It isn’t uncommon for me to get really excited about something and build it up and up and up just to be devastated when things don’t work out. I don’t think I’m the only one that does this, but I’m still not proud of this character trait. Therefore, I’ve been doing a lot of reading, listening, and watching to try and figure out how to move on from the way I reacted to rejection in the past and how to take the necessary steps to accept what is.

The Foundation is the Hardest Part

Creating a relationship, idea, or career that can be built upon requires work. So much work. This work is the foundation for growth and I had never really thought about needing a foundation for anything until my colleague bestowed this fantastic analogy upon me, “you can’t build a mansion before you build the foundation.” Genius.

Recently I’ve started to realize that I can’t effectively express my ideas and reach large audiences if I don’t educate myself on what I want to say. This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s really something I hadn’t thought about before. I have a lot to say, but I want to have a reason for saying what I want to say! I want to back up my ideas with legitimate data rather than just my own life experiences.

With relationships, I’m learning that I can’t just ride the “honeymoon” stage high and expect marriage, kids, and a house on the hill to be the outcome. I have to actually take the time to get to know the person I’m with. If something isn’t working I can’t just give people the benefit of the doubt, I need to actually understand why it’s not working. Mind-blowing, I know.

Meaningful careers obviously don’t just happen overnight. Successful career men and women literally put their blood, sweat, and tears into their passions. They spend countless hours learning relevant skills, networking, and dealing with rejection. The early stages of finding your path in life require learning from the experts.

The Lesson Learned

I know now that building a mansion is easy, that’s the fun part of life. However, the foundation isn’t easy to build because it takes time and effort. If you don’t create a sturdy base to build your mansion on, it will crumble to the ground. You will watch the beautiful idea you created and experienced become a pile of dust. I invite you to take your time with the next thing that excites you most. If something is giving you butterflies, try to fully understand what it is you’re excited about, determine how you want to move forward, and take the necessary steps to create a long-lasting, beautiful experience.