"Los amigos me felicitan después del anuncio de ganancias trimestrales y dicen, 'Buen trabajo, gran trimestre.' Y yo diré, 'Gracias, pero ese trimestre se cocinó hace tres años.'"

The essence of this quote is all about understanding the long-term impact of your actions. It’s saying that the good results you see today are a direct consequence of the effort and decisions you made years ago. It emphasizes the importance of planning and working diligently over time to achieve success.

So, why did Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, say this? Think back to the early days of Amazon. Bezos was all about thinking long-term. He invested heavily in infrastructure, technologies, and customer service improvements that wouldn't pay off immediately but would position Amazon to dominate the market in the future. When he received compliments on a great quarter, he knew it wasn’t just about the last three months. It was about the seeds planted and nurtured over several years.

Let’s bring this to life with a real-world example. Take a small tech startup that’s working on a groundbreaking new app. The founders toil day and night, often sacrificing their personal time and pouring every dollar they make back into development and marketing. Three years later, the app finally hits it big. It’s all over social media, and users are signing up in droves. Friends and family congratulate the founders, saying they’ve done an amazing job. But the truth is, the app’s success didn’t happen overnight. It’s the result of years of relentless hard work, setbacks, and perseverance.

Now, how can you apply this wisdom to your own life? Start by setting long-term goals. Whether it’s a career milestone, financial independence, or personal growth, map out what you want to achieve in the next three to five years. Then, break it down into smaller, manageable tasks. Focus on consistency and keep pushing forward, even when it feels like you’re making little progress.

Imagine you’re someone who wants to run a marathon. You don't just wake up one day and decide to run 26.2 miles—at least, not if you want to survive it! You begin training months in advance. You start with shorter runs, gradually increase your distance, and mix in some strength training and proper nutrition. On race day, when you cross that finish line and people cheer you on, they’re seeing the culmination of months of dedication.

In short, the key takeaway here is to focus on the long haul. Success rarely happens overnight. It’s the product of sustained effort, persistence, and smart planning. So, next time you see someone achieving a big win, remember that there’s usually a long story of hard work behind it. And when you’re in the middle of the grind, trust the process. Your efforts today will pay off in the future—sometimes in ways you can’t even imagine right now.

So, let’s grab another cup of coffee and think about where we want to be in a few years. What seeds are you planting today? Because those seeds, with the right care and attention, will turn into your future success.