The Reality of Building a Life You Want

Most people dream of a life filled with freedom and purpose—a life where they wake up every day knowing they’re working toward something that matters.

But for many, the reality is far from the dream.

They’re hustling daily, chasing quick wins, and jumping from one idea to the next, hoping something will stick.

But here’s the hard truth: building anything worthwhile takes time—often way more than you’re prepared for.

Let me take you back to my early days as an apprentice electrician.

At the time, I didn’t just work on any old projects; I worked on some pretty big ones—a hospital extension in Northridge and a federal courthouse in downtown LA.

These weren’t quick jobs; they took years of planning, designing, and construction, with setbacks and revisions along the way.

The courthouse was under construction during the Rodney King riots, adding chaos to an already complex project.

Through it all, I learned that big projects aren’t just about nailing a single task—they’re about embracing the journey of building something that lasts.

Most people don’t plan for their lives this way, though.

They’re living for tomorrow, not for 5, 10, or even 20 years down the line.

And that’s the problem.

Impatience is the Silent Killer of Your Success

Patience is underrated, but it’s the single greatest skill that separates those who succeed from those who are constantly spinning their wheels.

Why?

Because impatience leads to short-term thinking, and short-term thinking will kill your chances at any kind of meaningful success.

People want it all now—the success, the recognition, the lifestyle.

They think they can "hack" their way into a life they haven’t taken the time to build, only to find themselves burnt out and frustrated.

Maybe you’re feeling it, too—the impatience, the frustration of not seeing results fast enough.

But here’s what no one tells you: impatience is your enemy.

It’s the silent killer that stops you from achieving the life you want.

People will do anything for those

• who encourage their dreams
• justify their failures
• allay their fears
• confirm their suspicions
• help them throw rocks at their enemies

But those same people will also sabotage their dreams by refusing to wait for them.

I have a buddy, he owns an 8-figure business that he only needs to "work" in for one hour per week.

He spent years building his company and team so that he can enjoy this lifestyle.

I remember him telling me once that he kept an employee on, that he knew he was going to fire, for two years.

Because that was how long it took him to find and train his replacement.

Most people would make the mistake of firing him ASAP and throwing even more gunk into the workings of the company.

The Trap of Short-Term Thinking and Instant Gratification

Imagine a city like LA—a city that’s constantly expanding, always in need of something new.

I was part of projects that took years to conceptualize, design, and complete, and by the time we finished, the city’s needs had already grown beyond the project’s capacity.

We built to solve immediate problems, but by the time it was done, the city had moved on to the next problem.

Now, think about this in the context of your life.

How far are you thinking ahead?

Most people barely think beyond the next paycheck or next year’s vacation.

They’re stuck in a cycle of instant gratification, bouncing from one quick fix to the next, without a real plan.

They’re not thinking about the long-term, the version of themselves they want to become in five, ten, or twenty years.

If you’re living this way, you’re building a life on shaky ground.

Every little decision you make today is laying the foundation for tomorrow.

And if you’re constantly looking for shortcuts, you’re setting yourself up for a future where you’ll be endlessly fixing, patching, and starting over.

Embrace the Long Game and Design Your Life

So, what’s the solution?

Start building your life like it’s a 10-year project.

Imagine the life you want 10 years from now.

Visualize it like a construction project: every decision, every step, every task is a brick in the foundation of that future life.

In my 30s and 40s, I made deliberate choices to create a life I could love in my 50s and 60s.

I knew that I didn’t want to be crawling through dusty job sites at 55, so I built my lifestyle around my priorities—freedom, family, health, and peace of mind.

Now, every morning, I head to my favorite cafe for deep work, train BJJ in the afternoon, and spend my evenings with my wife.

This isn’t a life I stumbled into.

It’s a life I planned for years.

To get there, I didn’t just hustle blindly.

I treated my life like a big project—a blueprint that required patience, effort, and, yes, time.

I put in the work daily, not for immediate results but for the kind of freedom I have now.

Let’s Break Down the Path to a Life Worth Living

1. What Do Your Dreams Look Like: Most people give up on their dreams because they can’t see immediate progress. But dreams aren’t built overnight. They’re built on thousands of tiny steps. Start small, but start with a vision. Think about where you want to be in five or ten years, and map out what you need to do today, tomorrow, and every day after to get there.
2. Using Failures as Feedback: Failure is part of the process. Remember those LA projects? We faced setbacks, challenges, and sometimes even failures. But each of those failures taught us how to build better. Your failures are not roadblocks; they’re building blocks.
3. Managing Your Fears: Fear keeps most people from ever starting, let alone sticking with their plan. I know that every big project has its fears—the fear of setbacks, of not finishing on time, of things going wrong. But each fear, once confronted, becomes smaller. The more you take action, the less power fear holds over you.
4. Checking the Mirror: If you’re reading this and thinking, “Yeah, that’s me. I’m chasing quick wins and not seeing real results,” then you already know deep down what’s holding you back. Trust that instinct. You don’t need the next shiny tactic. You need a long-term vision and a rock-solid plan.
5. Impatience IS the Enemies: Your biggest enemy isn’t a competitor, a naysayer, or an obstacle. It’s your own impatience. It’s that voice that says, “You’re not moving fast enough.” Start throwing rocks at it. Challenge the part of yourself that wants to give up when things don’t come fast enough. Commit to the long game and fight back against the urge to quit.

Building the Life You Want Takes Time

If you’re tired of feeling like you’re constantly running on a treadmill, it’s time to change how you think about success.

True happiness, success, and leadership aren’t born from overnight wins—they’re built over years of disciplined action, deliberate planning, and unwavering patience.

Building the life you want is like constructing a skyscraper.

It doesn’t happen in a day, a week, or even a year.

It takes years of planning, preparation, and effort to create something truly lasting.

But once it’s done, it stands tall, a monument to all the hard work, patience, and persistence it took to bring it to life.

So, today, take a step back.

Picture your life ten years from now. Start laying the groundwork.

Every small action you take today is a brick in the foundation of your future.

Embrace the long game, find joy in the process, and trust that in time, you’ll build something truly worthwhile.

Building the life you want to live.

Planning long-term, but taking action daily.

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