The Long Game: Ankur Warikoo on Persistence and Delayed Gratification

In a recent LinkedIn post, Ankur Warikoo explores the critical role of persistence and delayed gratification in achieving significant goals. Warikoo shares his personal journey with YouTube, illustrating how initial slow growth can precede exponential success, emphasizing the potential for profound regret if one gives up too soon.

Warikoo highlights the stark contrast between his early YouTube struggles and current success. He states:

“It took us 41 months to hit 1 million views on YouTube. Today, we average 70 million views every MONTH.”

This dramatic shift, Warikoo explains, underscores a crucial lesson about the nature of substantial achievement. He posits that the temptation to quit when results are not immediately apparent is strong, but often, this is precisely the moment before a breakthrough.

The Peril of Premature Exit

The core of Warikoo’s message revolves around the idea that meaningful accomplishments are rarely linear or instantaneous. He uses the hypothetical scenario of quitting the YouTube channel just before its major growth spurt to illustrate the immense ‘scale of missed opportunities’ that can result from a lack of perseverance.

According to Ankur Warikoo, the decision to continue, even when results are discouraging, is paramount. He writes:

“But imagine if we quit in the 40th month – right before it took off. At that point, stopping would have made complete sense. ‘You tried long enough. Move on to better things.'”

Warikoo contrasts this potential outcome with the present reality, where the commitment to consistent effort, specifically publishing one video weekly regardless of immediate reception, ultimately yielded immense rewards. This demonstrates that consistency, not just effort, is key.

Growth Demands a ‘Tax’

Warikoo further broadens his perspective by drawing parallels between different domains of achievement. He argues that significant progress in any area requires overcoming numerous obstacles. Whether it’s securing a dream job, building a strong physique, or mastering a skill, there’s an inherent struggle involved.

He elaborates on this concept, stating:

“A dream job is on the other side of 100 rejections. A strong body is on the other side of 100 workouts. A great skill is on the other side of 100 bad attempts.”

This consistent pattern, in Warikoo’s view, highlights that what appears as effortless success is often the culmination of extensive, unglamorous effort and numerous setbacks. He frames this necessary struggle as the ‘tax growth demands.’

The Value of the Struggle

The underlying question posed by Warikoo is whether the pursuit is worthwhile if the struggle is not. He suggests that the intrinsic value of any significant achievement is directly correlated with the effort and resilience required to attain it.

In his concluding thoughts, Ankur Warikoo prompts readers to consider the long-term perspective:

“If it’s worth having, isn’t it worth the struggle too?”

This rhetorical question serves as a powerful call to action, encouraging individuals to embrace the challenges inherent in pursuing ambitious goals and to cultivate the patience and determination needed for eventual success. Warikoo’s insights offer a valuable reminder for entrepreneurs, creators, and professionals navigating the often-arduous path to significant achievement.