Let’s be honest. If you’re reading this article on this website, be you an avid Secret reader or a first timer, chances are you share the same drive and desire for success that the Entourage does. You want the money, the cars, the women, the houses, and you want it yesterday. I know I’ve felt that way for a long time, and my relentless determination has absolutely helped me get to the position I am in today. A sense of urgency can be a great asset for an individual, however it can also be one of their biggest drawbacks – ESPECIALLY if any amount of emotional investment is involved.
Two recent events that happened to me recently have taught me an extremely valuable lesson in the art of patience.
The first was work related. I am a good friend of the president of an automotive related company that I worked for when I was in college. Working for him and learning the skills that I did in my short time there changed my life’s direction drastically. When I left to concentrate on my education, I knew that I wanted to work with him again in the future, and I knew that I was destined to stay in the automotive industry.
A couple opportunities came up with them in my two-year hiatus that I could have taken, but it would have required a serious time investment (that I did not have) with little or no initial pay. The emotional side of me really just wanted to get back in the door, but some good mentors advised me to wait it out. It drove me crazy, but I knew my friends knew what they were talking about and I was making the right decision not to stretch myself too thin. I’m glad I did, because next month I will be taking on an executive position running a new branch of the company, with better pay and incentives than I was offered previously.
Another lesson in patience was near and dear to my heart. I’ve wanted to learn how to drift since I first saw some videos of Japanese guys doing it back in 2005. At the time I was in high school and drove a Honda Civic, but that didn’t stop me from networking with professional drifters and spending time around the scene.
When I saved enough money to actually buy my first drift car, I was ready to sink that cash into the first RWD vehicle that came around just so I could finally say I had it. I looked at the Nissan 240sx, BMW E36, Honda S2000, Toyota AE86, and everything in between. Most of them were overpriced money pits that my mechanic and drifter friends talked me out of. They told me again and again to be patient and the right car will find me. Six months into my search the perfect 350z came along at the right price, and I could not be happier.
So what is all of that supposed to mean to you? There is a time and a place to be aggressive with your career, investment, and automotive decisions. We often want to jump at the first job opportunity we get or buy the first cool car we find because we want the emotional satisfaction of having what we have been working towards and waiting for. However, a little bit of patience and extra time can make a monumental difference in the end result. My advice is to calculate your options carefully, wait patiently, and leave your emotions at the door. Chances are you will be much happier with your decision.
– The Ace
