Do the right/hard thing
Do the right hard thing
February was an intense yet productive month for me both personally and professionally.
Personally: I fasted on each of the 29 days of that month, which was quite challenging. For me, fasting involves skipping one or two meals (or an activity I almost can’t do without), reading and reflecting on a biblical story, and saying a prayer at some point during the day.
Professionally: I had to make the difficult decision to fire one of my clients, who broke the terms of our agreement. They were unwilling to make adjustments despite my several attempts to be flexible and meet them halfway. It’s the first time I’ve ever had to do that and it wasn’t easy.
In both cases, fasting and firing a client, it seemed like I was being pushed beyond my limits.
I usually fast every February, but last month's fast felt different. It required me to deviate from parts of my personal and work routine, left me feeling weak on some days, and unable to perform certain essential tasks at an optimal level. I had to be disciplined and stick it out till the end of the month, regardless of how hungry or mentally exhausted I felt on certain days.
Firing a client was even worse.
I generally enjoy working with people, and I particularly enjoyed working with this client on their book. I believe, in most cases, that communication is the antidote to confusion. However, if one party is unwilling to communicate effectively, there’s little one can do to gain clarity.
Unfortunately, in this situation, I didn't get the clarity needed to continue the collaborative process, and I had to let the client go. This decision cost me tens of thousands of dollars in potential income and all the time and effort I'd invested in the project. But, just like fasting, it was the right thing to do.
Looking back, although challenging, fasting was a spiritual, mental, and physical boost for me. It helped me stay disciplined, rooted, and clear-minded going into the rest of this year. Similarly, letting that client will enable me to shift my focus to other projects that are more mutually beneficial and has opened me, and some of my time, up to better collaborations.
These were the right things to do but that doesn’t make them any easier.
Recently, I was speaking with an established business owner, who’s also an experienced speaker. They told me they don't particularly enjoy public speaking but continue to do it because they understand that, sometimes, the right thing to do is the hardest. And to that, I nodded in agreement.
Most of us are taught to do the right thing. But we weren’t told that doing the right thing is often the hardest thing to do or that the hardest thing to do may be the right thing. Read that again.
Naturally, we are drawn to things, people, products, and activities that seem more accessible, less costly, and easier to do, be with, or engage in. Perhaps, we can blame our safety, distance, and experience biases for that. Or maybe it’s a function of our exposure to convenience, comfort, and instant gratification in today’s society.
But we don’t talk enough about the right/hard things—the uncomfortable realities that stretch us beyond our perceived and self-imposed limits but will ultimately make us better and get us closer to the goals we’ve set for ourselves.
We don’t talk enough about the time, sacrifices, and losses required to learn, build, and grow. And unfortunately, many won’t talk about it until the ship, for making that right/hard decision, sails.
In February, I had to do the right/hard things. As a result, I’m more convinced that being patient, consistent, persistent, and diligent will always be the right, hardest, and most satisfying, thing to do.
Do the right hard thing.