Pushing through the line

I’ve been listening to a great podcast recently that documents Rome’s rise and fall from power.

I’ve always been fascinated by Rome, and how it managed to sustain such an incredible scale of empire for so long.

Most historians agree that the main reason why, was the incredible success of the Roman Legion. It’s hard to throw off the shackles of empire when you keep getting absolutely annihilated. In fact, as the empire grew fat from taxes from the provinces, one of the main causes of Rome’s downfall was that they stopped recruiting an army, and started paying mercenaries who, inevitably turned on their masters.

But back to the Legions.

Full-scale tactics aside, and which I think have lessons in themselves, the main differentiation between a Legionaire and a barbarian was said to be a Legionaire’s ruthless efficiency.

They cut barbarians down without glory. In fact, when a minor force of Gauls were crossing a river and a superior force of Romans attacked - the Gauls literally couldn’t understand why. There was no honour in fighting a inferior force with the added advantage of an ambush. They concluded Romans were cowards - and they concluded wrong.

You see, a Barbarian fought for individual honour and glory. But for a Roman, fighting was a job.

And they fought for keeps.

This anology has given me some much needed vindication that I’m on the right track in my own life.

I think, often, it’s the big wins that get recognition - finishing an app, closing a big client. That’s where the glory is.

But, what I’m doing right now is without glory - it’s a daily, dirty, slog and grind. Wake up, travel, work, travel, sleep, repeat. All with the added bonus of getting no recognition for that suffering.

And to be honest, it’s taken it’s toll. It’s been a long and hard year.

But now, I can see the finish line. I’ve finalised buying a house with a moving date in October, and negotiated with work for them to pay for my travel by a faster train. I even have the added temptation of a job offer with a significant salary increase.

Maxims are often true because they are simple. Daily grinding toward a goal is boring, and without honour or glory - but it does work.