Rebel Wired: The waiting is the hardest part.

There are moments that resonate with the quiet, yet intense strings of anticipation. Tom Petty once sang, "The waiting is the hardest part," a line that has echoed through the chambers of my heart, especially in moments steeped in waiting. Every Rebel Wired piece I write is woven from the threads of my own life experiences. Today, as my fingers dance (or seemingly feel like they’re bleeding) over the guitar strings, struggling to perfect Tom Petty's "The Waiting is the Hardest Part," I'm reminded of the profound truth hidden in this melody. It's a truth that resonates through every chord of life. The waiting is indeed, the hardest part.

The guitar to me is a complex yet fascinating piece of art and demands not just skill but patience. You can't buy proficiency in music; it's a treasure earned through endless hours of practice and perseverance. Each note I strike, fumbling or clear, echoes the essence of waiting – waiting to get better, waiting for the music to flow seamlessly. It's a journey that embodies patience and the sweet triumph of small victories. It’s frustrating as hell yet gives me a sense of freeness and accomplishment I haven’t experienced before. While at times fickle, I will press on, knowing that the waiting is indeed, the hardest part.

Here's another example. I live in Minnesota. If you’re from the south you may think this is crazy, but I love ice fishing. I love the challenge of going to a remote lake in the middle of nowhere, -22 degrees outside with gusty winds, and setting up camp. Call me crazy, but it’s MN, and in the winters here you have to embrace it and love it or sit and wait for Spring. I’m not one to sit.

This year marked the latest start to ice fishing in my lifetime. It’s really challenged my patience. But in this waiting, I found the profound truth, the beauty of our passions lies not only in the act itself but in the anticipation.

What’s the point? The point is the waiting is indeed, the hardest part.

The journey to achieving something great in life is often a marathon of perseverance. Behind every success story is an untold saga of endless work, quiet moments of doubt, and the relentless ticking of time. The path to greatness is paved with waiting - for the right opportunity, for our efforts to bear fruit, for the moment when the world acknowledges our work. This is reality. In an amazon world, we don’t want to acknowledge this. Why do you think there are so many “coaching” programs and “pre-built business models” for sale on how you can fast track to overnight success? They are preying on the fact that the waiting, is the hardest part. And everyone wants everything yesterday. The hard truth is that the ability to wait, by taking consistent steps towards your goal every single day, is what will get you there. I have a hard time seeing me being able to play the guitar effortlessly. But, I know, through life experiences and with perseverance, that I don’t have to see the “end”. I just have to work consistently every single day. The days my fingers hurt, I press on. The days I am tired, I press on. The days I want to crawl under the sheets and not come out, I press on. Why? Because I know that’s what it takes. That’s what it takes to accomplish what you want in business, in relationships, in personal fitness goals, and in life. You have to DO, every single day if you want to accomplish it.

Tom Petty's song is more than just a melody; it's a life lesson. It teaches us that the hardest part of any worthwhile endeavor is often the waiting, the journey, the grind. Yet, it's within this waiting that we grow, learn, and ultimately, find fulfillment. It's a reminder that whether it's a chord, a catch under the ice, a heart connecting with another, or the pursuit of our greatest dreams, the waiting is indeed the hardest part.

What is it that you are waiting (working every day) for? I'd love to hear it. Through our weekly Rebel Wired, my goal is to inspire you, to give you a little more reason to keep pushing forward. The stories and and words I often get from some of you inspire me back. Thank you for those. I read every one.

Stay Relentless,

Ryan