A Culture of Quick Fixes
The other night I was watching TV and saw a commercial for Immodium AD, an over the counter medication that has been used for years to treat diarrhea.
What got me was: the voice on the commercial was recommending Immodium AD for people with persistent, constant or chronic diarrhea. This stuff is not a cure; it’s a quick fix, till the next time it happens.
If this is a constant problem how about looking at your lifestyle and changing some of the things you eat. Most likely all it would take would be a small long-term sacrifice; a small change in your eating habits and this problem would go away.
The only thing that I’ve ever consumed in my life that gave me heartburn was coffee. So guess what I did? Right, over 20 years ago I cut it out and I stopped getting heartburn. Did I like coffee? Yes I did; but I hated heartburn a heck of a lot more than I liked coffee.
The point is, it just seems much easier and hassle free to do the old quick-fix and pop a pill, so to speak. No sacrifice involved on your part. But the problem is, for the things we really want in life, you will have to make some kind of long term sacrifice to achieve them.
It’s hard to almost impossible to lose weight, and keep it off, without changing your eating habits along with a consistent exercise program. It’s extremely difficult to achieve financial independence without some short term sacrifices (eating out, expensive vacations, fancy cars, etc.), that will allow you to invest more in your long term future. And don’t even think about going into your own business unless you’re willing to lay it all on the line and sacrifice everything you have in order to achieve long-term, long-lasting success.
But if you just want to “Pop a pill,” live for today and worry about tomorrow at some other time, that’s fine too. It’s your choice. Just don’t complain when the bill comes due and you’re running to the bathroom with pains in your stomach.
What are you willing to give up to get what you really want?
I totally agree. There is no free lunch. To get a lot you have to give a lot. Quick fixes can actually do more harm than good. Plus there is no better feeling than the satisfaction of accomplishment and success..
Ivan,
I couldn't agree with you more. One of the greatest motivators in the workplace, or any place for that matter is the satisfaction of accomplishment.
When something is handed to you it has no value and, since you got it without any effort, you believe that's how life works and keep waiting for things to come to you without any effort. Unfortunately, people like that end up with a rude awakening, but instead of blaming themselves, they blame everyone else, because that's how they were taught.
This is a good lesson for parents. You're not doing your kids a favor by handing them everything on a silver platter. Remember, the way you break people in is the way they're always going to be.