Take the Stairs

Take the Stairs Plot Summary

Introduction

Success isn't complicated, but it does require work. In today's world of instant gratification, we're constantly searching for shortcuts—the escalator in life instead of the stairs. We want success without sacrifice, results without effort, and achievement without persistence. But this "escalator mentality" is exactly what prevents us from reaching our true potential. What would happen if you made the conscious choice to do what others won't? To take the harder path when everyone else is looking for the easy way out? This fundamental choice—to embrace difficulty rather than avoid it—separates extraordinary achievers from everyone else. Throughout these pages, you'll discover that self-discipline isn't about punishment or deprivation. Instead, it's the gateway to freedom, fulfillment, and the life you've always imagined. The principles shared here will show you how to transform momentary discomfort into lasting success through proven strategies that anyone can implement.

Chapter 1: Embrace Sacrifice: The Paradox of Short-Term Pain

The Paradox Principle of Sacrifice reveals a counterintuitive truth: what feels easy in the short term often leads to difficulty in the long term, while what feels difficult in the short term often leads to ease in the long term. Most people make decisions based on short-term emotions rather than long-term logic, and this fundamental difference in decision-making separates successful people from the rest. Consider the example of how buffalo and cows respond to approaching storms. When a storm approaches from the west across the plains of Colorado, cows instinctively run east to avoid it. But since they can't outrun the storm, they end up running with it, maximizing their exposure and suffering. Buffalo, on the other hand, wait for the storm to approach, then turn and charge directly into it. By running at the storm, they pass through it more quickly, minimizing their pain and discomfort. This natural phenomenon mirrors how we approach life's inevitable challenges. When we avoid difficult conversations, procrastinate on important tasks, or ignore financial problems, we're behaving like cows—temporarily avoiding discomfort but ultimately extending our suffering. Taking the stairs means adopting the buffalo mentality: facing challenges head-on, enduring short-term pain for long-term gain. The cost of procrastination is staggering. A study of 10,000 U.S. employees found that the average worker admits to wasting over two hours each day on non-job-related activities. For the average salaried employee making $39,795, that translates to $10,396 per year in lost productivity. Multiply this across an organization, and the figures become astronomical. But the real cost isn't just financial—it's the compound effect of delayed action on our health, relationships, and dreams. What seems easy today—skipping the workout, using the credit card, avoiding the difficult conversation—creates a much harder tomorrow. Conversely, the challenging choices today—saving instead of spending, exercising when tired, having that tough discussion—create an easier path forward. This isn't just theory; it's the lived experience of every successful person. To apply the Paradox Principle, start by identifying one area where you've been taking the escalator. Create a clear picture of what long-term success looks like in that area. When faced with a choice between short-term comfort and long-term benefit, pause and ask: "Which choice will make my life easier in five years?" Then make your decision based on that answer, not on your current feelings.

Chapter 2: Commit Fully: Moving from 'Should I?' to 'How Will I?'

The Buy-In Principle of Commitment states that the more we have invested in something, the less likely we are to let it fail. This simple truth explains why some people achieve remarkable success while others, despite having similar or even greater potential, never reach their goals. The difference lies in how we approach decisions at critical pivot points in our lives. All of us face emotional commitment challenges when pursuing any worthwhile goal. Initially, things start easy, but as we progress, emotional energy intensifies until we reach a crucial pivot point. At this threshold, people typically take one of two paths. Those who turn back approach challenges with uncertainty, constantly questioning, "Should I keep going?" or "Should I try something else?" This hesitancy eventually pulls them away from commitment just before breakthrough would have occurred. Those who push through, however, approach the same threshold with a fundamentally different mindset. Instead of wondering "Should I?" they shift to asking "How will I?" This subtle change activates our creative problem-solving abilities. When we're fully committed, our brain naturally finds ways to overcome obstacles rather than reasons to quit. Consider the story of two brothers playing with a stuffed Garfield toy as a football. When it accidentally flew over the fence into the yard of neighbors they feared, their entire conversation shifted from "Should we go over there?" to "How are we going to get over there?" The commitment was automatic because the consequence of not retrieving their beloved toy was unacceptable. This illustrates how creating unacceptable consequences can strengthen commitment. When Bob dropped $5 in a urinal, he was stuck in the "Should I retrieve it?" mindset. But when he deliberately threw in $50 more, he immediately shifted to "How will I get my money back?" The stakes became too high to walk away. You can apply this principle by creating your own unacceptable consequences. This is why people hire personal trainers—paying $150 per session whether you show up or not creates a financial consequence that ensures commitment. To be effective, these consequences must be ongoing, not one-time events, and they should become more impactful, not less, as time passes. The most successful people understand that unconditional commitment—being "in for good" rather than "in until"—is the foundation for achievement. They crush it where they are before moving to something new. They recognize that success isn't about circumstance but about choice. By shifting from "Should I?" to "How will I?" in your own life, you can transform indecision into unwavering commitment.

Chapter 3: Focus Your Attention: Amplify Your Power

When you focus sunlight through a magnifying glass, it creates enough energy to set paper on fire. Similarly, when you focus your attention and energy, you amplify your personal power. The Magnification Principle of Focus reveals this fundamental truth: focused effort produces exponentially greater results than diluted attention. In today's world, three types of procrastination steal our focus and diminish our effectiveness. First is classic procrastination—consciously delaying what we know we should do. The second type is creative avoidance—unconsciously filling our days with busy work while ignoring truly important tasks. We answer emails, push papers, and chat with coworkers, feeling productive while making minimal progress. The third type, priority dilution, affects high performers who allow urgent matters to overtake important ones. Synara Brown exemplifies the power of focused attention. As a mother who built an organization of over 2,100 representatives for Wildtree natural foods, she maintains crystal-clear thinking about her priorities. "The only thing I might do differently than everyone else is I know exactly what I want and I'm focused on why I'm doing it," she explains. "When people can't get themselves to do things they don't want to do, it's only because they don't have a strong enough why." While most people spend 10-15 hours weekly watching television, Synara completes her essential work in a few focused hours daily, then devotes the rest to her family. To harness the power of focus, start by controlling your thoughts. Our minds naturally gravitate toward negativity, influenced by what Southwestern calls "Mr. Mediocrity"—that little voice that whines, complains, and points out every reason why things won't work. Combat this through positive affirmations. When negative thoughts arise, immediately counter them with positive statements. This practice may feel awkward initially, but it's one of the most powerful tools for maintaining focus. Next, develop what Andy Stanley calls "visioneering"—creating a clear, compelling mental picture of your desired future. Make your vision VAST (Visual, Auditory, Smell, and Touch) to engage all your senses. Create a vision board with images representing your goals. On October 27, 2005, I wrote a detailed description of becoming a champion public speaker, living in a downtown loft, and working as an executive at a large speaking company. Within eighteen months, much of this vision materialized—not through magic, but through focused effort aligned with clear objectives. Finally, be intentional about your first and last thoughts each day. Read inspiring material before sleeping and spend your first waking moments in gratitude. By focusing your attention on what matters most, you'll amplify your power to create the life you desire.

Chapter 4: Build Integrity: From Thoughts to Reality

The Creation Principle of Integrity reveals a powerful pattern that governs all manifestation: You think it, you speak it, you act it, it happens. From the chair you're sitting on to the tallest building on the planet, everything follows this sequence. Words serve as the critical bridge between thought and action, carrying tremendous power when chosen with care and intention. When I was seven years old, I asked my mother where my dad was. She replied that she hadn't had much luck with men and if I wanted a father, I'd have to find one myself. Shortly after, I began taking Shaolin Kung Fu classes and was paired with Kevin, a man with long hair, tattoos, and a motorcycle who seemed intimidating to a young boy. As we advanced through belt levels together, he started bringing me home after late classes and eventually began spending time with my family. Eventually, Kevin married my mom and adopted me. This story exemplifies the Creation Principle in action: a thought became words, which led to actions, which created a new reality. There are several ways to strengthen your word. First, invent possibilities by making statements of intention. Second, express gratitude to keep negative thoughts at bay. Third, give genuine compliments, recognizing that "that which is recognized is repeated." Fourth, hold people accountable by reminding them of who they said they wanted to be, attacking problems while supporting people. Fifth, walk your talk by refusing to ask others to do things you wouldn't do yourself. Equally important is avoiding behaviors that weaken your word. Breaking promises damages both relationships and your self-credibility. Using uncontrolled language without considering its impact on others demonstrates a lack of discipline. Tearing others down, as Dale Carnegie warned against, undermines your integrity. Creating "back doors" in your commitments with phrases like "I should be able to" or "I'll try" gives you an escape hatch that makes follow-through less likely. Using too many words dilutes your message, as brevity is indeed the essence of wisdom. Sean Wolfington, who built a $500 million empire spanning automotive sales and entertainment production, attributes his success to integrity. "All of success in life comes down to a test of whether or not you will make a sacrifice when no one else is watching," he says. "The small private victories ultimately add up to greatness." Even something as simple as picking up a dropped water bottle becomes a character-building moment that fuels your integrity tank. Remember that with strong integrity, you can create anything you want for your life. Choose your words carefully, do what you say you will, and resist the urge to use emotionally charged language. As you build integrity through these practices, you'll see your thoughts transform into words, your words into actions, and your actions into the reality you desire.

Chapter 5: Design Your Schedule: Harvest Season Thinking

Farmers understand something most of us have forgotten: life operates in seasons of intensity and decline. During harvest, a farmer works about eighteen hours per day, regardless of fatigue or personal preference, because the harvest must be captured during its brief window of opportunity. The Harvest Principle of Schedule reveals that focused effort is amplified by appropriate timing and regimented routine. The myth of balance has misled many of us. We've been conditioned to believe that balance means equal time spent on equal activities. But true balance means appropriate time spent on critical priorities. The better question isn't "Am I spending enough time on this activity?" but "When is the best time to focus on this activity?" Life, like nature, operates in seasons—periods of education, growth, love, health, and even sickness. Much anxiety comes from trying to take on too many conflicting seasons simultaneously. At Southwestern, we teach a concept called "Double-Time Part Time for Full-Time Free Time" (DTPTFTFT). This approach means working with intense focus during appropriate seasons to create freedom in the future. When I had $45,000 of debt, I worked relentlessly for two years—saving every penny, working overtime, making extra sales calls—until I was debt-free. Similarly, when I needed to improve my health, I completely eliminated fast food and soda while exercising daily for eight months until I lost 40 pounds. This intense, seasonal focus created lasting freedom. Chad Goldwasser, once the number one Keller Williams real estate agent worldwide, exemplifies harvest season thinking. He schedules every minute of his day with large blocks dedicated to single priorities—Tuesday nights for prospecting calls, Wednesday nights for dates with his wife, three mornings weekly for intense workouts. By creating "mini-harvest seasons" within his week, Chad achieves extraordinary results across all life areas while maintaining balance. His motto: "It's a privilege, not a sacrifice, to pay the price for my dreams." To implement harvest season thinking, design your ideal schedule around the Fundamental Five: Faith (spiritual practice), Family (dedicated time with loved ones), Fitness (regular physical activity), Faculty (career focus), and Finances (regular review). Protect these "rocks" in your schedule first, then fit in "pebbles" like sleep and meetings, followed by "sand" like email and office time. Ian Koniak, a top sales director for Ricoh, tracks his progress daily against weekly goals for work hours, sleep, exercise, and time-wasters. This simple tracking system helps him maintain focus on critical success factors. Remember that getting off schedule is inevitable. When this happens, shift your focus from results (which aren't entirely within your control) to activities (which are). Like a Slinky that needs momentum to continue down stairs, your schedule works best when you maintain consistent momentum. Get relentless about putting your self-esteem into your work habits rather than results, and success will follow.

Chapter 6: Maintain Faith: Cultivate Long-Term Perspective

The Perspective Principle of Faith states that our ability to have peace is directly proportionate to the term of our perspective. When we view challenges through a limited short-term lens, they appear overwhelming. But when we adopt a longer view, those same challenges shrink to their appropriate size. Youth expert Eric Chester once demonstrated this principle through a powerful visual aid. He stretched an 80-foot tape measure across a room, explaining that each foot represented one year of the average human lifespan, and each inch one month. He showed how college—those seemingly endless four years—occupied just a tiny segment of the entire timeline. Yet those critical inches could set the trajectory for the remaining 60 feet. Through this demonstration, Chester revealed how a "bad day" wasn't even visible on the scale of a lifetime—approximately one-thirtieth of one inch. With enough perspective, our failures and successes are reduced to their appropriate significance. When we lose faith in the future and forget where today fits in our life's timeline, we have no basis for perspective. The extent of our faith determines the term of our perspective, and the term of our perspective determines the size of our problems. A challenge viewed relative to today is a big problem, relative to our lifespan is a small problem, and relative to eternity is no problem at all. This perspective enables us to endure short-term sacrifices and make better decisions. Without faith in tomorrow, why would we eat healthy food, exercise, or save money? Sometimes we make poor choices not from lack of discipline but from lack of perspective and faith. As I discovered after placing second in the World Championship of Public Speaking, when you've given your absolute best, you can accept outcomes with peace, knowing you did everything possible. Tim Knight, a top executive recruiter and member of the prestigious Pinnacle Society for nine consecutive years, embodies this principle. "I've always had great faith that if I do my best, things will work out exactly as they're supposed to," he explains. "Faith is not just sitting around waiting for God to make things happen. Instead, I believe the prerequisite for getting results is that I must first do my part." This approach has guided him to tackle challenging tasks first thing each morning, knowing other items will either resolve themselves or remain manageable. My own life illustrates the mysterious workings of faith and perspective. My wife Amanda lost her mother Jane to cancer when Amanda was a teenager. Years earlier, Jane had lost her first fiancé in an accident before meeting Ronnie, who would become Amanda's father. These seemingly tragic events set in motion a chain of connections that eventually led Amanda and me together. We never know how our story will unfold, but faith gives us the courage to keep moving forward, trusting that today's challenges serve a greater purpose.

Chapter 7: Take Action: Beyond Knowledge to Implementation

The Pendulum Principle of Action reveals that our true beliefs are demonstrated not by what we say, but by how we act. A physics professor once illustrated this by setting up a large pendulum with heavy weights. After explaining the Law of the Pendulum—that a pendulum cannot return to a point higher than its release point—he brought an arrogant student to the front of the class, positioned him with the pendulum at his nose, and released it. Despite verbally agreeing with the law, the student jumped away when the pendulum returned, showing that his actions revealed his true beliefs. Our actions, not our words, reveal what we genuinely believe. As my first pastor Rick Rusaw said, "If you want to know what a person believes in, just look at their calendar and their checkbook, because what they spend their time and money on is what they believe in most." This is why the final and perhaps most critical step to self-discipline is taking action. Peter Ferré, who built a $50 million insurance brokerage from scratch, attributes his consistent success to a simple formula: "Run your business like a business." Four times yearly, he examines critical metrics, allowing the business to dictate priorities rather than personal preferences. "Whether or not I like what the numbers are telling me is irrelevant," he explains. "We try to always make decisions based on what the business is telling us empirically rather than what we are feeling emotionally." This approach requires connecting daily activities to long-term vision. The three most common obstacles to action are fear, entitlement, and perfectionism. Fear keeps us from trying, entitlement makes us believe success should come easily, and perfectionism prevents us from starting until conditions are perfect. The solution to fear is simple: "Do it scared." It's okay to be uncomfortable—do it uncomfortable. Just start where you are. Entitlement is particularly dangerous in today's escalator world. The moment we feel entitled to success without effort, our self-discipline disengages. Perfectionism, rooted in self-criticism, keeps us waiting for ideal circumstances that never arrive. The antidote is focusing on stellar effort rather than stellar results. To overcome these obstacles, create 360-Degree Accountability with four types of relationships: a supervisor (boss or mentor), a subordinate (employee or mentee), a significant other (spouse, family member, or trusted peer), and a supporter (objective third party). These relationships provide the support structure needed to maintain momentum when motivation wanes. Remember that indecision often costs more than wrong decisions. As my friend Pete Wilson says, "The cost of missing out is more than the cost of messing up." Don't wait for perfect conditions—they'll never come. Take action now, even if you're scared or uncertain. Your life's success depends not on perfection but on movement.

Summary

The path to true success is neither complicated nor mysterious—it's simply about embracing discipline. In a world constantly selling shortcuts, the stairway of self-discipline remains the only guaranteed route to lasting achievement. Success isn't owned, it's rented—and the rent is due every day through consistent choices that prioritize long-term benefits over immediate gratification. Throughout these pages, you've discovered how to transform your approach to success: by embracing necessary sacrifices, committing fully to your goals, focusing your attention where it matters most, building integrity through your words and actions, designing your schedule around harvest-season thinking, maintaining faith through extended perspective, and taking decisive action despite fear or uncertainty. As you implement these principles, remember that discipline creates freedom—the freedom to design the life you've always wanted. Your journey begins with a single step—a conscious choice to take the stairs in some area of your life today. Start small if needed, but start now. Identify one habit, relationship, or goal where you've been taking the escalator, and commit to the more challenging but rewarding path. As you do, you'll discover what successful people have always known: the stairs may require more effort initially, but they lead to views worth climbing for.

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Rory Vaden

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