You’re either on the way up or on the way down.

No one is standing still. The rest of the world is getting better, and if you think you’re holding steady, then you’re likely losing ground.

Overall, everyone else is learning, growing, and improving. Everyone else is getting better.

You can’t stay where you are if you want to keep up. Holding steady is the equivalent of falling behind. Holding steady probably means you’re on the way down.

Sometimes I just want to take a rest. I want to float, drift, relax, and sit still right where I am.

But when I do that—when I drift—I can look to my right or to my left and realize I’m getting passed. The flow keeps moving, and sitting still is the fastest way to get left behind.

Sure, it’s hard to keep moving forward. It’s exhausting to keep taking in new information, building new relationships, and developing new approaches and techniques, but it’s essential if you’re going to keep your spot or move up in the line.

Exhausting is okay. It means you’re in the game. You’re on the way up and you’re not on the way down.

Exhausting is fine. You can sleep when you’re dead.