Nobody wants to get rich slow.
“Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”
Warren Buffett
Also, upon being asked: “You’re one of the richest people in the world, and how you explain what you do, it’s so simple. Why doesn’t everyone just copy you?”, Warren Buffett answered:
“Because nobody wants to get rich slow”
Today, clearly, I want to anchor on the power of being patient, on building the core foundations at “source” that will drive the “outcomes” you are seeking.
I’ll also close with a special announcement on something new and “rich” that has emerged from the slow and steady build indicated by the image above.
I’ll use the phrase “rich”, though this will mean different things to different people. Yes, we all need a certain amount of money, but using another definition of “rich”, for me a key element is in learning, sharing, doing my part to make a difference for others.
So what is the image above about? Well, approaching three years ago I decided to write every day on this site. I certainly didn’t do it to “get rich”, I did it because I love to share what I learn.
The “source”, the foundation, was to listen, read and learn, then share. The “outcome”? Well, they have been many and indeed “rich”, creating opportunities to meet many amazing and inspiring people, make new friends, develop new ideas and, hopefully, make a difference for others.
So, back to the image at the top. That is a chart of monthly site visitors to the site. In about two years it has grown eight-fold. It barely moved for the first few months, then, bit by bit more people visited, some posts got “picked up” and shared on by others. Gradually and steadily momentum has built, almost like a snowball gathering more and more snow as it rolls downhill. Oh, and the biography of Warren Buffett by Walter Isaacson is called? “The Snowball“.
After I had started writing daily, lots of people asked me why I was doing it, some wondering how I would “make money” from this. Others pitched to me how they could help me a) grow site traffic quickly, and b) (again) make money from that.
The thing is, I wasn’t doing it to make money, I was (again) doing it because I love to learn and to share learnings.
As I write this I have written nearly 1,000 days in a row, the equivalent of about 8 business books worth of words.
I’m still not “making money” from this, but do I feel I am getting rich slowly? Absolutely, and now I have been at this for nearly three years, it also feels like a foundation to build upon more and more and faster and faster, like a snowball rolling downhill.
In the “slower” time of lockdown, I have taken time to look at “what comes next” for me as well as for others, and today I can point you to the new webpage for my new show, launching Tuesday 29th, with my very first guest being Mark Beaumont, Athlete, Broadcaster & Ambassador and a specialist in Our very first guest is a specialist in “firsts”, including being the first cyclist to ride around the world in under 80 days, averaging 229 miles every day, an astonishing physical and mental achievement. However, to me, it is Mark’s curiosity and hunger to learn and grow that most inspires!
You can now visit WhatComesNext.Live to learn more, including how to join Mark and I at 16:30 UK time on Tuesday June 30th.