Photo of Frederick Claflin
By Kenton Sefcik
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” – Lao Tzu
Simply, what you do today is not for today, but for tomorrow. What you put into today’s activities will determine if you are successful down the road.
In the fitness and exercise world, it is pretty obvious that stacking more weight than you can handle on a barbell is dangerous. However, what you put on the rack today and how you go about your workout will determine if you will be able to put more weight on next week.
The article that you write today will not get you the book deal right away. Multiple articles over a period of time will help gain recognition in your field and lead to bigger and better things.
The blog post that you compile with all the proper categories, tags and Twitter and Facebook promotion won’t get you 10’000 readers – but it might get you one or two more regular subscribers.
The marketing plan you implement won’t get you the customers you need today, but instead will bring in people shortly – and keep the ball rolling.
The fifteen minutes of meditation might not result in a Zen-like calm for the rest of the day, but over time, you will be transformed.
The linear algebra class you’re taking won’t get you into a law firm next week, but instead is part of a bigger picture and will add up to a degree.
Look back one year, five years – even ten years. What steps have you taken in your life to get to this point? Add it all up how it applies to you: school, fitness, career, small business, wife/husband, children and friendships. You’ve already been ‘putting in work’ so you’re ready to take it to the next level.
What you want your life to look like and how you want to change it is already in motion – you just need to steer it in the right direction – one pushup, one blog post, one phone-call, one mail out, one article, one class and one hour AT A TIME.
Check out these videos for success:
Editor’s Note: Kenton Sefcik is a father, husband, Registered Acupuncturist, published author and martial artist. You can read more of his ramblings at Dark Wing Chun.
Reblogged this on The Daily Word, Food & The Vine.
Daily Word, Food and The Vine – I appreciate you reblogging this!
Superbly written. That is exactly what i have been trying to get my friends and family to understand. However simple it appears and logical it sounds, people seem to not truly understand what it means. if you want something you have to take those baby steps to get it.
great post.
http://scentsofmagic.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/115/
Ditto Andrew. It is difficult, and mosty impossible to make people understand that although you don’t have a 9-5 paying job, even though you have tried; that you just might be learning and stretching yourself in order to move your working life in another direction.
Great post and I love the photo! Yes, we need to take it one step at a time and each small step builds our life. I’ve been focusing on small improvements as my measure of progess lately.
Thanks.
Reblogged this on May I find peace in this uncertain world..
Most excellent, and so true…And the picture, is as unique as they come…Great job…God Bless.
Bishop Andrew
Bishop Andrew, the picture was from Frederick Claflin, a Boston-based landscape photographer who is the husband of one of my best friends. Thank you for the comment!
Thank you for the comments! There is definitely a process at work – and it’s so very personal for everyone. We’re all striving for something in life and as long as we take even the slightest step in that direction, we will have made a gain (and we should feel proud of ourselves). Big up yourselves!
CTKwingchun (Kenton), thank you very much! You did a great job writing this post and truly we are inspired! Keep up the good work,
Thank you for a great and inspiring post!!! Jay
Jay – you are mostly welcome!
peace this brings me…..en theos….jim
Jim – thank you very much!
Thanks AMSDaily for this motivating post.
Ann, I am glad to hear that!
Yep – nicely put – thanks
Alchurchill, thank you very much!
Fantastic post. Very inspirational. Cheers!
Jan Simon – thank you! Glad you like it!
“You’ve already been ‘putting in work’ so you’re ready to take it to the next level.” Thanks so much for your very inspiring message . . . I have to remind myself that I DO have something to contribute because I HAVE put in the work . . .
Nurture Self 365 Project – you are right. Just keep on reminding yourself about that and you will be there!
How do you eat an elephant? A bite at a time.
Creatingreciprocity –
your comment made me smile! In response to yours, I think that’s how it should be done – one bite at a time since an elephant is so huge!
My very first blog post here was titled ‘Taking Baby Steps’ and it’s grown from there!
1Smiles, I am glad your post has grown. Truly, one post will grow into more. It just takes time and discipline to make it to your goal.
Great stuff! Keep it up.
Senseipaul – I remember calling my coworkers “sensei” when I used to work at a school whose curriculum was created by a Japanese educator. Thank you very much!
Amazing! Thank you!
I added your blog to my links.
love & light
EL
EL – I am honored! Thank you for adding my blog to your links – it is much appreciated!
Kudos to Kenton for an excellent post. And I love, love, love The Hip-Hop Preacher!
I agree! Kenton did a wonderful job writing this post.
love it! short, simple and straight to the point
Leanova Designs, thank you very much!
Seems to me that you’re talking about patience. It takes time to be an over night success. For some it takes years. Have you ever heard the story of the Tortoise and the Hare? If you keep plugging away and not give up, you should get to the finish line before the hare. The Hare was in such a rush, he couldn’t do his job properly. The Tortoise was slow and methodical; the Hare didn’t care about the lesson’s, he just wanted to win. The Hare didn’t understand the concept; the winner is the one who reaches his goals, and learned the lesson well. “NOW WHAT?”
“Now What?”, you are right! It does take time, perseverance and discipline to attain success. Once you achieve it the next question comes as “now what”?
Just the reminder I needed to keep me moving toward those “impossible” seeming dreams. Thanks!
Juliette, thank you very much! It is really such a great reminder how to be successful and remain happy. Thanks for stopping by!
Baby steps are the key, and nope, my family doesn’t get it either. I constantly hear, “You’re always on the computer!” as soon as I FINALLY sit down to write, after spending a day running errands, paying bills, cleaning, cooking, laundry, helping my mom-in-law, shopping–all that stuff that I am doing in my final year as a stay-at-home-mom with a pre-K kid. This was a great read that helps me feel justified that, yeah, this IS important. One step at a time.
The Power of Patience.
I liked it and re-blogged.
regards
Thank you TKSoni for reblogging it!
Reblogged this on Life is…………...
I enjoyed this post. If you let your “boat” drift, it will end up somewhere, but you’ll have had no impact on its course. Grabbing an oar and giving even a pull or two will help control where you end up!
I totally agree with you!
Wonderful post!
It’s true what you do today is for tomorrow. All little things add up over a period of time. But it’s up to you if you face the ‘initial’ phase of the journey with courage and hope and thus become successful or get discouraged and give up.
Pretty neat!
Thanks a lot Kenton and Alpha.
Keep up the good work!
Avdhessh, thank you for your wonderful comment!
Awesome post, I needed this right now. Thank you.
Glad this post can help!
Great photograph and post.
Thank you Eof737!
Great blog. Thanks!
Great job. Well done!
Kenton, thank you for your wonderful post and for sharing this on your blog as well!
Thanks for sharing this on your blog!