I had been showing horses with a lot of success when my trainer finally talked mom and dad into taking me to the Quarter Horse Shows.
The competition was tough there.
I was told I would have to “pay my dues” before I would be in the placings at those shows.
And it was true, it took me a long time before I would see any ribbons. But I clung to that saying, always wondering the meaning… it gave me hope I would get there and reminded me there was something I didn’t yet know when I would walk out in the bottom half, over and over.
It took me a lot of years to figure out what it meant, but now I can see how it also applies to life.
It’s learning the ropes.
It’s finding your limit and then figuring out how to push your limit.
It’s knowing how to fit in, then how to stand out.
It’s learning the rules and then how you can bend the rules without breaking them.
It’s learning your craft so well it’s second nature, and then tweaking and fine tuning to smooth out the rough edges.
But mostly it’s the confidence you gain in your own competence, knowledge and skills that sets you apart and puts you in the winners circle.
On a business podcast I was listening to the other day, they were talking about how hard it is to get the ball rolling so it’s easier in life to switch directions than it is to always be starting over.
I thought that’s true because you always have to pay your dues first.