13 Harsh Truths You Should Know For a Successful Life
This is a speech I wrote for one of my clients. I think it is the most important speech I have ever written. I hope you enjoy it.
Good evening. I am happy to be here. I am happy to see all of you. I am honored to give this speech.
I am a business coach. I have been coaching businesses for a long time.
I have seen a lot of things. I have helped a lot of people. I have made a lot of money.
I am not here to tell you how to make money. I am not here to tell you how to be rich. I am not here to tell you how to be successful.
I am here to tell you the truth. I am here to tell you the truth about money. I am here to tell you the truth about business. I am here to tell you the truth about life.
1. It’s Hard to Be a Success.
If success were easy, everyone would achieve it.
The fact is that success is hard, and it’s even harder for those who have no idea what they want to do with their lives.
The more you want to do, the more you have to be willing to put in the time, effort and energy to make it happen.
The only thing that will ever keep you going is the love of what you do and the love you have for the people around you.
If you are doing what you love, you are more likely to put in the work to be successful.
2. It’s Lonely at The Top.
Success is not a team sport. It’s a lonely, individual, and often misunderstood journey.
You’ll find very few people who will stick with you through the process of becoming successful.
As you grow, you’ll find that the number of people who can relate to your experiences and challenges will shrink.
As you climb the ladder of success, the number of people who understand your journey and can relate to your challenges will shrink.
But that doesn’t mean you should stop climbing. It means you need to find new people to connect with.
3. You Can’t Have It All.
The idea of “having it all” is a myth. We live in a world of trade-offs, and we must make choices about what we want and what we don’t want.
You can have a successful career or a loving family, but you probably can’t have both and be great at both.
You can have a lot of money and a lot of free time, but you probably can’t have both at the same time.
It’s important to be realistic about what you can achieve and to make choices that align with your priorities.
4. You’ll Always Worry About Money.
If you think that having a lot of money will make you worry less about money, think again. People who are rich usually didn’t start out that way.
They had to work hard to build their wealth, and they probably worried about money along the way.
It’s okay to worry about money, but it’s not okay to let it consume you. Learn how to manage your money so you don’t have to worry about it as much.
And remember, there are some things that are more important than money.
5. You Can’t Please Everyone.
No matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks you should have done it differently.
If you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one. And you’ll find yourself feeling like a failure.
You have to be true to yourself. You have to do what you think is right and keep moving forward.
You have to learn to let go of the people who don’t appreciate what you’re doing.
You can’t make people love you, and you can’t make them understand you. What you can do is make sure that you are living your life in a way that brings you happiness.
And if that means you’re not following the crowd, then that’s okay.
6. You Can’t Control Everything.
Some of you really need to hear this. Yes, you are in control of your life, but you are not in control of every aspect of your life.
You are not in control of the weather, the stock market, the housing market, the behavior of other people, and many other things.
You can influence them, but you can’t control them.
The more you try to control everything, the more you will feel powerless and out of control. Let go of what you can’t control and focus on what you can.
7. You’ll never be 100% ready.
Don’t be the person who has to get ready when it’s time to get going. If you’re waiting for the perfect moment, you’ll be waiting forever.
If you want to be successful, then you have to start before you’re ready. There is never a good time to start a new business, get married, or have your first child.
You can only prepare so much and then you have to take a leap of faith.
8. You Have to Be Patient.
In a world of instant gratification, it’s hard to be patient, but patience is a virtue.
You have to be patient with yourself, your progress, and with others.
Good things take time, and patience is the key to unlocking that time.
9. You Have to Fail to Succeed.
Failure is a part of the process of success. You can’t have one without the other.
If you want to succeed, you have to be willing to fail. If you want to be the best, you have to be willing to look like a fool.
You have to be willing to make mistakes, look silly, and be wrong. You have to be willing to fail many times.
The most successful people are the ones who are willing to fail the most.
10. You Have to Work Hard.
This is one of the most difficult truths to accept because it feels like it shouldn’t be true. But it is.
You have to work hard to be successful.
You have to be willing to do what others won’t do.
You have to be willing to work when others would rather relax. You have to be willing to put in the time, effort, and energy to get what you want.
You can’t be lazy and expect to be successful. You can’t cut corners and expect to be successful.
You can’t cheat the system and expect to be successful. You have to work hard.
11. You Have to Take Risks.
No one ever achieved anything great by playing it safe.
You have to take risks, but you have to be smart about it.
If you really want to be successful, you can’t be afraid to take risks.
That doesn’t mean you should be reckless. It means you should be willing to step outside your comfort zone and take a chance that you might fail.
If you’re not failing, you’re not trying.
And if you’re not trying, you’re not going to be successful.
12. You Have to Let Go of What’s Comfortable.
If you want to grow, you have to let go of what’s comfortable. You have to let go of old ways of thinking, old ways of acting, and old environments.
For some of you, it’s time to let go of that relationship that’s been holding you back.
For others, it’s time to pack up and move on. Some of you need to let go of your current job.
If you want to become the person you were meant to be, you have to let go of who you are today.
13. You Have to Let Go of People.
You can’t hold onto everyone. People will come and go in your life. Not everyone will be with you forever.
Some people are only meant to be in your life for a short period.
Sometimes, you have to let go of people who are holding you back. This can be one of the hardest things to do, but it is necessary for your growth.
Be willing to let go of people who are not adding value to your life. You have to surround yourself with people who lift you up and support you.
Conclusion
There are many harsh truths that you will face throughout your life. It takes courage to face them, but if you do, you will find out that you are capable of more than you ever thought possible.