Ever seen an ad promising that you can “lose 30lbs in a month” or “make $$$ working from home part-time – with no experience”?
It’s tempting to believe that there’s a magic bullet, some way to fix
our problems quickly and easily – without any effort, self-discipline
or hard work.
And marketers know that this is how we think. They promise to spill
the secrets, teach us easy tips that change our lives radically. They go
for highly emotive issues like weight loss and money.
The problem is, there’s no magic bullet. There never is.
How can I be so sure?
Because if it really was that easy, we’d all be doing it.
If there really was some huge secret to making money without any
effort, do you really think that one canny marketer would be the only
person who knew it?
If it really was possible to lose 30lbs in a month safely and sustainably, do you think the obesity crisis would exist?
Promising a magic bullet is simply a sales tactic – and not one which you want to fall for.
Hard Work Trumps Wishful Thinking
It’s easy to sit around daydreaming about winning loads of money.
It’s a lot harder to stay motivated to work your way up to a promotion,
or to take evening classes to give you the skills and qualifications
which you need for a new career.
It’s easy to swallow an expensive weight loss pill. It’s a
lot harder to stay disciplined and resist that slice of chocolate cake,
or that candy bar.
The thing is, life is hard work sometimes. And that’s good news.
Why?
Because if you’re willing to put in some work, you can get a very
long way in life. You might turn around your financial situation, or go
after the career of your dreams, or travel to amazing places – whatever
it is you want.
A lot of people never manage to do that. They keep hoping
for a magic bullet (and even end up spending a fortune in time and money
on chasing that bullet).
I’m not saying that you should run yourself into the ground by
working hard. And, in fact, while there might not be any magic bullet, there are a lot of simple tips and tricks to make the road to your goals that bit easier.
You probably know plenty of those tips already. You can pick up many,
many more for the price of an internet connection or a library
membership.
Here are a few examples of what I mean:
- Instead of the “magic bullet” of diet pills, keep a food diary. (Studies have shown that this is the single most effective way of boosting weight loss.)
- Instead of the “magic bullet” of some internet marketer’s “make money online while you sleep” program, spend a few hours each week doing freelance work.
- Instead of the “magic bullet” of an amazing, but pricy, piece of exercise equipment, go for a brisk walk in your lunch hour.
I often find myself wishing that life would be easy. But then I
remember how much more I value things when I’ve worked for them, and how
much I learn and grow in the process.
What are you working towards right now? Have you gathered solid
tips and tricks to help you (for free, or at least cheaply) – or are you
sitting around waiting for an expensive magic bullet?
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