Walt Hampton, J.D.

Creating the Work & Life You LOVE

Ash Hole
November 1, 2012

Financial objectives; weight loss; fitness goals; career ladders; creative projects: sometimes it feels as if we’re making no forward progress; sometimes it feels as if we’re sliding backwards; in fact, sometimes it seems as if we’re caught in a deep dark hole.

If the goal is worthy and the strategy sound, there is only one real course of action: keep on keepin’ on.

I remember years ago, right after they re-opened Mt. St. Helens, my son, Joe, and I climbed to the crater rim. Seismically unstable, the trail had been shut down for years; the landscape scorched and shattered.

As we emerged from the forest, the upper slopes were covered with ash. We’d take a step up, and slide back; another step up, another slide back. It was like hiking on a beach that had been pitched at a 45º angle, grinding and relentless.

In the clear air under the hot sun, we could see our objective. But it never seemed to get any closer. Morale flagged; we were tempted to give up; it was so discouraging.

And so it often is.

When we get bogged down, it’s easy to get despondent, to lose the focus and resolve. We feel like quitting. But here’s the truth: it’s the small, steady efforts that yield the rewards. Over time, the plodding matters.

We hung our feet over the crater rim and laughed. The seeming futility throughout the effort of the climb had been almost comic. Yet the reward of that spectacular moment was beyond compare.

Darren Hardy tells the story of the man who cut his calorie consumption by just 125 calories a day; less than the “price” of a cup of cereal. After 31 months, the man had lost 33 ½ pounds. (125 calories a day x 940 days=117,500 calories x 1 pound/3500 calories=33 ½ pounds). I wonder how many times this dude looked in the mirror and said, “damn, I still look fat.”

At mile 32 of the Vermont 50 miler, I sat and wept. Thirty-two miles was the farthest I had ever run before; and 18 miles more seemed incomprehensible to me. I stood up and plodded onward: I picked those 18 off one mile at a time.

It’s one resume at a time; a few dollars more; an extra crunch or two; just another chapter. It’s one more lesson; another rejection; another practice session; a couple more laps around the track; just a draft or two more.

No matter how dark the hole or steep the ash, take a step; and then another.

You’ll be so glad you did.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

DOWNLOAD your FREE BOOK!

The-3-steps-to-living-an-inspired-life

DOWNLOAD Your Free E-Book NOW! Click Below And Get Going!

Click on the button for your copy of journeys!

Journeys-On-The-Edge

You’ll Get A Signed Copy!

Click on the button for your copy of my brand new book “The power principles of time mastery!”

The Power Principles of Time Mastery

You’ll Get A Signed Copy!

REGISTER HERE

Free Online Training Workshop

Thanks for signing in to the workshop!