photos flickr: by "niccodeamus" and "jmv"

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago.
The second best time is now.” ~Chinese Proverb

There are many young adults today completely lost. Totally disillusioned and frustrated.

So many fine young men and women in their 20s, 30s, and even 40’s who’ve lost touch with the natural maturation process of personal development and personal success. These individuals seek instant gratification. They want success, and they want it now! The phrase, “paying your dues” unfortunately, doesn’t register or doesn’t apply to them . . . or so they think.

Why? I’m thinking you can go ahead and blame it on the microwave oven. Yes, the microwave oven. Think about it, these same “kids” are now adults and they’ve only known one thing — instant gratification! Need a quick meal? Pop it in the microwave. How about some leftovers - throw it in the microwave. The trusty microwave has now made the concept of “waiting” obsolete.

Consider that on some Freudianesque level, one of our most basic needs - food (warm food) has been relegated to a 30 second episode. There are now multiple generations programmed for instant gratification.

Over the last 30 years the microwave has subconsciously programmed millions of youth to think that they can have anything — right away. Whether it’s a pizza or, I humbly submit to you, success.
So what eventually happens to these poor souls?

Well, so many of these individuals become extremely frustrated when they realize that life doesn’t work like their favorite kitchen appliance. They expect that they’ll get what they want out of life WHEN they want it! The house . . . the car . . . the husband/wife… fabulous career . . . maybe in a few years (max). Sure, their parents’ careers may have taken 20 or even 30 years . . . but they haven’t considered that.

Stephen Covey has a marvelous phrase for this. He refers to it as “The Law of the Farm.” A paradym of understanding life’s timetable and the maturation process. For distinguishing between effectiveness (with people) and efficiency (with things).

Yes, life is much like a farm and it is controlled by timeless principles. You plant your dreams, ideals and goals. You nurture them day in and day out. You then watch them grow. Not over the course of a day or a month - but in terms of MONTHS and YEARS. You simply can’t rush certain things. No farmer ever “crammed” to get a crop to grow as Covey brilliantly points out. No matter what you do, no matter how badly you want it - you can’t get corn to grow any faster than nature has intended it to.

Farming takes time. The farmer works diligently in the off months preparing the soil. He then carefully sows the seeds. The next step could then be not only the most frustrating but also the most nerve-wracking. He must patiently allow the natural laws to take effect. Wait for the seeds to mature. However, does he worry that the seeds won’t mature or bring forth the crop? No. He diligently works on the crop - day after day and knows the fruits of his labor are assured - in due course.

And so it is with our lives and our goals. It’s not easy, and there are no shortcuts. We work for years preparing the soil for our success, and then we sow the seeds. Then comes the gestation period. We wait for those seeds to grow and our success to ripen.

However, for the “microwave generations” and without realizing it–they expect success to be a fairly instant process. They truly expect instant development. They haven’t yet grasped the idea that “overnight” success–in both business and personal development–actually translates into far more often than not, a 20-year process.

Consider what the American talk show host Monty Hall said: “Actually, I’m an overnight success. It just took 20 years.” This is why Confucius said 3000 years ago, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago - the second best time is now.”

Does this mean that you won’t experience immediate improvements by following and practicing “The 3 C’s” or completing the exercises in the Success Playbook (forthcoming). Absolutely not. As soon as you start applying “The 3 C’s” you’ll discover a whole new world. You are likely to gain a greater sense of clarity about your world-and your life. You’ll gain insight beyond your years. What’s more, you’ll have a working recipe and formula to create immediate, positive changes in your life.

Will your business flourish overnight? Will your relationships thrive overnight? Not likely. Just like it’s not likely the crop will grow overnight either.

Will your business or career experience a dramatic change for the better within a year? Absolutely.
Whatever the endeavor–by applying “The 3 C’s” and using the Success Playbook, your ultimate SUCCCESS is assured.

Until next time.
BTW: Be sure to share your microwave-reality moment.

Thank you.
Mitch W. Steel
“SUCCCESS, The 3 C’s” www.succcess.org

This entry was posted on Monday, August 11th, 2008 at 2:13 am and is filed under belief, character, discipline, patience, starting point, vision.