“We like to think of our champions and idols as superheroes who were born different from us. We don’t like to think of them as relatively ordinary people who made themselves extraordinary” ~  Carol Dweck.

She’s not wrong. When we think of sports GOATS like Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, and Serena Williams, we think of the amazing moments of sports greatness that are forever etched in our minds. Business magnates like Musk, Gates, Jobs, and the mass fortunes they have. We see them when they are in their glory and sometimes marvel at their status but we easily overlook what it took to get them there.

Sure, some were born with a talent, but it will be wasted if you don’t work that talent.

The world is filled with instant gratification and quick fixes. It’s human nature to look for the easy way to do things. The saying “work smarter, not harder” is well-known for a reason. And while that saying is true, on our path to personal betterment, there is no easy button.

Anything that comes quickly and easily is often lost quickly and easily as well. Think about dieting. So often people will take a pill, or drink a shake to lose weight quickly. But then they are surprised that when they start eating again, the weight comes back. Why is that? Because they didn’t change their mindset about being healthy. So instead of doing it the “hard way” of learning new recipes to eat healthy and start moving their body more, they opted for the illusion of easy instead.

The same can be said for money issues. People are relieved when they get a raise or a new job and finally have a few dollars in the bank. But after a few months they’re living paycheck to paycheck again because they didn’t change their relationship with money and kept the same spending habits.

Few people think hard work is fun. But how can you expect to have lasting, impactful change without putting in the work? One key principle of personal growth is that progress comes from struggle. Think about the most significant achievements in your life. Chances are they required dedication, hard work, and a willingness to face adversity head-on.

From a young age, we’re conditioned to seek out shortcuts and quick solutions. Whether it’s cramming for exams instead of studying consistently, looking for crash diets instead of adopting a healthy lifestyle, or searching for get-rich-quick schemes instead of building long-term financial stability, the allure of the easy button is ever-present. However, the truth is that genuine success and fulfillment rarely come from taking the easy route.

The things worth having in life—lasting relationships, meaningful careers, personal fulfillment—are rarely acquired overnight. They require time, patience, and a willingness to embrace the journey, complete with its ups and downs. If you want something in your life to change you have to stop wishing things would change and that things were easier and start working to become better. Stop focusing on what you can’t control and focus that energy on what you can control. It will take discipline but at some point you’ll have to choose between what you want now and what you want the most.