice, and effort.

…as does anything else you want to achieve.

If you can’t discipline yourself to give up things you enjoy in order to achieve something great…

You’re bullshitting.

Everything worth having requires sacrifice.

Period.

Don’t try to cheat the system; you’re going to waste valuable time.

 

The food industry provides a great example of how people try to cheat the system.

I find it funny when I walk down the food isle and see an item with a big “FAT FREE” on the label.

People rationalize and think “Well that’s fat free, I can eat it all I want and still lose weight“.

“Fat free, I should stock up!“

Little do they know that fat grams are irrelevant to weight-loss.

They grab the item with a huge smile on their face.

The same smile a kid has when he hears the ice cream truck outside.

Even funnier is junk food labeled with “enriched with vitamins and minerals”.

Are you kidding me?

Seriously…

A cupcake “enriched” with vitamins and minerals makes it a healthy option?

Unbelievable.

…but people fall for this type of thing!

Why?

Because they want the shortcut!

Scientists have proven over and over that calories in vs. calories out is all that matters for weight-loss.

Your body actually needs fat; the healthy kind of course.

…but people have been lead to think a certain way in order to buy these “fat free” products.

As a result, they make the food companies filthy rich.

Knowing that people love the shortcut,  companies use manipulative marketing to make sales.

…and it works, very well.

The food industry profits billions of dollars annually, and my guess is they will continue to do so for a VERY long time.

The words “success” and “shortcut” don’t belong in the same sentence.

They never have, and they never will.

So What Do You Do?

OK, if you’ve accepted that there are no shortcuts to achieve your goal, what do you do now?

Easy.

Sit down…

No, really…sit down.

Turn off your phone, eliminate all distractions, and ask yourself the following question:

“Is what I want to achieve worth sacrificing for?…Will I be happier and a better person if I achieve it?”

If your answer is yes, then it’s time to sacrifice.

Get to work!

It’s important to remember that whatever you sacrifice now, will be there when you get back.

Your friends, favorite TV show, or any other hobby will still be there.

I don’t know why people believe achieving something means giving up things they enjoy, forever.

It’s only temporary.

However, people are spoiled and as a result, they settle.

They stop learning, growing, and achieving more success and happiness.

Let me tell share a story with with you…

During college, I worked part-time at a private post office.

One day, a lady walked in with four kids.

She asked my manager if we were hiring and that she was in desperate need of work.

I remember her saying it was only her, the four kids, and her retired mom at home.

My manager asked about her work experience and if she spoke English.

Unfortunately, she didn’t have much work experience and her English wasn’t the best.

My manager explained that he could not help her at the moment, but would call her if anything.

She wouldn’t take no for an answer and promised to do a great job if he just gave her a chance.

Her effort at convincing him worked.

Seeing her will and determination, he decided to offer her a position.

Great story, right?

Not exactly…

After my manager offered her a position, she asked “What would my schedule be?”

“I’ll have you working Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.”, he replied.

Her response left me as shocked as a near death experience.

She told my manager “Oh no, I’m sorry, my favorite soap opera is at 4 p.m. and I can’t miss it“.

I’m not kidding here…

Those were the exact words out her mouth!

My manager stayed quiet.

I was dazed like a boxer who got caught with a hard punch.

“Thanks anyways”, were her last words as she walked out the store with her little football team.

This was a lady with four kids who two minutes ago was begging for a job.

Yes, this story is an extreme example and her behavior was unacceptable with four little mouths to feed.

…but it gets my point across.

I only hope that she had another job or source of income and that the kids were taken care of.

Her selfish attitude is one that I will never forget.

People refuse to sacrifice minor things now in order to achieve something that will be much more rewarding in the future.

Most people will go their whole lives waiting for the “shortcut’ to come along.

For the path of least resistance.

Guess what, my friend?

The path of least resistance is closed permanently and you’ll have to deal with the traffic on the road to success.

It’ll take time to get there, but you WILL GET THERE!

…unless you take an exit before your destination.

There are no shortcuts!

Do you really want what you say you want?

Or are little instant gratification hobby’s holding you hostage from achieving amazing things?

You want it, go get it!

Figure out exactly what you want and decide what you’ll have to temporarily give up.

…and give it up!

Stop bullshitting me, man.

– Alex