I was walking back from the gym to my car the other day, when I ran into an old friend of mine who runs a successful SaaS with a small team.
He has it made.
We go far back and used to hang out and talk shop, but I hadn't seen him since he switched offices and moved a bit farther from my operating space.
I greeted him in excitement and said — "What's up, how are things?"
He said — "I'm Ok. I don't know." — kind of dejected.
I said, smiling — "You're bored! You've made it!" — trying to light up the conversation.
He kinda agreed.
I added — "You see me? Still upbeat and going. Because, I haven't made it, yet." — again smiling, which brought a smile to his face, too.
"Let's get coffee, soon. I'll buzz you!" — and we parted ways
That brief conversation made me realize that the "old me" would think that I have made it, but the "current me" thinks I still have a long ways to go.
And that's a good thing, because it means that I'm constantly moving the post, which is keeping me energized and chasing daily. Never content with how far I've come.
So many times I've caught myself thinking I am depressed. Now I realize that I was simply bored. Or I had maybe reached a goal and I was running in circles for a while, chasing my tail. Not chasing something new. Not trying to reach something impossible, yet again.
This is why reaching goals sometimes doesn't feel as exciting as pursuing them.
And "moving the post" is healthy. Don't let anyone tell you any differently.
Not the toxic kind of "moving the post", but the genuine life progression of reaching higher and wanting to improve yourself and the lives of those you serve.
"Making it" feels like the end.
So, never "make it!"
Never stop growing.
And yes, it's important that we're content and grateful with our achievements. But, once you get to a place: celebrate, rest a bit, say your goodbyes with it, and get going.
I am not suggesting switching course completely, even though that could be one of the avenues to explore. But, even right where you are, changing the trajectory a bit, buying a new baseball hat, thinking in a new way about a concept, tweaking something in your business, hiring someone new, can make a world of a difference.
Never settle.
Begin again.
Begin anew.