The elevator to success is out of order. You'll have to use the stairs ... one step at a time.

The metaphor contrasts an “elevator” (instant, effortless ascent) with “stairs” (slow, effortful progress). It argues that lasting achievement rarely comes through shortcuts or sudden leaps; instead, it is built through incremental, repeatable actions—“one step at a time.” In a motivational frame often associated with sales and self-improvement culture, the line encourages persistence when quick wins are unavailable and reframes delay as the normal path of mastery. The image also implies personal responsibility: if the elevator is “out of order,” waiting won’t help; progress requires choosing the harder, steadier route and sustaining effort over time.