When I decided to become a Registered Dietitian, I knew it would be a long, costly and demanding endeavor. I could have settled for a nutrition certification but not matter how many certifications I received and no matter how many articles I read, nothing would give me the education, experience and professionalism of becoming a Registered Dietitian.
In today's society, there appears to be a shortcut for almost anything. Overnight, you can practically buy, become or be anything you want.
But sadly, shortcuts don't get you very far. Rather than moving fast, you get stuck. Even worse, cutting corners gets you off track.
In a society that worships speed, we must not forget that the journey (or experience) is what matters. Invest time, money and effort into yourself.
If you have a goal or there's something important in your life that you want to achieve/experience, there's no magic formula. The tips are simple.
- Establish a short and long-term plan.
- Stay consistent, remain flexible.
- Work hard.
- Show up.
- Ask questions.
- Don't be afraid to make mistakes.
- Ask for help.
- Learn from others.
- Invest into continuing education.
- Step out of your comfort zone.
- Don't look for shortcuts. There's a difference between feeling successful and experience success.
There are two ways to get to the top of a mountain. You can climb or you can ride the gondola to the top. Each gives you a different feeling.
When you climb a mountain, you earned that view at the top. You worked hard for it. You could have given up and turned around but you battled your way to the top. The journey in the climb changed you and taught you so much about yourself. You learned that you are capable of so much more.
When you ride the gondola to the top of the mountain, you can enjoy the same view but there is no sense of accomplishment. You didn't have to work to get to the top.
Same mountain peak. A completely different experience.
Success is an experience, not a feeling. You can take shortcuts and feel successful but without the experience, there are no series of struggles to help change you. It's the lessons learned along the journey that are far more valuable and meaningful than what you receive when you get to your desired destination.