Great things take time

Great Things Take Time

While driving through Atlanta one day, I came across a simple line that left a deep impression on me: “Great things take time.”

At first glance, it sounds like a cliché. But when I look back on my own journey, I realize how true it really is. Nothing meaningful I’ve achieved has come instantly, it has always taken patience, effort, and faith in the process.


The Pattern of Growth

In college at VJTI, I spent my first couple of years completely immersed in sports. My grades were average, and I didn’t think too much about academics. But by my third year, I shifted my focus. I discovered better ways of learning, started enjoying my subjects, and my results improved significantly. The lesson? Once I found a method that worked for me and stuck with it, progress followed—though not overnight.

The same pattern continues in my career. Like many, I sometimes find myself comparing my growth to others. Promotions and salaries can make you question your worth, and I’ve had my share of disappointment. But comparison never brings peace. Instead, it distracts you from your own journey.


Lessons From SRK and KKR

A story that inspires me is Shah Rukh Khan’s journey with his cricket franchise, KKR.

In the early days, he tried to be hands-on—pointing out mistakes, trying to fix everything. But over time, he realized that his role wasn’t to manage the cricket. His role was to love, support, and uplift the team. He brought in professionals to handle the strategy, while he focused on creating a culture of encouragement.

That shift in mindset changed everything. It showed that patience, trust, and the right focus eventually led to success.


The Long-Term View

Big projects, whether it’s building a metro line in Mumbai or shaping your own career, take time. The results aren’t visible immediately, but they accumulate. The foundation, effort, and persistence all compound over time.

And that’s the beauty of patience: it doesn’t just build outcomes, it builds you. If you don’t have what you think you deserve today, it doesn’t mean you won’t have it tomorrow. More often than not, it means you’re being prepared for something bigger.

Practical Ways to Embrace the Journey

So, how do we live by the principle that great things take time? Here are a few practices that help:

  1. Make a one-year plan.
    Instead of chasing short-term excitement, map out where you want to be a year from now, in your career, health, and relationships. Writing it down keeps you anchored.

  2. Focus on daily progress.
    You don’t need giant leaps every day. Small, consistent actions compound into remarkable outcomes over time.

  3. Stick to your path.
    Once you set a goal, resist the urge to constantly change it. Adjust your methods, if necessary but keep the destination steady.

  4. Cut distractions ruthlessly.
    Modern life offers endless ways to waste time. Replace mindless consumption with reading, creating, and learning, the things that actually move you forward.

Final Thought

Progress is often invisible in the moment. You may not notice the change day by day, but with patience, discipline, and trust, one day you’ll look back and see how far you’ve come.

Great things take time, because they’re worth it.

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