An overnight success is ten years in the making

Yesterday I wrote: “Nobody wants to get rich slow”, focussed on what it takes to build something of lasting value. In short, it takes patience as you work on the “source” elements that will build the foundation for the “outcome” you seek.

Later that day, having recently discovered an amazing bicycle service shop in range of where I live, I went to collect my bike from being serviced and having an annoying noise (bike owners may know this phenomenon!) addressed.

I was blown away by the speed, quality and (low) price of the work, but even more so by the passion and drive of the owner of the business.

Hugely busy with the boom in people now cycling in the city, he was able to take a breather when I came to get my bike. I asked him a little about his business, reading that he is now “in a great place, you have lots of choices as to what you do with it now!”.

He agreed, then said: “Yes, and it took ten years to get to this point”

Overnight successes in business are often ten years in the making, or even more. What are you focussed on now that will deliver your vision in the future?

Oh, and if you are able to think in ten year timeframes you, like Warren Buffett or the bike shop owner, have an enormous advantage over those who think only…