Yes, I said it, life can be ESE. Well let me clarify that. When I say ESE, I am saying it boils down to a decision between ELEVATORS, STAIRS AND ESCALATORS.
One day as I was headed to Starbucks in the Barclays Center, which I consider my work office most days, I noticed something. When you exit the 3 train and walk towards the arena you are presented with a choice to leave the station up to the street. To your right is an elevator, to your left is escalators and directly ahead are stairs. The thing I noticed every time I left was that most people would consistently take either the escalators or elevator. Now I admit there are a good number of steps to go up in order to get out but still I would think more people would go that route. Seeing this time after time it got me to thinking that this scenario can relate to how we treat life as well.
Let's take a look at each mode of travel. I liken the elevator to working in a place you are not fulfilled, the stairs to fulfilling your purpose and the escalator to somewhere in between. Let's start with ELEVATORS....
ELEVATORS
My parents have over 70 years of job experience working for different companies. They did a marvelous job of raising me, my brother and sister. Those baby boomers knew the value of hard work and dedication to a company. I don't believe they ever called in sick! LOL Well, they taught those same qualities to their children. I in turn worked for the government for over 24 years. I would say that 10 of those years I felt like I wanted to do something different. I liken this feeling to being in an elevator because of a few simililarities.
In most buildings, elevators are the number one form of travel. They require very little effort to operate, a simple press of the button and your are done. They allow groups to move easily together.
This related to my life because after working at the same job for so long I felt I was using very little effort at my position. Signing a few forms, submitting the same daily reports, yelling at the same people. I was basically on cruise control and that was not fulfilling at all. I had no ability for creativity. Elevators allow groups to move together, just like in life. I loved to move in groups. I only did what my peers did, I didn't venture out to try to be different. I had that elevator mentality. I had to learn to do something great I would have to branch off at times from my group to walk in my individuality and my purpose. Elevators group people together. Just think the average person will not do anything great or spectacular unless someone goes with them, so breaking out of that group mentality is crucial. In fact elevators contain people inside and keep them nice and safe. True successful people don't try to be safe but instead take calculated risk, venture out beyond comfort zones and think outside every box.
STAIRS
When I was discussing this topic with individuals the question I would always get was, "Well just think about why would someone choose the stairs when the other choices make life much easier?". That is true and makes a lot of sense. Why would they? The answer is simple...There are lessons we can learn taking the stairs that we can never learn from taking the elevator. Next time you see the three choices Elevator, Stairs, Escalator in front of you, observe how many individuals take the stairs, 95% of the time it will be the smallest amount. I purposely take the stairs even when I physically don't want to simply because it challenges my body. It lets my body know who is in control, It is a form of exercise and it reinforces in my mind not to follow crowds which are all needed qualities that you want to have when building a business or brand. The Bible even states "The STEPS of a good man are ordered by God. The steps are ordered not the elevator. I like the statement that the limbs of a tree are not as strong as the base but the limbs hold the fruit. Being an entrepreneur can be for everyone but it isn't for everybody. What do I mean? I believe that we all can create, build and run tremendous companies, but not everyone is willing to put themselves in the position to do so. Why would people take the stairs when they are elevators and escalators. Taking the stairs is basically be willing to put in the work, being able to accept 50 no days to get that 1 yes. Looking like a fool for a season to live successfully for a lifetime. yes, taking the stairs is putting in work all hours of the night, not working a 9 to 5 but working a 4am to 2am. If you can't make yourself take the stairs how are you gonna make yourself make that extra phone call, or make that next meeting when you are exhausted. If you won't take the stairs how will you tell your body to push forward when every bone in your body hurts, everything inside of you is saying quit but you can't because you believe you have something that the world needs to see and hear and this purpose in you won't quit. That is what it means to take the stairs!
As you take the stairs you will feel it in your legs, you will feel the pain in your body. You will be out of breathe, sweating, and in pain. But after you reach the top you will feel a sense of accomplishment as well.
ESCALATORS
So take a left out of the train and you are at the escalators. These seem to be the most popular mode of travel up to the street. This seems to the best of all the choices to most people. The escalator has the automation like an elevator while also providing the freedom like the stairs. The pros of taking the escalator are its less strenuous than taking the stairs as you can just ride comfortably. However, do you ever notice individuals who will walk up escalators. They don't have the patience to wait for the elevator but they don't want to walk up the stairs alone either so they take this route.
This was me when I continued to work at my job but also began to form my own business as well. I believe this is a stage where so many individuals are in life. They want to jump on the entreprenerial wave but at the same time the like the comfort of having that check coming regularly. I am never one to tell someone what to do but this was a very challenging time for me while I was doing both. Just like walking up an escalator you are really not getting the optimal benefit out of either. Your heart is with your business but your checking account is with your job. You may be able to do this for a season but that season must end one day if you are to truly reap the benefits of being a business owner. Steve Harvey says JUMP. I didn't jump but I was pushed out. One way or another you are going to have to do like that movie says ....GET OUT! The reason being, if you don't you will be miserable inside. You will constantly say I know I have something to give but I need to sustain my lifestyle at the same time so I can't leave. Thus many people will walk up the escalator and do both. You will never fully be able to obtain all the resources for your business to sustain your lifestyle because you cannot put enough time into it because of your dual lifestyle. As I stated I believe there is a season do to both but eventually a decision will have to be made.
So as you can see life is very ESE like I stated in the beginning. The next time you come to that three fold crossroad decision, what decision will you make? Remember it is not just stairs we are talking about so get to STEPPING!!!