You don’t always need to know your next move.
Sometimes it takes a year of searching and being aware before you stumble across the path you need to take.
So be patient and keep working.
Luck will find you, but it will find you working.
Often times, we think we’re lost or that we need to make a drastic change in order to get back on track. When in reality, we’re on the path we need—it’s just not clear to us at the moment. We all go through periods in life where we feel lost. This is normal.
“Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” - Aristotle
Are you in this period of your life?
Look around.
Are you still in pursuit of your goal?
If that’s you, I encourage you to keep going—keep stumbling along the path and keep an eye out for your next move.
When there were lulls in my business, I would keep showing up every day. I’d keep doing whatever daily work I could while researching and reading, trying to learn from others in the space to gain insight and plan my next move.
When trying to keep busy, I encourage you to read books, read newsletters, listen to podcasts, and learn from mentors. Look at what they’re doing, and think about how it might apply to your own situation.
In my career, I’ve had several moments where offers that once worked were no longer viable, and there were no clear next steps to keep growing my business. During these lulls between knowing my next move and having clarity, I had to keep working and keep testing. There was a time it took about a year for me to realize what I needed to do next, because the marketing landscape had changed so much.
“One day, in retrospect, the years of struggle will strike you as the most beautiful.” - Sigmund Freud
This isn’t just about business, but life as well. If we’re pursuing our goal, there will be times when we’re unsure about the next step. It may take weeks, or it may take months, but we will find that next step if we keep working, keep showing up, and stay consistent.
During those periods of feeling lost, discipline and consistency are absolutely necessary. Things like going to the gym, eating healthy, and prioritizing relationships are the baseline for our lives. Staying grounded in these daily habits keeps us strong when everything else seems uncertain.
“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope.” Romans 5:3–4 (KJV)
The people we consider lucky are only lucky because they’re out there working, and they recognized an opportunity when it appeared. The same can be true for you if you remain patient, consistent, and open to possibility.