Make The Iron Hot By Striking

We all know the adage “Strike while the iron is hot.” It means that you should make use of an opportunity when it presents itself. While that saying is true and that when a good opportunity arises you should act on it, it leaves out a crucial, and more important alternative.

Striking makes the iron hot.

William Butler Yeats's famous quote “Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking” is a powerful counterpoint to the age-old adage. If you strike an iron rod with a hammer enough times, you can make it glow red hot and reach temperatures above 1300º. Do not wait for the iron to miraculously get hot. Don’t wait for “luck”. Go out and create your luck. Strike until you get lucky. Strike until something works. It could be your 5th, 10th, 20th, or even 30th strike before something works. Just don’t stop striking. When others give in, keep striking. When the world tells you to quit, keep striking. When your arms ache and your fingers hurt to bend, keep striking.

And once you get the iron red hot do not squander. Do not let your efforts go to waste.