Patience and Ernest Hemingway.
“The first draft of anything is shit”.
- Ernest Hemingway [EH]
After mulling over this quote for some time, debating the truth of the quote I realized EH was right. The first go at anything is usually garbage. It usually doesn’t pan out just how you though it was going to. The first go is most often not as grandiose as you played it in your head.
I am sure EH was referring to writing, but truly this applies to all aspects of life. Think about the first time you kissed a girl - it probably wasn’t as awesome looking as you thought or even think it was. It was, if I were guessing, really awkward and a bit unconventional. If someone out there really thinks they had a firework of a first kiss - please do share.
Over the past couple of weeks I have really been leaning into the word and have been doing my best to open my heart to see what God has for me. It has been difficult to say the least because when things aren’t as amazing as you think they should be it is hard to just stop and listen. If you are anything like me it is always about the next thing - being stagnate is a real downer. Through a lot of frustration and a bit of down moments I finally heard from God while we were worshiping at Church on Sunday. It was the constant word of “patience”. The first time that word entered my heart I ignored it, but 3 Sundays in a row it kept being repeated to me - so I accepted it.
Going back to EH, not that I am at all comparing him to Jesus, but his quote means patience to me. Patience is key when you are in the beginning stages of anything or attempting something new - like a first draft. Without patience in those opening moments or a new season of life it is very easy to get down, get discouraged, or start feeling sorry for yourself…but with patience that new season, first attempt of a new business idea, or first pursuit of the girl you can’t stop thinking about start to feel more attainable. Remember the first go is not perfect or anywhere near it. It is a rough draft. It is a start.
They say that starting is half the battle and I never really believed that or gave it much credibility. I have to say I was so wrong. I had the idea to start a smoothie bowl business for a solid 2 or 3 years and wanted to start it so bad but thought I had to get everything perfect before I started. Thought I had to line everything up, figure out every single detail, and perfect every aspect of each smoothie…but then I started. I don’t know exactly what compelled me to just do it but I did. It was NOT perfect - it was really hard and things did not run smoothly but we just trucked though. Remaining patient through that first quarter and understanding EH’s quote to the fullest extent is what got us through it. Since then it has been wonderful - not perfect - but I would say we are on to the 3rd draft.
The key to that quote is the word “first” because although cliche, without the first there could never be a second, third, or fourth.
The point to this long winded and drawn out explanation of EH’s quote and what God told me 3 Sundays in a row is that waiting to start anything is a mistake. Most of the people you look up to don’t really know what they are doing - the reason they are successful or in that particular position is because they are just doing it.
One of my favorite influencer/entrepreneurs that I look up to frequently says “more money and a positive attitude fixes most everything”. Although the quote is a tad delinquent it holds merit and exposes the truth that he is just figuring it out - like we all are.
So I leave you with this…
Start what you want to start.
Don’t expect overnight fame or fortune.
Take pride in having a first anything because you have now opened a door to a better second.
Be patient in the “shit” part of the first draft - it might just make you a better human being.