Success is pain

Is the level of success you’re able to achieve directly proportionate to the amount of pain you’re willing to endure? 

To be a functional human being, you have to endure some pain. You’ve accepted the mundanity of brushing your teeth, washing your clothes, and paying your phone bill. Those aren’t pain-free experiences, but they help you live the kind of life you want to. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, we see athletes like Kerri Strug or Patrick Mahomes willing to endure extreme pain as they chase victory. Startup culture is like this too. Founders work long hours for years, all for the chance at a profitable exit.  

When do we quit things? When the pain becomes too much. When it’s no longer worth it. When we don’t believe our sacrifice will pay off. 

We all want things. The question is, are we willing to endure pain to get them? How much pain are we willing to suffer? How long are we willing to do it?