Two Ingredients to a Winning Formula

Growing up there were 2 things that surrounded my life, golf and fishing. I've been doing both of those since I was about 10 years old and younger. My grandfather was an avid fisherman, making rods and lures in the back room of their NY Apartment, and my best friend and I went fishing in the creek near our house most days throughout the summer. My weekends were filled with early morning tee times and occasional trips to the driving range with my father. As we fished this weekend in the peace and quiet of the Lake George area I realized that these two activities are actually very similar and probably created some key attributes that have led me to where I am today.

Patience is key in both of these activities. When I started keeping a handicap at golf that first time, it was pretty scary, probably almost sounding off the alarm bells to keep this kid off the course. Throughout the next couple of years, the handicap came down each month, till I eventually hit my all-time low of an 8 when I was about 19 years old. Not to be left out of the story is consistency. Over those 9 years, I played regularly and during the last few years, I played almost every day. This is where consistency comes in. Playing 2 days a week is great, but playing 5-6 days a week created a consistent swing and allowed me to improve each and every day. Fishing is the same, you have to take the time with each lure, work the areas, learn the areas, and over time you become better at feeling the hits, knowing the places, and knowing the times when to catch fish. I built patience with fishing but lacked consistency. Patience works well, but patience with consistency creates a winning formula every time.

How do you apply patience and consistency in your life then?

1) Investing regularly, and consistently over time generates wealth. There really are only two formulas to build wealth. The first is to create a business that does well. That would be hard and not everyone is cut out for it. The second one is slow and steady investing. Just run the math and find out for yourself. Are you young and want to prepare for a future retirement? Then start saving, investing, and planning now. Later in your life and want to plan for retirement, start saving, investing, and planning now. It is not glorious, but it works.  

2) Building your career requires the same patience and consistency. I tell my kids in sports and in work, to keep showing up, and keep putting in the work and it will pay off, I guarantee it. If you are at work, you have to keep learning, keep reading, and keep doing it day in and day out. That is how you get recognized. High-profile projects do not just fall into people's laps, they are awarded to people that are there, putting in the work and doing it day in and day out.  

I've been guilty of this one myself, seeing others and thinking I'm at the same level as them, I deserve the promotion. One has to realize, that you may think you are there, but there is still much to learn till you are truly ready. If you consistently put in the work, it will come your way.  And if it is not, then maybe it is time to look, but you have to have some patience with consistency.  There are some red flags to look for when it is time to move on, but that is another post for another day.

Are you lacking patience and consistency?

• Write down areas that you are consistent in. Here are some of mine: Bible reading, prayer, podcast listening, and completing work on time.

• Write down areas that need more consistency. Here is mine: Reading outside of the bible (I've slacked off lately in this area)

• Where are you patient? For me, work is an area I've learned to be patient in.

• Where do you need more patience? For me, this one is with my kids. I'm an A-Type personality and sometimes that does not mesh with the creative sides of my kids.

• Name 2 things you are going to do to start being more patient and consistent. I'll hold myself accountable here again, I need to make sure I'm reading at least 15 minutes every night and with my kids, I'm working on this one, giving them the space they need but definitely need to think before speaking more.