"الأشخاص الذين يقومون بما تريد القيام به - الأشخاص الذين في أعلى مجالك، الذين تنظر إليهم بإعجاب - جميعهم بدأوا من حيث أنت الآن. لقد مرّوا جميعاً بمحاكماتهم وعقباتهم الخاصة. الفرق الوحيد بينهم وبينك هو إصرارهم."

It all boils down to a simple but powerful idea: the folks you admire, the ones who’ve made it big in your field, didn’t start with any special advantages you don’t have. They began their journey from the same place you are now. They faced setbacks and challenges, just like you. The real game-changer? Their persistence and determination to keep going, no matter what.

Picture this: you’re dreaming of becoming a renowned chef. Think about Gordon Ramsay or Julia Child. They didn’t waltz into the kitchen as instant successes. Ramsay started as a commis chef—basically, a kitchen helper. Julia Child didn’t even begin cooking seriously until she was in her late 30s. They messed up dishes, they had critics, they probably had moments where they wanted to throw in the towel. But they stuck with it, pushing through each trial, honing their craft relentlessly.

For a practical example, let’s look at J.K. Rowling. She didn’t just wake up one day with a bestseller in her lap. Before “Harry Potter” became a household name, Rowling was a single mom struggling to make ends meet. She wrote in cafés while her baby napped, and she faced a slew of rejections from publishers. But she didn’t give up. She believed in her story and kept pushing until someone finally saw the magic in her words.

So, how can you take this wisdom to heart? Start by setting realistic goals. Break down your big dreams into smaller, manageable steps. It’s easy to get overwhelmed by the bigger picture, but if you focus on the next move, you’ll find it more manageable. Next, embrace failure. It sounds cliché, but failures really are stepping stones to success. Each time you stumble, you learn something valuable that brings you closer to your goal. Finally, develop a routine. Persistence is often about showing up every day, even when you don’t feel like it. Consistency breeds results.

Now, let me paint you a scenario. Imagine you’re passionate about photography. You scroll through Instagram, admiring the stunning pictures of a famous photographer. You want to be just like them. But your own photos? They’re not quite there. It’s disheartening. But think about that photographer’s journey. They didn’t start by snapping award-winning photos. They likely had their share of blurry shots and poor lighting. Maybe they even got a lot of criticism. But they kept at it—practicing, experimenting, and learning from each shot. If you do the same, your work will improve. One day, someone might be scrolling through your feed, feeling the same admiration you feel now.

So, next time you feel like giving up because the top looks too far away, remember that those stars you look up to were once standing exactly where you are now. Keep going—your persistence is what will set you apart.