Patience + Consistency + Grit = Success

Listen to the full podcast

Get this episode on iTunes
Download this episode

Stream this episode

Partial Transcript

[The following is a partial transcript of this episode of The Scott Alan Turner Show. Listen to the full episode to hear this story, listener questions, money hacks, and inspiring stories of people that are changing their financial lives. Subscribe to the free podcast on iTunes or Google Play]

Grades and standardized tests are not a true measure of your success in life AT ALL or how smart you are. Sorry SAT scores! I hope you believe that and convince your children of that too it you have them.

I’ve shared in the past a couple of stories about how I started graduate school and then didn’t complete it. Over the weekend I recalled another instance of trying to get into graduate school as well. It was my senior year in college and I didn’t have the grades to get into graduate school.

I thought I’d go on and get a master’s degree. I took the standardized tests and didn’t do well enough to get in. I didn’t really have the undergraduate grades to get in anywhere.

But what I did have was a professor who believed in me.

I want to take a moment to thank all the teachers, the professors, the people out there that are in the teaching profession. You guys are way under appreciated. You’re underpaid. You’re overworked. If you have a teacher in the past who has helped you out or has given you some inspiration, reach out to them, track them down to say thanks and give them a word of encouragement.

My professor, Dr Allen, I’ve talked about him on the show before. He is the guy who would have me over to his house to work and earn a little extra money. I did wallpaper at his house, worst job ever. I did some yard work outside.

Dr. Allen graduated from Clemson University. He put in a good word for me as an alumni of Clemson and he got me accepted into their graduate program.

This was my senior year in college and without him I would have never gotten into graduate school. I called up mom and dad and said, hey mom and dad, I got accepted into graduate school. Their reply was, how are you going to pay for that?

I thought, “oh, I thought you would help me out”. The said, no, we helped you get through the first four years. You’re on your own.

One door closes, another door opens.

In Lord of the Rings, there is a scene in Return of the King. The ghosts tell Aragorn we’re not helping you. The way is shut. The door is closed. And Aragorn pulls out the sword necessary to open the door.

You will go through hard times, but don’t give up. Patience + Consistency + Grit = Success

You’ve gone through a challenge in your life and crushed it. There is some door out there that is just a pile of tooth picks.

A door that slams in your face just means there is an opening somewhere else. Or that you need to kick it down like Chuck Norris would.

But it may not appear immediately.

Since I didn’t go to grad school, I got a job in IT.

One day my boss asked me this question:

“Mr Turner what do you want your title to be?”

I said Chief Technology Officer.

He said “We already have one of those, you can’t have it.”

How about Chief Software Developer.

“Ok, I’ll put in the paperwork.”

I was 26.

One door closes, another door opens.

• Stephen King was turned down by thirty publishers before his book Carrie was finally picked up.
• Colonel Sanders at age 65 started KFC after taking $87 from his social security check and selling chicken door to door to get started.
• Shaquem Griffin is a one handed line backer for the Seattle Seahawks.
• Oh, and Richard Turner who is one of the greatest card magicians ever. And he’s blind.

Patience + Consistency + Grit = Success

If you haven’t had the door open yet – maybe you’ve been waiting years – know that your patience will pay off. But you need to practice consistency, and grit.

If you’ve been waiting patiently a long time and believe good things can happen to you – and I believe good things can happen to you – but the little steps necessary each day aren’t there. You need to practice consistency more.

And if you’ve been consistent in your pursuits for a long period of time, your grit will help you hang in there during the bumps and detours of life.

One door closes, another door opens.

Patience + Consistency + Grit = Success

Water Cooler Moment

Ask someone who they think is the manliest man in Hollywood, either living or dead. Older generations would all agree – John Wayne. He had grit in every western.

Action Item

Which of those three things are you best at, and what do you need to be working on?

Patience, Consistency, or Grit.

 

Quotes