“Do not despise the bottom rungs in the ascent to greatness.”

Publilius Syrus

Stepping onto the ladder of greatness is a huge decision, but easy enough to make, that many make it and step up on the first rung.  The first few rungs up the ladder aren’t any big deal, because you’re still close enough to the ground level of mediocrity that there is no risk.  You can jump back with no fear, and no pain when you land.  Each step that takes you further from the safety of mediocrity gets scarier and takes more commitment, and more guts.

After the first two rungs, you are far enough off the ground to start thinking about not going any higher, and you aren’t high enough up the ladder to experience greatness in your life.  These lower level rungs are where most folks stop ascending, get jittery, and descend back to mediocrity.

Don’t freak out, don’t look back down, look straight ahead and slightly up, at the next rung.  Now, just climb. Climb. Hand over hand, one foot up, and then the other.  This part isn’t fun, but don’t despise the climb.  Take each day of the climb as it comes, soon those days become weeks and months.  Get over the hump of the bottom rungs, and decide to never descend again, no matter what.  About a year into the climb, you’ll hit the point of no return, and then it gets fun.

Sadly, many of my friends, family members, and clients hate the bottom rungs so much, they jump off the ladder and never get back on it.  People want to be fit and healthy, but the bottom rungs of the first 4 days of the new nutritional plan are despised, so they quit.  People want to make enough money to not worry about getting the bills paid, but the bottom rungs of executing a marketing plan are despised, so they quit.  (Shoot, most folks despise the thought of marketing, or selling anything. Guess what? Whatever your passion is, your skillset is, if it ain’t sold or marketed, you’ll never have anyone lining up at your door.)

Get on the ladder and climb up, one rung at a time, one cleanse day at a time, one prospecting call at a time. You got this!

Boo Yah!