Why Chasing Shortcuts Won’t Get You Far. What to Do Instead

We’ve all seen those tempting promises – “Make a fortune with no effort!”, “Drop a stone in a week without dieting or exercise!”, or “Master a new skill in just days!” Sounds great. But deep down, we know better. Achieving anything truly worthwhile takes more than a quick fix.

Here’s the thing: lasting success – whether it’s in business, health, relationships, or personal growth – almost always requires time, effort, and commitment. And yet, it’s so easy to get drawn into the idea of shortcuts. Why? Because we all want results fast, and frankly, the idea of skipping the hard bits is appealing.

But ask yourself: how many times have you tried something like this only to be left disappointed? Maybe it was that online course promising to make you a marketing guru in 24 hours, or the latest “miracle” diet that fell flat. The truth is, the results we want don’t come from cutting corners; they come from steady, consistent effort.

Take the IKEA analogy: building flatpack furniture may seem straightforward, but skip the instructions, and you’ll probably end up with wobbly shelves or leftover screws. The same goes for most areas of life – ignore the foundations, and your results are shaky at best.

So, what should you do when considering a new direction?

Here are three questions to help you reflect before jumping into anything:

1. What’s the long-term impact?
   It’s easy to get caught up in quick wins, but how will this decision affect your future? Will it move you closer to where you want to be, or is it just a distraction?
2. Am I willing to put in the necessary effort?
   Ask yourself: if this is important to me, am I prepared to do what it takes? It’s okay if the answer is “no” right now – maybe the timing’s off. But be honest with yourself about what you’re willing to commit to.
3. What’s my gut telling me?
   We all have that inner voice – it’s often spot on. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Trust your instincts. They’ve guided you through tough decisions before, and they’ll do it again.

Remember, being discerning doesn’t mean you have to be negative or overly cautious. It’s about understanding that the best results usually come from effort, patience, and smart decision-making. Success isn’t about finding the fastest route; it’s about staying on the right path, even when it’s the longer one.

So next time the lure of a shortcut tempts you, take a moment to reflect. You might just find that the most rewarding achievements come from the steps you didn’t skip.

Article inspired by a comment from Ryan Holiday's Audible Book, "Disciple is Destiny". A brief note taken on VoiceNotes subsequently turned into an outline and then shared and discussed with AI. Experience in Collaboration with AI

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