I’ve been examining this topic for quite some time, but I can’t seem to find any concrete evidence on quick success. I think it’s because there is no such thing as quick success.
Success can mean a lot of things: money, fame, skill, getting a girlfriend, passing an exam, or crushing your enemies in battle. I don’t like to get too philosophical on the matter, so I usually simply refer to success as the fulfillment of one’s desire. Today, we’re going to be talking about success in the form of making money.
You’ve probably come across sales copy on the Internet that supposedly guarantees a quick buck if you follow the advice in their guidebook—something along the lines of “I will show you how to make $2000 a day using this simple blueprint. Get it now for just $47!” The thing is, the blueprint itself probably works flawlessly. The only problem is how to really follow it.
When you let your ego handle the talking, it’s easy to start exaggerating and bragging. But it’s a huge mistake if you ever want to gain authority and credibility. This happens a lot when you’re still unknown and trying to impress someone. Remember your last date?
But how will you sound when you’ve told someone that you’re a professional therapeutist and she finally realizes the truth—that you’re a bus driver, and your therapeutic expertise consists of reading Teach Yourself Zen Therapy in 21 Days (fictitious title) and half a dozen more volumes on health and zen. Don’t get me wrong; many teach-yourself courses out there are packed with valuable information that you can absorb for professional benefit. The problem is that you’re claiming to be someone you’re obviously not.
There are a number of ways to prove yourself an expert at something. You can apply for certification at an institute. Winning a competition or breaking a world record will bring recognition and fame. A university degree is a commonly accepted measure of your competence. Also, friends can spread word of your skills. But what if you want to pose the question to yourself? How do you measure your own ability?
The phrase kung fu is a Chinese compound word roughly meaning ‘expertise,’ ‘skill,’ or ‘success’. Kung fu isn’t just gwa choys, poon kius, and other swinging punches. Tea ceremony, musicianship, origami, and motorcycle maintenance can all be called kung fu. But its most common connotation obviously deals with martial arts. Kung fu movies. Shaolin kung fu. Kung Fu Panda. That sort of thing. And today, I want to share a kung fu secret with you.
Self-Learner is a blog about self-education and self-improvement based lifestyle design. Goal? To become the best "version" of yourself, and feel excited to jump out of your bed every morning.