When I decided to start studying for the GMAT one year ago, I had one hundred reasons not to. I am too busy. I have not studied for a test in years. Is business school even worth it? Excuses are extremely easy to come by. Energy isn’t always. But the greatest combatant to laziness is proaction and the inertia keeps us going.
Whether it be studying for a big test, finding a new job or even diving into a new hobby, endless obstacles will keep us from achieving our goals. Too often, the biggest obstacle is ourselves. The answer to that is to just do it. Want to run a marathon? Train for it. Hate your job and want a new one? Start your search and find a new one. Once you make the decision, block out all the internal and external noise telling you that you cannot or shall not. Don’t listen to your body when it tells you to sleep in that day. Throw out the notion that you should stick it out a few more months, until your one-year mark. Excuses never won a marathon. Find measurable benchmarks and goals and track your progress. Have intention in everything that you do and do not be afraid of failure. Recognize that your progress will be born of repeated failures and only through that painful repetition can you move forward. After months of job applications, networking events and interviews, it might be random happenstance that lands you your new gig.
So the next time you find yourself envious of someone in some place doing something you want for yourself, just remind yourself: you can do that too. What’s the trick? Doing it! The rest is just noise.
Aryeh Carni
ARYEH CARNI 