Why Patience is so Important to Success
It’s funny that I’m writing this because I’m a notoriously impatient person. I want results and I want them NOW! I wish that patience wasn’t such an important life skill, but I have to face the reality that it really is.
We all naturally want quick results when we do something. We want to know if something is working or if we are just wasting our time and energy. We all know that consistently going to the gym will make us healthy, but we also know that the results come AFTER the hard work. It’s why we like sugar and junk food even though we know it’s not good for us. The good results from junk food come immediately. Chocolate tastes good while you are eating it and you get fat and unhealthy later. Any normal bad habit is like this, the benefits come immediately and the consequences take much longer to show up.
It’s much worse when we don’t really know the end result. It’s so easy to quit something when this is true. Think about starting some new business. It’s easier to work hard if you really have the faith and true belief that your efforts WILL work. It’s much harder to maintain the motivation if you are kind of unsure of the end results. If you are going to work hard, you want to be sure all your effort will at least “pay off” at some point. Imagine working hard on something for 6 months and seeing no results? Would you keep going? Most people quit when this happens and I think this is one of the big reasons that most people fail to make the changes in life they really know they want to make. The results take too long to see and people don’t REALLY know when or if they are making good choices.
For example, if I KNEW that this blog would get more and more people reading and enjoying it, I would certainly write more. But I just have to guess. All I can do is try my best and hope. That’s all we can do.
I know I personally have a bad habit of rolling out of bed and checking for any any new comments, emails, and new facebook and twitter fans. If nothing new happens, I naturally get a little “down on myself” and feel frustrated. Getting “down on yourself” kind of means something like blaming yourself. If I don’t get many new comments then thoughts pop into my head like, “Was that a stupid blog?” “Did people find it boring?” “Am I just wasting my time?” I know in my mind that it makes no sense to be like this but I still have those emotions.
I need to just have faith and keep “plugging away”, which means to continue working on what I believe in and not look at short term results. It’s one of those things thats much “easier said than done”. Patience is certainly necessary when learning English or any language. That’s honestly one of the biggest reasons I try to make it fun. If learning is fun, then it’s not a job, it’s a hobby. You don’t think about if you are learning, you are just kind of having fun. Then one day you wake up and realize, “wow, my English got WAY better!”. Thats my dream for you guys. I want you to experience that kind of emotion and all the success that this website will bring you.
I also want to say, only follow me on Facebook and Twitter if you really WANT to. I’m trying my best to make this an interesting and cool experience but I don’t need anyone’s pity. Lol. No guilt.
I would appreciate some honest comments and opinions. You don’t need to “sugar coat” anything. By the way, if you “sugar coat” something, it kind of means something like giving bad news in an overly kind way. Just tell me what you think of everything “straight up” which means very directly.
March 27th, 2011 at 9:02 am
THis was so true. I will let my students read it and also myi boss, the headmaster at school. And I would love your blogs even more if you continue to write the “phrases” in bold letters.:-)
Thanks for what you are doing.
AnnKristin
March 27th, 2011 at 9:09 am
Thanks a lot AnnKristin.
Good idea too with the bold letters. I’ll do that from now on. Also, I’d love to know what your students and boss think of this stuff.
Andy
March 27th, 2011 at 10:19 pm
Hey, Andy!
I wonder what would you like more, to see comments here or on facebook?
The thing that buys me in your posts is honesty. I really feel what you’re trying to say by that. Keep it up and you’ll get more comments.
And one more question, why on earth don’t you write anything on twitter? I’m sure lots of people go there after reading your posts and what do they see there?
I think you should pay way more attention to it. It’s dramatically developing site where you can pick up lots of fans.
Best of luck.
P.S: last week i started watching Two and a half men show. It’s awesome. I like things like that a lot. Thanks for rec.
March 27th, 2011 at 11:33 pm
Hi, Andy.
Just to tell you I really enjoy your posts. This is an awesome idea and a real good resource for those who are looking for some real material to keep their English studies going.
Keep up your excellent job. and please: Be patient! Do not give up! You will succeed!
Thanks ,
humberto
March 28th, 2011 at 1:58 am
I’m looking forward new blogs and twitters
March 28th, 2011 at 10:45 am
Hi there!
I really enjoy your podcasts and blog as well. I find it helpful in studying English. I listen iPod during my day job. In the evening I love to read your blog. I like the way you write, some texts from other authors are hard to understand, but yours are clear for 90%
It would be cool to make an app for iPad. Whad do you think?
March 28th, 2011 at 10:59 am
Hi, Andy.
I just wanted to say that you and Add are incredible guys and your work here on this website is great and very meaningful.
I like to listen to your podcasts, even though sometimes I have the different point of view on the particular problem or idea, but I think it’s normal, we all are the quite “intelligent” people
and have our own ideas and thoughts about everything, and what the most important we all have the different cultures. It’s always difficult to express your opinion to such a big multinational group of people.
And definitely I always always always enjoy your posts here on the blog, They are always interesting and useful. Your writing style is great, it’s plain but at the same time is very powerful. It seems I have the same interests as you, I like to read a lot on the huge amount of topics and try to be well-rounded. So your post for me are always actual and up-to-date.
You’re a very interesting person, a good writer, a talented podcaster and also an attractive guy.
Keep doing what you are doing. I’m sure there are a lot of people who appreciate your work.
~ Best regards from the thankful girl,
Valerie
March 28th, 2011 at 3:08 pm
Decent looking guy ))
March 28th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Hey guys,
I actually like seeing comments on here. I just read them all and I have a great feeling after reading them. I wish I could comment separately to each one but unfortunately that would make me a full time blog commenter. I’ve never done anything full time. Lol.
I’m really happy people are enjoying what I do. I’ll keep it up. I’m going to have an “early night” and I’ll write another blog tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll think of something interesting to say while I’m dreaming.
April 6th, 2011 at 10:52 am
Hi Andy,
It’s what I do right now – keeping patience…. ok, at least I try to do that
But anyway I’m very nervous about my future. Your podcasts are really great, they make me laugh sometimes and for sure make me feel better.
I already have few friend who want to learn it from the very beginning.
Please don’t stop doing you great job!!! It worth it. I’m sure I have a loooot of fans all over the world.
I’m even start to think about doing something the same for my native language – Russian
Kate (Russia now, Halifax,NS in future (keep my fingers crossed:))
April 6th, 2011 at 3:02 pm
Definetly I’m not patient! In my childhood I tried to learn play guitar, but after 1 month I gave up because couldn’t play any music, and the worst part was that I didn’t train at home because I hadn’t patience to keep repeating the musical chords again and again and again.
Today it is a bit better, but I’m still impatient. Keep motivated to learn English is difficult for me, but now I’m enjoying theses classes. Sometimes, at work, my brain is burning with a issue and then I take a break and listen and read one of your podcasts. It relax me and at the same time it teach me English. It is wonderful
June 2nd, 2011 at 10:36 pm
Hi , just want to say that you guys are doing a valuable job, and it’s always kind of interesting to read your stories and listen the audio, just keep on doing it, I kwow for sure so many people will benefit from it as I do. Thanks boys an don’t stop.
January 27th, 2012 at 12:14 pm
EXCELLENT suggestions, JoAnn! Thank you.
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May 19th, 2012 at 4:07 pm
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