There’s an old story about a gold miner.
Napoleon Hill told it in Think and Grow Rich.
A man digs for gold…
He digs and digs—weeks, months—without finding anything…
Finally, he gives up. Sells his equipment. Walks away.
The next guy picks up where he left off…
Three feet later, he hits gold.
The lesson?
Most people quit too soon.
Not because they weren’t capable…
Not because success wasn’t possible…
But because they couldn’t see how close they really were.
How do you know if you’re just three feet from gold?
Here are five signs:
1. You’re Seeing Progress on a Leading Indicator
Lagging results—big wins, revenue, recognition—take time.
But leading indicators? Those move first.
You’re making more calls.
You’re getting better engagement.
You’re closing a few more deals each month.
It’s like pushing a heavy flywheel…
At first, it barely moves. But momentum builds.
And when it does, everything speeds up.
2. Your Friends and Advisors Are Noticing
It’s easy to be blind to our own progress.
But people around us? They see the change.
A mentor says, “You’re on to something.”
A friend says, “Wow, you’ve been killing it.”
When outsiders notice your progress, take it seriously…
They have fresh eyes.
And they just might be seeing something you haven’t yet realized.
3. You’ve Built the Habit of Consistency
Success isn’t a single moment. It’s a system.
And if you’ve locked in the right habits—if you’re showing up, executing, doing the right things daily—you’re already winning.
Results will catch up.
My personal breakthrough came after I committed to adjust my schedule.
I realized my habits had a huge effect on my output.
I just had to transform my lazy habits into responsible ones.
4. You’re Having More Fun
Grinding through frustration feels like losing.
But when you start enjoying the process?
That’s when breakthroughs happen.
Because creativity, energy, and execution skyrocket when we’re having fun.
And people want to work with someone who loves what they do.
5. You’re One Win Away
Sometimes, all it takes is one:
One introduction. One client. One viral post. One investor.
And suddenly, everything lines up.
If that one win feels realistic—if you can see how it could happen—then you’re closer than you think.
The Bottom Line
Too many people quit before the breakthrough.
But momentum is real.
So if you’re seeing these signs, keep going.
You just might be three feet from gold.
