The Power of One More

14One More Inconvenience

The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.

—Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

HERE'S A SIMPLE BUT COMPELLING FACT ABOUT THE WAY THE WORLD WORKS.

Convenience and greatness cannot co‐exist. They are diametrically opposed forces. If you can accept that many of the great things you want in life will be inconvenient from start to finish, you're well on your way to becoming a One More thinker.

Inconveniences are the challenges you must overcome to have a shot at accomplishing anything significant. These inconveniences can be anything from getting up at 5 a.m. to make a 7 a.m. meeting with your professor when you're working on your Masters' degree, or running 75 miles a week to prep for your first marathon, even though your feet are on fire because they're covered with blisters. It could be going through four months of morning sickness before you give birth. Or putting in 60 hours a week to be the top salesperson for your company.

Paying the price of inconvenience is no guarantee you'll succeed. But if you don't inconvenience yourself and confront the difficult things in front of you, you'll have no chance at ending up where you want to be in life.

Embracing Inconvenience as a Way of Life

Think about the most extraordinary things you've been blessed with in your life. Chances are, they started as something inconvenient. A championship you won. Adding 25 ...