Want Success? Stop Looking For Shortcuts
- Midwest Copywriting
- Jun 24
- 4 min read
I'm reminded of the work that goes into running a successful business every time I go foraging for wild blackberries.
Really? Blackberries?
Yep. Blackberries remind me of a successful, well-planned, and well-fought journey.
If you've never been foraging for blackberries, you may not completely understand my comparison. Allow me to explain further.
Success Comes Disguised
Success comes disguised as sweat, sacrifice, and hard-earned wins.
True success is never just freely given. You have to want it and go after it.
So, how does this relate to blackberries?
Because foraging for blackberries isn't easy. I can't even say it's very fun.
Wild blackberry season arrives toward the end of June in Iowa. A very HOT time of the year–hence the sweat. Lots of sweat.
You know what else you get besides sweat?
Sacrifices.
Sacrifices of comfort, time, energy, and fearlessness.
Sacrifices that come with their own disguises: Bugs, spiders, snakes, mosquito bites, poison ivy, sunburn, muscle cramps, sketchy surroundings, ticks, anthills, waterlogged shoes, thorns, and berry-stained fingers.
Sure, you can harvest a cup of blackberries without all those added heebie-jeebies, scratches, and annoyances. Anyone can stroll along a berry-lined path and snack on a few delightful black-capped gems.
But without the sweat and sacrifices, you won't achieve the hard-earned wins. Those are the best parts of blackberry-collecting success: The homemade blackberry pies, ice cream, jams, and syrups you crave. For those successes, you'll need to wade deep into the brambles and leave your creature comforts behind.
In business, you'll have similar challenges and successes.
You'll have missed deadlines, health issues, unexpected expenses, customer complaints, and feelings of failure.
You'll also reap the rewards of welcoming your first customer, receiving praiseful feedback, knowledge, growth, and fulfilling the long-awaited dreams of business ownership and personal accomplishments.
Success Comes Prepared
Now, just because you have several unpleasant obstacles to overcome in your success journey, doesn't mean your goals are out of reach.
It just means you need to plan, be prepared, and be willing to work hard for what you want.
When I forage for wild berries, I take the necessary precautions to avoid many of the challenges I know I'll face when traipsing through the Iowa backcountry.
For example, I avoid the hottest part of the day. I pick early in the morning or in the early evening.
I wear long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. I wear hiking boots, gaiters, and a ball cap. I drink a lot of water before heading out because I know by the time I'm done, I'll be drenched in sweat. I either carry another water bottle with me or keep one in the car, depending on how far I plan to walk.
I carry a small pail for gathering berries and keep an extra bucket in the car to dump the pail when it's full. There's no point in lugging around a 3-gallon bucket of berries.
I watch the weather the night before and the day of to anticipate trail, rain, and heat conditions.
There are other features of planning a successful berry experience, but I think you get the idea.
Building a successful business has similar preparedness exercises: Financial planning, data gathering, product/service identification, community needs, marketing budgets, audience feedback, physical challenges, location preferences, and more.
You can't just wade deep into a berry patch on a hot, sunny day in shorts, a tank top, and no pail, and then expect a joyful, bug-free, pain-free, bountiful harvest. And you can't just dive into a business without doing the work needed to give your business the best possible chance of survival.
Remember: There are no shortcuts to success.
Are You Ready for Your Success Journey?
Two years ago, I harvested eight gallons of wild blackberries. The harvest season is pretty short. I'm lucky if I get two good weeks to gather berries. It's exhausting and time-consuming. Plus, I have other priorities (e.g. my business) that compete with my berry-gathering escapades.
When I share my blackberry triumphs with friends, I'm almost always asked the same question: "How did you get so lucky to find that many berries?"
It's not luck.
It's hard work.
It's sweat and sacrifices.
The next question I'm almost sure to get is: "Where did you find them?"
And contrary to the request for the fisherman's favorite honey hole or a deer hunter's secret monster buck territory, I don't mind telling people where my pot of berry-goodness resides.
Why? Because I know most people aren't willing to go the extra mile.
Most people enjoy the comforts of an air-conditioned home. Most people don't want to deal with creatures hidden under the forest floor foliage and berry brambles. Most people don't want to risk poison ivy, mosquitoes, thorny bushes, and scars. Most people are content with buying pre-washed and pre-packaged berries from the store.
The same holds true for building a business.
Most people stay in their comfort zone.
Perhaps they're not thrilled with their job, but they aren't taking the steps needed to build their own business. Most people push their dreams and desires down into a forgotten pit, believing they can't ever have success. Many people become resentful of others who find success and wonder, "Why can't that happen to me?"
But let's be clear: Success doesn't just randomly happen to someone.
If you want results, you'll need to go where others aren't willing to go. You'll need to do the things others aren't willing to do.
Success isn't found on the edges of the trail.
It isn't found in wishful thinking, comfort zones, or resentment.
Success is created and earned as part of your journey.
P. S. Even if someone gathers all the blackberries from my favorite foraging spots, I'm cheering for their success and determination. As business owners and human beings, we should always want the best for others. Never be resentful about someone else's success. Just make sure you're doing what you need to do and surrounding yourself with a supportive team.
Feel free to include me in your support team. I welcome the opportunity to cheer you on and help you achieve your goals. Tap the button below and start working on your journey.
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