It takes effort!

You don’t find pearls lying around on the beach. To find one, you need to dive deep and put in some effort. Why do we then think that things will just fall into our laps because we want them?

We all have dreams. Well I certainly hope you do, because without dreams and goals, we lose the excitement of what it means to truly be alive. For those dreams to become more than just a mirage in the distance, we need to do something about them. The difference between a dream staying a dream, and a dream becoming a reality, is a lot of hard work in the middle.

We are living in a society where commitment and hard work have become swear words. Why should we be committed and work hard? That means “effort”, which is something that society doesn’t always approve of. It’s all about the NOW. We want things, and we want them NOW! And, apparently, we deserve to have it now.

If you are hungry and you crave something good to eat, don’t go home and cook a great meal. It will take way too long. Go to KFC and grab a bucket of chicken, If you want that new set of golf clubs, don’t save for it. That will take too long for you to enjoy them. Buy them on credit so that you can get them NOW! If you want to go on that dream holiday, don’t save for it until you can afford it. Rather put it on your credit card and go NOW! If you want $10 000, don’t take 5 years to save for it, swindle someone out of their money or rob a bank.

It sounds a bit drastic, but that is the result of not being willing to work hard for what you want. Let me tell you something. The best feeling in the world, is when you have put a lot of time, effort and sacrifice into something, and it eventually happens. I remember when I had just completed my military service in South Africa and I wanted to go to university. My parents never had the money to pay for me and my dad suggested I find a job. That would have been the easier route to follow, but I had a dream and I was willing to work for it.  I ended up taking a loan to pay for my 1st year. At the end of that year, I had to put my studies on hold, find an apartment, and work, in order to save for the rest of my degree. While looking for a job, I ended up sleeping in a tent for 2 weeks. I eventually found a job in a sports store during the day and a pub at night. This also enabled me to move into a bachelor pad.  I worked from 7:30am till 5:00pm in retail and started my 2nd job as a barman from 5:30pm till 1am. This I did, 6 days a week for 11 months. Five years later I completed my teaching degree. The pride and sense of accomplishment I felt when stepping on stage on graduation day was so satisfying.

Please don’t give up on your dreams because they seem out of reach or because nobody else seems to think they can be accomplished.  Have you ever heard of this saying: “First, people laugh at you. Then they argue with you. Then you win!” That is often what it takes to have a vision and a dream that nobody else can see. There is a graveyard of amazing dreams because so many people weren’t willing to step out of their comfort zone to make them happen. Don’t be one of them!

You were created for a purpose. You were born to make a difference that only you can make. Go ahead! Make it happen!