Any skill I have learned came only after putting in effort through a sustained period. It didn’t matter how well each session went. It didn’t matter how much I did in a particular session, or if I didn’t want to appear for a session. What mattered, was that I showed up to do the work every time. That is where success shows up. Love the work, the results appear.

An example from my personal life. By December 2024, I had spent over 1.5 years learning German, 2 hours per week. That’s all I spent. 2 hours per week. Currently, I am studying in an A2.1 class. My German teacher told me that I could get the B1 certificate if I put 2 months of dedicated effort into learning the language. There were a few things that went into it.

I almost always showed up to class regardless of the circumstances. It was 2 hours per week. I can always make 2 hours per week to show up for a skill I want to learn. Even if I was on holiday, I would show up for the class.

I enjoyed the class. I took joy in learning the language. I told myself repeatedly that I enjoyed the class - it was a fact. I did enjoy the class. I enjoyed going through the process of sitting in class - regardless of what was going on outside - I stuck through learning the language. The fact that I enjoyed going to the class meant that I would return to it.

I had alignment on a few fronts - there was alignment with my personality. There was alignment with how the class was taught. There was alignment in terms of my desire to always be learning. There was alignment in the eventual desired outcome - learning German. I also truly enjoy learning the language - I think it is a beautiful language.

What should I take away from all of this?

Enjoy the process, not the result. Work towards your desired result through the process. Show up to do the work. Find a teacher/mentor willing to teach you, and show you the way. That’s all you have in your hand.

If you do not like the process, figure out why. If the result is not worth it - stop. If the result is worth it - change the process. Having alignment on multiple fronts is of the essence. Above all, show up to do the work.