The Hare and the Tortoise

byannedy

105 followers

4 years ago

One of my other 'work to survive' jobs is teaching online English. It's pretty cool. The kids are sweet and I quite like having the time to focus on just what's in front of me.

So, today we were discussing the old fable of the Hare and the Tortoise. You know the one, where Hare who is super-fast, zips a long at lighting pace whilst poor short-legged tortoise plods. Of course, as we know Hare burns himself out and goes for a prolonged 'nap', whilst Tortoise stumpy-legged as he is, just keeps putting the steps in. Ultimately passing Hare and yeah, winning the prize.

'And?', you ask. Well, here's the thing. I'm a Hare by nature. Full disclosure here. Zipzipzippidityzipdistractedforgetlost. I doubt I'm the only one here. However, what I like about Wealthy Affiliate is it's demanding that I become a tortoise.

'Eh?', I hear you cry. Well look it's like this:

1. I'm having to pay monthly for the premium account - and yes, at present that is a serious economic consideration as I'm skint. However,

2. that is making me accountable to turn up. Meaning I am finding the time to do the work because I can't face the waste of cash every month. So,

3. I am slowly, patiently doing the training and that, in turn, is making me re-think my idea of return on investment.

Yes, of course I want to make cash. What's the point otherwise? I desperately want an expensive website building-cum-marketing hobby? Nah I'd rather watch paint dry (preferably with a glass of wine in my hand).

But I know realistically tangible cash is not going to come this week or next week. I suppose it could if I knew what the hell I was doing at the backend of websites (I don't), so this time is about something else - learning, networking, creating sustainability and strengthening those 'just bloody keep turning up tortoise muscles' (sort of like gym memberships that suck our accounts dry and we still don't have 6-packs...I wonder why???).

You see, I really do believe that this process is about building businesses and if you have a tortoise mentality you will find the time, you will do the training, you will make it successful.

Sure, if you just want to affiliate sell, cool. Just get on your key word searches and start finding those niches - still have OMG moments about those snak-hat-thingimies.

But I'm building the foundation of my business which has been percolating for a very long time and for once in my life, I'm having to do it like a tortoise - it's impossible to do it any other way with this training - no skipping to the last module is possible.

And that is why I suspect that this time I will get it right because where the value of this programme lies for me, is not some online, market funnelling fantasy crap about having enough money to buy a Lamborghini by next month, but that I'm having to slow down and do the process. I have faith in this process and the content being presented and if I don't succeed at it, it'll simply be because I fell into my Hare-like habits.

Here's to the tortoises!