Everything Worthwhile Is Uphill

John Maxwell often says, “Everything worthwhile is uphill.”

I had this quote written on the whiteboard in my office at Nationwide. It was a daily reminder to push forward on most difficult challenges, even when I didn't feel like it.

It’s a simple statement. But if you sit with it long enough, it starts to expose something most of us would rather avoid:

We want meaningful outcomes… without meaningful resistance.

We want clarity without wrestling. Impact without risk. Growth without discomfort.

But that’s not how life works. And it’s not how calling works.

The Illusion of Flat Ground

For nearly 30 years, I worked in institutional investing. At that scale, you learn quickly that returns don’t come from ease. They come from disciplined decisions made in uncertain environments, because the largest returns often come from risks taken when you’re the most scared to act.

The same principle applies to life and leadership.

Flat ground feels safe. Predictable. Manageable.

But flat ground rarely produces anything of significance.

• No one drifts into purpose
• No one coasts into leadership
• No one accidentally builds something that multiplies

If it matters, it will cost you something.

Uphill Is Where Formation Happens

Uphill is where your assumptions get challenged.

It’s where you realize that what got you here won’t get you there.

It’s where God starts doing deeper work in you before He does greater work through you.

That’s the part most people underestimate.

We think the uphill is about achievement. In reality, it’s about formation.

• Character is formed uphill
• Conviction is clarified uphill
• Calling is refined uphill

If you avoid the uphill, you don’t just avoid discomfort. You avoid becoming the person your calling requires.

What the Hill Taught Me Early

I learned this long before I understood leadership or calling.

My freshman year of high school football, we had a routine at the end of practice. When other teams may have been heading home, we ran hills.

Not once. Over and over.

At the time, it didn’t feel strategic. It felt excessive.

You’re tired. Practice is over. Why are we doing more?

But something happened over the course of that season.

We didn’t just get in better shape. We got tougher. More disciplined. More connected.

And when the games got tight in the fourth quarter, we didn’t break.

We had already been there.

We went undefeated that year. And looking back, it wasn’t just about talent.

It was about preparation that most people never saw and the consistency of the hill compounding over time.

The hill didn’t just condition us physically. It separated us.

That’s what uphill does.

My Own Uphill

There’s a version of my life that stayed comfortable.

Stay in the role. Keep building. Maximize income. Minimize disruption.

From the outside, it would have looked like success.

But internally, something didn’t align.

The uphill was stepping away from what was working… into what wasn’t yet clear.

Less certainty. More dependence. Fewer obvious metrics.

That’s the tension of the uphill: You often trade clarity in the short term for alignment in the long term.

And you don’t get proof upfront.

You get conviction… and a next step.

Most People Quit Too Early

Here’s what I’ve observed, both in investing and in leadership:

Most people don’t fail because they chose the wrong mountain.

They fail because they stop climbing.

• They hit resistance and assume they’re off track
• They encounter uncertainty and retreat to what’s familiar
• They feel the cost and decide it’s not worth it

But resistance is not a sign you’re wrong. Often, it’s a sign you’re right.

The question is not whether it’s uphill.

The question is whether it’s worth it.

How to Know If the Uphill Is Worth It

Not every uphill is your assignment. Some are distractions.

So how do you discern?

Three filters:

1. Alignment Does this move you closer to who God is calling you to be?

2. Stewardship Does this use what you’ve been entrusted with… or bury it?

3. Multiplication Does this create impact beyond yourself?

If the answer is yes, then the difficulty is not a deterrent. It’s confirmation.

The Shift Most People Need

Most people are waiting for the path to feel easier.

That’s the wrong expectation.

The path doesn’t get easier. You get stronger.

You get clearer. You get more anchored. You get less dependent on external validation.

And over time, what once felt uphill becomes the ground you were built to walk on.

A Better Question

Instead of asking:

“Why is this so hard?”

Start asking:“Is this the uphill I’m called to climb?”

Because if it is, the resistance is not something to escape.

It’s something to embrace.

One Step Forward

You don’t need to map the entire mountain.

You need to take the next step.

So here’s the question:

Where are you choosing comfort over calling right now?

And what would one uphill step look like this week?

Not perfect. Not complete. Just real.

Take that step.

Because everything worthwhile is uphill.

Are You Climbing the Right Hill?

Everything worthwhile is uphill. But not every uphill path leads where you want to go.

Some leaders are working hard… just on the wrong hill. Others are climbing the right hill but carrying weight they were never meant to carry.

That’s the alignment gap.

The Alignment Gap Assessment helps you step back and answer one critical question:

Where am I out of alignment right now—and what is it costing me?

In a few minutes, you’ll:

• Identify your primary area of misalignment
• Uncover what’s driving it beneath the surface
• Get a clear next step to move forward with intention

Before you push harder, make sure you’re climbing the right hill.

→ Take the Alignment Gap Assessment Takes 3–5 minutes. Immediate clarity.

Ready to Close the Gap?

The assessment shows you where you’re out of alignment. The next step is doing something about it.

Inside Deep Rooted Believers, you’ll find practical tools to help you move forward:

• 7-Day Alignment Reset – turn insight into immediate traction
• Devotionals for Leaders – stay grounded while you grow
• Financial Stewardship Resources – align your resources with your calling

If you’re serious about growth, don’t stop at awareness. Build a plan.

→ Explore the Resources​

Happy Easter!

I'm rooting for your success.

Scott

P.S. If there's anything that I can do to serve you, please don't hesitate to reach out.