One of my favorite movies is film called Layer Cake.
It stars future James Bond Daniel Craig as a London based criminal who wants to retire.
The name of this film basically refers to his place in the criminal hierarchy.
And the fact that over time you move up or down in that world
(Or up the layer cake as they say in the film.)
I don’t want to reveal the plot but basically he’s betrayed by the people he works for and set up to be arrested. After a number of twists and turns he finds himself in the clear and ready to sail off into the sunset. But before this can happen he’s given a lecture by a senior mob boss.
Part of the lecture involves this quote.
“You’re born, you take s**t. You get out into the world, you take more s**t. You climb a little higher, you take less s**t. Till one day you’re up in the rarefied atmosphere and you’ve forgotten what s**t even looks like. Welcome to the layer cake son.”
Any time I’m struggling I think back to these words.
The fact is that business can sometimes seem impossibly difficult.
As if you’re hopelessly spinning your wheels and getting nowhere.
The whole thing can seem heartbreaking.
But the fact is that if you put in the work you’ll get there.
You’ll slowly move up the layer cake one way or the other…
…until finally one day you reach the top.
Believe me it’s not impossible.
Get the message?
Cheers,
Alastair Walton