Why Most People Stay In One Spot For Too Long
+ A new work we are excited about starting!
Hello friends.
Welcome to May.
A wonderful month filled with great opportunities to learn, connect and become better.
I have tens of article drafts stacked up in my Notion workshop (I recently went back to using Notion to organise my writing and other projects) that I want to share with you.
So many of them, and when I try to finish one and prepare it for publishing, another attrative idea comes invading my mind and as is typical of "people like me" I abandon ship for that new idea until when I come back for some housekeeping and realise a bunch of unfinished works and most times I end up publishing newer ones and the older ones always stay longer on the shelf waiting for a future date and some I never publish (some get deleted and some just remain there), I consider them manure or fertiliser for better ideas.
Like this article, I wasn't even planning on publishing this today.
I had something else in mind, but when the idea came and I started writing, I discovered that I was enjoying the idea and the writing process, and somehow it got to a publishable length within a short time.
So, here we are...
Plateaus, Valleys And Mountains
I want to share with you why most people stay in one spot for too long (take note of "too" long).
I will start with Dan Koe. I've been following him for a while now, and he may be one of the few writers I will carry along to the next phase of my growth.
"Maturity is discovering that most of your life is spent in a plateau, and if you don't fall in love with practice, mastery, and moving the needle forward you'll constantly try to escape the plateau with cheap stimulation and busy work that only keeps you there longer." - DAN KOE.
Read it again slowly.
Really slowly--pick the words one after the other and think thoroughly about them.
Maybe this speaks to you and reveals to you why you've been in that one spot for too long.
The journey of life is not one straight climb or journey.
There are steep slopes, high mountains, very deep valleys, shallow ones, jungle paths, lonely roads, stormy ways, and all sorts of obstacles.
Our journey through life is not a straight line. But what makes a few people look as if they are better than the crowd is what I am going to be discussing with you here.
The Plateaus Of Life
There's always that silent period in our lives where things seem to suddenly stop being adventurous.
'Challenges' become normal and don't stretch or make you uncomfortable.
Your work or job is going smoothly, but it lacks the adventurousness of something new and challenging.
This is the plateau of life, and many people often find themselves stuck there.
These plateaus are almost always comfortable. But what makes them dangerous is that you will never be able to keep climbing if you remain there. You'll need more energy, discipline, and focus to break out of the plateau (more than what brought you there).
Most people try to break through, but they are not disciplined enough and cannot sustain the required posture and momentum to break through.
Many even deceive themselves with what Dan Koe calls "cheap stimulation and busy work"--like spending unproductive hours on social media, engaging in unproductive meetings, or doing tasks that don't contribute to their long-term goals or give them the right amount of push needed to move!
If you escape your plateau phase or stage, the only way to show it is through your results—not your talking or posting on social media, but actual results.
There's so much talk on social media today and very few results.
The folks doing the real work are not talking much because they don't have the time to.
How To Truly Overcome Your Plateau Phase
I need you to understand that plateau seasons are also important phases in our lives, during which we learn and acquire the strength and wisdom we need for the next climb and the journey to the next peak.
While we learn at our plateau phases, we shouldn't remain there.
Look for the next peak and the next height, and start climbing.
You can remain at that plateau for the rest of your life—unless you are really old, like 80 years! There's still so much to do!
So much!
The only way to truly burst through those plateau seasons is to understand the importance of mastery, practice and moving the needle.
You must fall in love with learning and getting better at what you do, whether as a professional, a businessperson, or whatever it is you do in life.
Herein lies why many people remain in one spot for too long.
They haven't fallen in love with learning and getting better.
Most even feel there isn't anything to learn again in their fields of endeavour, and that mentality has placed them in a permanent rut.
They will never leave that plateau.
I sentenced myself to learning many years ago.
I had to literally beat my mind to adopt the mentality of a lifelong learner.
Why do you think the top global leading companies still spend unimaginable resources on research and development?
It's simple.
They understand that there's always something new to learn.
If they don't invest in research, they will die out fast because other fast-growing companies will quickly replace them if they lag behind even one bit.
And time is not waiting for anyone—not even you!
Moving The Needle
It's also important to make you understand that progress results from consistent small actions, decisions and efforts.
Most young folks want to suddenly escape gravity with one leap!
It doesn't work that way.
You must be disciplined and committed to whatever you're doing, and most times, it may look as if nothing is working.
Don't stop; keep putting in the work.
What you're really looking for is the slight movement of the needle.
Once you sense it, it means you're putting in work, and whatever you're doing is working.
Make small increments and measure your progress regularly. Don't wait until you see a landslide to believe something is happening. Under a landslide, there are unseen movements, forces, and shifts.
Don't Deceive Yourself
Remember, 'Cheap stimulation' will not get you far.
It may provide a temporary thrill that won't last long.
Consistent and focused effort is what leads to real progress.
You must learn how to bend down until you hear a bone break!
Your skills can improve.
Your product can get better.
Your service can add more value to users.
Attack life with the "no ceiling" mentality. This means setting ambitious goals for yourself and your work and constantly striving to surpass them.
When you adopt this mindset, you'll be amazed at how fast you climb and reach new heights in your personal and professional life.
That's all (for now). I would have loved to continue, but let me leave the remaining thoughts for another time.
If you read this far, thank you.
If you're new, kindly subscribe.
I share insights into Technology, Entrepreneurship, Culture, and Health.
Most of what I write and share falls within these broad domains.
Whether I am writing about technology, leadership, self-development, marriage and relationships, new health research, etc., it all falls within those broad domains. And my primary goal is to inspire my readers to learn more and become more.
A New Work!
I am thrilled and excited to inform my Christian readers about a new Substack publication we will be starting soon.
We're starting this work with a few brothers whom the Lord has brought (and is bringing our way) as part of our contribution to the building up of the saints through words inspired by the Holy Ghost to bring wisdom, strength, and direction to many, many, many lovely people out there (Ephesians 4:12).
This work is dear to my heart. I consider it the greatest of all my labours in the world of media and writing because it is an eternal one.
I started my writing journey when I was just a boy of about 10 or 11 years old (more than 20 years ago), writing about God and some funny stories (wish I could lay my hands on some of the old stuff I wrote back then).
Over the years, I have also experienced my fair share of ups and downs—hot and cold, burning and weak, and sometimes backsliding—but God, in His infinite mercy, kept me and preserved me. And now, with the little experience I have writing, I believe it's time to listen to what He wants and do it (it has always been about me and my ambition. Now, I want it to be about Him and what He wants).
Writing has always been a strong instrument in the spreading of the Good News.
The Bible came to us as the written word.
Holy men of old wrote as they were inspired (moved) by The Holy Ghost (2 Peter 1:21). And now, in our age, holy men still write as The Holy Ghost inspires them.
Once we start publishing, I would immediately let my friends here know so that those interested can join us, and if there are any who are not Christians but are curious to know what Christianity is all about, you are wholeheartedly welcome.
See you soon.