Dear Reader:
We reside in a culture of creation. A society of sharing. A life of likes.
The saturation of information us average Joes/Janes process on a daily basis far surpasses any time prior. The result is our belief that we can and will accomplish any goal we set for ourselves with enough hard work and persistence.
And of course, failure.
This letter is proof of the one truth present on the path to success, and it’s this: maintaining the course in the deep, dark, and dank tunnel of failures is necessary for not only perceiving the light at the end but confidently striding through it and into achievement.
For confirmation, look no further than to these three individuals in the infographic below. Sure, they are all wildly triumphant, but without failure after failure and persevering backbones, young Jack, The Colonel, and Ms. Rowling would merely be more talking points for the losing team in the game of success.
What I am writing now bears nothing new. If you research the behind-the-scenes tale of every successful business, book, film, scientific advancement, or even the famous Youtuber, you will find failure. In every corner. At every turn. With every step. It is inevitable. But what may strike as novel to those alive in this age of instant-everything is that we must look to our past in order to build a brighter future—both for us and for those seeking more fulfillment from life.
Don’t believe in luck. It’s not palpable. It’s not real. The foundation of success is scaffolded from regularly falling down and owning the nerve to reconstruct it time and time again. It is created when that sometimes-overpowering voice of dissent in your noggin is told to shut the fuck up and carry on. You cannot find fulfillment without a chip on your shoulder conveying the belief that one day your dreams will come to fruition.
In my life, I have had the pleasure of being on the receiving end of countless forms of advice. Oftentimes, it presents itself from merely paying attention to the moment and learning from the words and actions of others. One little bit of wisdom relevant to now is this:
“We all have ideas. Dreams. Passions. Goals. The trick is to file them away according to what has the potential to be achieved now. We can only focus on so much at one time. The rest is put on the back burner until it’s ready.”
So, my dear reader, I urge you to begin processing the goal, that itch, consuming your thoughts. What is it that you truly want to accomplish? I’ve said it before in a letter titled “It’s Up to Us to Create the New American Dream”: We have the power and responsibility to now focus on our skills (all of which are unique to us) and put them into action. We no longer have to worry about mere survival. It is time to advance as a human race. And though it certainly takes an ever-persistent attitude, a world of civility and tolerance is at our disposal. We simply have to choose the correct path. The more difficult path.
Once you locate that goal, that dream, you can then begin moving on toward the next stage of personal and community development. Coupled with that journey, however, is roadblock after roadblock. You may have one grand idea spurring you into action, but without remaining fluid in the process and allowing yourself to alter the plans, you will find yourself stuck in the mud with no way out. And no one to help. The trick is learning from past examples, and fortunately for us, we have access to everyone’s story who ever amounted to anything great. If we choose to acknowledge and study former and current stories of success, we gain advice free-of-charge. We are now given the opportunity to share a coffee with Steve Jobs, do lunch with Elizabeth Blackwell, and enjoy drinks with Michael Jordan, all from the comforts of your own home. Take notes. Synthesize the information pertaining to you and your goal. Study mistakes. Gain wisdom. And go make that dream of yours a reality.
But most importantly, do not give up. The individuals highlighted in this letter chose to forge on. And we applaud them because of it. I now ask: “Who is next?”
I write this from a tunnel. A long, grueling tunnel offering failure at every step. I am starting a business. Building a platform. Remaining fluid in the process. And though that light at the end is only now just barely perceivable, I see it. I want it. I’m going to slog through the ugliness of slipping and getting dirty on the path until I can walk out of that dark place and into the world of success. Nothing will stop me now.
How will YOU leave your mark?
What will YOUR footprint look like when you leave this place?
Why will YOU be remembered by millions?
So when life throws you an idea, tackle it. Pursue it. Learn from the hiccups along the way. But for the love of this world, persevere. PERSEVERE. If you believe in yourself and your determination, success awaits. Now is the time. Because honestly, there has never been quite an opportunity like today, in 2016, to listen to your heart. The world is waiting for you.
And in the eternal wisdom of the acclaimed film, “Risky Business”, I’ll finish this letter here:
“Sometimes you gotta say ‘What the Fuck’, make your move. Every now and then, saying ‘What the Fuck’ brings freedom. Freedom brings opportunity, opportunity makes your future.”
All the best,
Joel R. Hubert
Odyssey
