In May of 2016, I gave my first speech.
I bombed.
I didn’t speak again until September of 2016.
I bombed again.
The next day,
I committed to practicing every single day.
Not for 30 days.
Not for a quarter.
Not for a whole year.
For a decade.
I vividly remember telling myself:
”I am going to do this for 10 years.”
”I’m not going to stop until 2026.”
It felt like a lifetime away.
I didn’t care.
I wanted to figure this ‘speaking’ thing out so badly.
I was willing to do whatever it took.
So I did a lot of unreasonable things:
• Spoke in elementary schools to KIDS
• Drove 10 hours each way to speak for a coffee mug.
• Took 3 flights + drove 4 hours to speak on a native reserve.
• Slept on the floor of SFO because I couldn’t afford a hotel room.
All for the possibility of this dream being a reality.
This month marks the 10 year anniversary of delivering a speech.
Started speaking in schools for gift cards.
Now speak for some of the biggest brands in the world.
I STILL can’t believe it.
I genuinely feel like I am living the dream.
The dream I had all those years ago.
All because of one thing:
Consistency.
The willingness to do something every day for YEARS.
Something most aren’t willing to do.
Because it doesn’t seem like it’s working in real time.
That’s the thing about consistency.
You don’t see results in the moment.
You don’t see progress right away.
But looking back,
You’ll be blown away with how much can change.
I’m curious: What are you striving to be consistent on right now?
Happy Tuesday everyone!
Your friend,
Juan Bendana
Keynote Speaker | Author of Confident By Choice
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