Take the Steps

A few months ago, I was asked to speak to a group of business leaders in New York City. I met with the organizer in advance to get context on the group and found out, among other things, that the least successful person I’d be speaking to was worth 50 million dollars.

These folks were major players, and I was pumped to share my ideas with them. However, the night before the talk, I woke up at 1am and couldn’t go back to sleep.

You see, my wife and I have very different sleep schedules. I go to bed around 10pm. I like the room completely dark and quiet. My wife goes to bed at midnight, likes having lights on, and falls asleep to the sounds of The Real Housewives of Wherever.

This is a problem, as I’ll often wake up (after she’s asleep) to the sounds of people screaming at each other about something they feel was “disrespectful.”

On this night, that happened, and my mind started racing. I just could not get back to sleep, so I woke up for the day at 1am.

I was in a total daze as I drove to the train station in my town. My head was buzzing and my muscles were shaking. Every part of me wanted more rest than I’d gotten, but it didn’t matter. I had to give a speech in two hours, and I’d just have to tough it out.

When I got to the train station, I had a choice. You see, the Long Island Railroad is a pretty elaborate train system that runs from Brooklyn, Queens, and of course, Manhattan, out to Long Island and back. As such, at least where I live, the train platforms have to be elevated so cars, busses, and trucks can drive under them.

In short, they’re pretty high. About fifty-steps high. So at every station, there are steps and also escalators.

I always take the steps. My rationale is, why not get a quick workout in instead of coasting? And trust me, when I get to the top, despite being in pretty good shape, I’m definitely sucking wind.

Back to my choice: on this day, I did not want to take the steps. I was absolutely fried. Just looking up at the steps filled me with dread.

Then I remembered a quote that a mentor lives by: how you do anything is how you do everything.

So, I’m a person who takes the steps. I don’t cut corners. I wake up early. I never hit snooze. I do hard things. I outwork people who coast. It’s who I am.

I took the steps. I killed the talk. I slept on a flight that night.

Who are you? Do you know? You should. Then live it.