How We Become Someone We Want To Become : With Patience, Practice, and Joy
We are often raised to believe that "becoming" someone is a finite chapter of our lives. We go to school, choose a path in our 20s or 30s, settle in, and that’s supposed to be it.
But becoming doesn't stop in your 20s or 30s. It shouldn’t—and must not—stop throughout your entire life. At any given time, you are 100% in control of deciding who you are becoming next.
When I started my journey with How to become a florist in 100 days, the biggest lesson wasn't just about flowers. It was about the architecture of personal growth.
Here is what it actually takes to evolve into someone new—and why enjoying the walk is the only way to get there.
1. Stop, Determine Your Direction, and Walk
Becoming doesn't happen by accident. It starts when you deliberately pause, turn towards a specific destination, and begin walking forward with a strong, intentional mindset.
Before you can be steady, you have to stop and decide where you’re actually trying to go. Only when your direction is clear can you maintain a steady stride across months and years.
2. "Walking" Means Practicing
How do you actually travel towards a new identity? You practice.
Practice is simply repetitive motion designed to build familiarity and skill. You repeat an action until you master it to the point that others begin to recognize your capability.
My rule of thumb? Weekly practice for at least one year—though three years is usually the sweet spot. Mastery demands time, but consistency turns foreign actions into second nature.
3. It Is Fine to Have More Than One Destination
Life isn't a single straight line; it’s a portfolio of experiences. You don't have to abandon one passion just because you’re exploring another.
While I was still working hard to refine my floristry skills, I started learning pottery. Today, pottery remains a beloved hobby, though I aim to start selling my mini vases soon.
In Year 4 of my journey, after publishing a book, I began offering pivot coaching. While coaching is currently a smaller operation compared to my main work, writing and helping others navigate their own career pivots is something I deeply commit to for the long term. I am actively moving toward becoming a capable coach—alongside everything else I do.
4. Endure the Long Runway (Without Losing Heart)
Here is the hard truth that few people talk about: these efforts will not yield significant financial revenue for a few years.
If you are building new business infrastructure in your spare time while holding down a 9-to-5 job, that timeline stretches even longer. Balancing late nights, learning curves, and operational setups takes a toll.
The single most critical factor in this stage is endurance. Not getting discouraged and refusing to give up is the entire game.
5. Find Joy in the Doing
Because the financial rewards take time, you need a different fuel source to keep going.
You must find something that brings you intrinsic joy simply by doing it.
When the act of practicing—whether that's arranging stems, shaping clay, or editing a piece of writing—is its own reward, financial return stops being the sole measure of your progress. Joy gives you a reason to show up consistently day after day, regardless of the immediate financial payout.
The Takeaway
You get to decide who you are becoming today, tomorrow, and ten years from now. Set a direction, commit to the weekly practice, embrace multiple passions, and find delight in the process itself.
This will be the most joyful and meaningful journey of your life!