Inspiration comes in doses. Sometimes it’s in short spurts a tagline, a line in a movie, a verse of a song, a phrase in a book. Inspiration is everywhere one just has to be attuned to it.

Two days ago I wrote of the inspiration I received from a song. In a single moment, a phrase entered my mind driving me to press on, to seek knowledge, and to put that knowledge to use. This is yet another key to my success (listening to the world around you and the spirit from above).

Another Day Another Dose

Yesterday I received inspiration from another source. And it immediately hit me like a ton of bricks, no pun intended.

I recently began reading Will Smith’s Autobiography entitled “Will.” Although I haven’t delved that deeply into the content already its a captivating read.

The Beginning

The first chapter of the book explores Will’s foundation. It’s an open invitation to see his origin story, sort of like one does with a villain or a hero. I digress!

Now, in the first pages, Will relates an account of a significant life experience. He explains how although he didn’t see it at first, the experience shaped his life, motivation, and principles for years to come. And It all began with bricks.

I will not go into much depth. It’s a memoir that is best read for oneself.

The Source of Inspiration

In the account, Will was given an assignment by his father. While he had a few misgivings about how his father sometimes handled things he credited him for this very important lesson. At the time the lesson was unclear. He was just living life as normal children do, not looking at the bigger picture. And to his young unmolded mind the task given was ludicrously nonsensical. However, given how he was being raised he carried out the assignment anyway.

One day he and his brothers got distracted. The task was long and seemingly unending. Naturally, he grew tired of the assignment. So he began to complain. Upon hearing the complaints the father spoke up.

See he had entrusted in his son the task of laying bricks to build a wall. But for the unskilled, it was a long tedious task. With no end in sight, Will had, had enough.

So at this point, the father told his son’s there was no wall. But why? It was blatantly obvious that he was tasked with constructing a wall. Well, there is a very rational explanation.

You see, What was important at that moment was each brick they were laying not the end product. Because the end was too far away, the picture was too big, there was no way he could properly see what the end would render from where they stood.

One thing was certain, if they stopped focusing so intently on the end they could put in the work necessary that would get them there. If they stopped looking at the obstacle or the looming project ahead they would be able to complete the project. But they had to change their focus and train it on one brick at a time

I heard that loudly in my spirit!

My Staircase

Today I claim my success. I am looking at the stairs that I have been building one brick at a time. And I can clearly see the summit. I have been working on this staircase for a long time. And sometimes just like Will I wanted to put down the cement, stop mixing, and lay brick. Because it seemed the more bricks I laid the further I was away from the end. But I never really gave up. I kept going back and focusing on laying that brick. So now I’m here looking at the staircase and I am amazed.

The Work Doesn’t Stop

However, just because I see the summit doesn’t mean that I’m going to stop putting in the work. I’m going to continue to work, smoothing each brick making my ascent that much smoother.

This is another key to achievement, focus.

If you want to claim success for any goal. You must focus on the building blocks that will help you ascend. Build your success one brick at a time and you will get where you want to go. Will Smith is proof and so am I.

So let’s get this!