the last mile is always the least crowded. - James Clear

Be great in small ways.

Writing 100 words today doesn't seem worthwhile when you see people publishing bestsellers.

Exercising for 10 minutes doesn't seem valuable when you see world records posted on Instagram.

But winning the next 10 minutes is its own form of greatness.

People are so busy wishing for more time and better resources that they fail to make the most of the time and resources they have. Be great in small ways and you may be surprised by what you've achieved within a year or two.

One of the best positions to be in: young, talented, and the underdog.

That's like a cocktail for making something great. You're hungry to prove yourself. You're young enough to not care about how it's previously been done. And, usually, you have fewer responsibilities to pull you away from the work.

The greatest rewards in life are often delayed. The financial benefits of work and investing. The emotional benefits of marriage and friendship. The psychological benefits of creating something that matters. Meaningful outcomes take a long time to grow and compound.

Furthermore, most pursuits involve other people: coworkers, spouses, children, peers. If you want your results to continue to grow, then you need relationships that last.

One of the essential ingredients for success is being pleasant and trustworthy because it allows whatever you are building—a business, a relationship, a project—to continue. Many relationships disintegrate before the rewards accumulate.