LY THANH PHUONG
When I was in high school, money was tight. My roommate and I often lived off rice and eggs. Our weekly “menu” featured fried eggs, omelets, boiled eggs with soy sauce, and rice mixed with eggs. Every time we cracked an egg, we’d toss the shell out the window. We didn’t think much of it—just a simple habit to get through our days.
At the end of the school year, I took a walk around the backyard. To my surprise, I saw a small mountain of eggshells piled beneath our window. My first thought was that someone was playing a prank on us. But then it hit me: we had created that pile—one shell at a time. Over the course of a year, our small, daily actions had added up to something unexpectedly substantial.
That experience taught me a powerful lesson: accumulation matters. Small, consistent efforts—even those that seem insignificant—build up over time and can lead to remarkable outcomes.
Think of it this way: instead of spending hours each day chatting on your phone, what if you used that time to research topics in your field or develop a new skill? A few minutes a day might seem like nothing—but in a year, your knowledge will expand greatly. In 10 years, it could redefine your expertise and career.
I once attended a LifePro Insurance seminar where the speaker asked, “Have you ever watched a horse race?” He explained that in most races, the top horses are separated by just a snout at the finish line—so close that high-speed cameras are needed to determine the winner. But here’s the key insight: even though the difference is mere inches, the winning horse often earns 10 times more than the runner-up.
He continued, “If you’re standing in a crowd of people all the same height, and you rise just a little onto your toes, you’ll see what others don’t.”
That’s the power of going just a little further than the rest.
Each of us is given the same 24 hours in a day. If you dedicate even one hour each day to learning, improving, or practicing your craft, in just a few years you will become a completely different person—more capable, more confident, more valuable. When you become truly excellent at what you do, you won’t need to chase opportunities—they will come looking for you.
May your journey be filled with growth, confidence, joy, health, and lasting youth!
From the same author: https://www.toiyeutiengnuoctoi.com/category/tac-gia/i-to-p/ly-thanh-phuong/
