I am inspired by the quote, “Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”Jon Acuff.

The reason I am inspired by this quote is because it is so easy when starting a new adventure to see someone who appears to have all the success you aspire to, but to not have seen his or her journey to get there. Rachel Hollis comes to mind. I recently listened to a podcast where she describes becoming an “overnight success” when in truth, she had been pursuing her dream for years prior to her book Girl, Wash Your Face becoming a bestseller, putting her on the map.

A personal example is I recently decided to run a 5k. (Have I mentioned I HATE to run??) My boyfriend is an Ironman, which means he not only runs a MARATHON, but prior to the run, he SWIMS 2.4 miles and BIKES for 112 miles. I was comparing myself to him the other day and griping a little about struggling with my run. He listened and then shared when he started his journey to the Ironman, he started with a 5k just like me over eight years ago. I could not expect to jump into an Ironman without paying my dues of training to get to that point. We cannot expect this in any worthy goal we set.

I constantly remind my team, especially those just BEGINNING their career in recruiting, not to compare their success to someone who has done this for five or ten years (MIDDLE). You have to work the process, learn the ropes (TRAIN) and in essence, pay your dues. As I mentioned in another blog, you must have the Ironman’s fortitude through mindset, commitment, and showing up to reach any goal.

I think this is a good analogy to life itself. We want the end result: the high-paying job, the title, the big house. But we forget for most of us, we have to work to get there. Most of us will not graduate from college and walk into a CEO title. We will start at the ground floor and work our way to the corner office over many years.

Someone asked me recently, how do I get a network as large as yours right now (MIDDLE)? I quickly said you don’t. I have spent years growing and nurturing my network. It did not happen overnight.

I am currently completing my pre-coursework for my coaching school and I am learning so much about myself. I am excited to see the transformation at the end of the course, but I also remind myself to enjoy the journey of becoming. I am fortunate to be surrounded by many people who have already received their coaching certification and are using the knowledge gained to help others reach their full potential. I know one day I too will have the knowledge and certification to support that knowledge.

I have taken the first step in my journey (BEGINNING) and will take each subsequent step until I reach my goal. Then, when I am a Coach (MIDDLE), I will reach back to someone like me who is just beginning their journey and help them along the way, just as the Coaches I know are helping me today.

Have you compared your BEGINNING to someone else’s MIDDLE lately? How did that make you feel? If you answered anything other than GREAT (which I am assuming is not your answer), I would encourage you NOT to make this comparison. Revel in the moment in which you find yourself and be glad you are right where you are. The person you are comparing yourself to started in this moment at one time too.