And very timely too. I guess I just need to be a bit more stubborn for a bit more longer.

Excellent! Thank you!

@ Patrick “I flash a ‘wait and see’ smile” – Good choice of smile sir! And good luck with your next venture.

@ Scout — Glad you liked the post. I took the half mile from Red’s words in the film:

Five hundred yards. The length of five football fields. Just shy of half a mile.

I believe a mile is 1760 yards — I’ll let you and Red duke it out as to whether that’s closer to a quarter or a third!

I’ve put up with being called the wrong epithet from those pairs very often in my life. At one point I made a T-shirt that read:

OBSESSED…
what the lazy call the dedicated

I think that sums up my views.

The Shawshank Redemption is a favourite of mine too. I like the fact that throughout most of the film we don’t see the escape coming. That is another lesson Andy has to teach us right there.

I love the way that this post relates to where I am now.
I changed the dynamic I have with my employer to focus on my business. After I jumped into the process I encountered ‘the dip’, realized I was going to create more ‘time for money’ drudgery and had the guts to quit.
With everyone looking at me like I am out of my mind, I flash a ‘wait and see’ smile as I venture forth with heart and determination on my life adventure.
I expect that they and many others will eventually tag along. I look forward to the company.

It took me two years extra to finish things but I had made the promise to myself that I would finish this, no matter what.

And As I’m typing this I have a B Health degree as therapist. A few fellow studentd had the same issues, I am the only one who was victorious so to speak.

No social skills my *ss. I can be social, I just choose to not be it at times. I won’t just hop allong and do what I’m told without hihnking it over.. and If a patient really is anoying, I’ll be sure to let them know.

Actually, some patients thanked me for this, saying that they really needed that kick to get going.

@Sheila B – Yes, very important to keep the end in mind. As @Mary Anne reminds us… this is a key element I missed out of the post:

But most important, he had a crystal clear vision of exactly what his freedom would look and feel like… repairing small boats on the sparkling beaches of Zihuatanejo, Mexico… that he never lost sight of no matter what was happening to him or going on around him…

@Dan – Jacob’s Ladder duly noted, thanks.

@Finoloa @Gabriel – Yes, mediocrity never wants for company, but our real friends will usually forgive us rocking the boat on the way to achieving our dreams. (Great quotation from The War of Art – one of my favourite books about creativity.)

@Jennifer – Great example. You might enjoy Talent is Overrated – basically says what we’ve been saying on Lateral Action, perseverance and practice are more important than being ‘talented’ (whatever that means). http://www.amazon.com/Talent-Overrated-Separates-World-Class-Performers/dp/1591842247/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1243951205&sr=8-1

@Duff -

To what extent can this wisdom be taught, and how much must it be learned through personal experience and intuition?

In my (ahem) experience it’s usually a matter of trial and error and (bitter) personal experience. I usually have to hit my thumb several times with the hammer before considering an alternative way of doing things.

What an art to determine what one thing to be stubborn about, and what other things to be flexible about!

So much of the time we are either stubborn about the wrong things, or flexible about the things we should be stubborn about. To what extent can this wisdom be taught, and how much must it be learned through personal experience and intuition?

Food for thought…
~Duff