How to Know You Are Working for the Wrong Reasons

“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men…” Colossians 3:23 NKJV

Why do you work? Why do you strive for excellence? Why do you do what you do?

In my work, I have seen brands blow up overnight to become global sensations. These brands didn’t just start the night before. They have heavily invested in staying consistent with what they put out, and suddenly, they get noticed.

The creation of the internet did not bypass the law of sowing and reaping. It only made access easier and faster. So when we speak with clients and let them know that digital marketing is not a get-rich-and-famous-quick scheme, they think it’s an excuse for incompetence.

Several years ago, I got a client who owned a braiding salon and needed some exposure. She understood the principle of consistent action and the power of sowing. So for several months, we invested in her visibility on Google without seeing much results.

Suddenly, she received a heavy influx of customers and has stayed number one in Google search results for her location ever since.

I stumbled on the video of an older man who loved fishing and consistently put out a YouTube video for five years. 

After putting out over 400 videos with zero views, someone suddenly stumbled on his page, loved his content, shared it, and overnight, he grew to over 1 million subscribers.

This article is not a lesson on digital marketing but defining why you do what you do. When you work for the applause of others, motivation disappears when there’s no applause.

When you work for an audience of one (yourself), your focus is on getting better at your craft, whatever it may be. Your motivation is internal and not influenced by the validation of another.

Overnight success may not happen for everyone, but because that’s not your focus, you’ll get the results you seek, whether that’s mastery, a habit of consistency, or just personal fulfilment.

There’s room for everyone on the global stage, but don’t do anything because of the global stage. Focus on who you must become and that future you will attract the attention it deserves.

I pray you find the strength to stay disciplined and consistent in your work, doing it with all your might and for the right reasons.