The Cost of Almost
I almost became a pop star.
When I was in my late teens, I was in a band.
We weren’t bad. In fact, we were good enough to be given the opportunity to go on a three-month publicity tour, fully funded by a brilliant promoter.
There was just one problem.
The other two guys in the band (a chemist and a trainee building society manager) didn’t want to quit their jobs. Me? I was a roofer and ready for fame!
But we said no.
The band who were chosen instead?
The Housemartins.
Yes. Those Housemartins.
The ones who went on to have huge hits, appear on Top of the Pops and launch the careers of Paul Heaton and Norman Cook, AKA Fatboy Slim.
I was almost famous.
The full detail is a story for another day and honestly, I’ve hardly spent any time wondering what might have happened if we’d said yes. 🤥
It does make me think about the price of almost. Almost costs.
Almost making the call. Almost applying for the job.
Almost asking for the business.
Almost telling someone how you feel.
Almost finishing the book.
Almost keeping the promise.
Almost doing the thing you know you need to do.
The frustrating thing about almost is that you can do 95% of the work and get 0% of the result.
And the distance between almost and done is tiny.
One conversation.
One decision.
One more push. One risk.
There are moments when almost costs you more than you realise.
Where are you almost?
What have you nearly done?
What are you 95% of the way towards that just needs the final 5%?
Is today the day to close the gap?
Almost feels close. But close and complete are different animals.
Almost is where many people stop. Done is where brilliance begins.
Be Brilliant!
Michael
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