I’ve played golf since I was nine years old. I was pretty good, playing in the State Championships at 16. But my chipping was atrocious. My short game was my achilles heel. I could out drive most people off the tee but around the green, a catastrophe. I decided to get a lesson.

The coach asked me, “What have you tried so far?”

“I’ve watched a lot of videos, read a few books…”

He looked at me flatly and said, “There comes a time, son, when you actually have to hit the ball!”

So what do you need to do to get you to the point where you starting “hitting the ball?”

What is stopping you?

What is the next step you know you need to take to start, or continue, your journey?

There is some suffering we need to experience! And learning a new skill can require a lot of suffering. Even my golf coach told me my next few attempts at chipping may not be all that great!

Let’s take my touch typing ordeal!

I wrote about it here, espousing how this was the time. This time it would work. I still can’t touch type. 😞 Don’t judge me. We all have our own “touch typing” stories.

So what went wrong?

It’s simple! I didn’t do the work! I didn’t practice. I didn’t suffer the pain of learning. Learning to touch type is too slow. Anyway, I have a workaroudn … which is type as fast as. i can and then corect all the moistakes.

Let’s try that again: I have a workaround, which is type as fast as I can, then correct all the mistakes.

Yes, it’s twice the work but it’s less frustrating than t y p i n g r e a l l y s l ow l y … until it is more frustrating from all the mistakes I make.

How painful does your current reality need to be in order for you to take the steps to change?

Do the Work, Start Now, Enjoy the Suffering

The only way to grow … is to do!

Do the work, plan the practice, feel the suffering of not being quite there … and persevere.

Then, all of a sudden, you will find (I will find) you can “touch type”, or write every day, or ride a motorbike or what ever it is you are passionate about accomplishing.

What do you need to do today that will get you where you want to be tomorrow?

What “suffering” are you prepared to endure in order to accomplish something worthwhile?

Is the goal more important? Or are you too comfortable where you are?

Just STOP!

Stop watching YouTube videos on how to make YouTube videos and startmaking YouTube videos.

Stop reading books on how to take notes and start taking notes.

Stop reading about how to write, write!

Stop watching videos on how to coach someone, start coaching someone!

Yes, you’ll suffer some pain, indignity and possibly some embarrassment … but you will LEARN & GROW!