We live in a world where practically everything we want can be instantly microwaved, Dropboxed, or streamed on demand. Even overnight shipping will soon become too slow with the pending release of Amazon’s new drones. In an economy that moves so fast and bends to our every whim, it’s become very easy to lose our patience. If we want to succeed in doing work that makes a real impact though, patience must become a key virtue in our lives.

Any creative work that’s done or accomplished overnight rarely creates a lasting impact. It may have it's fifteen minutes in the spotlight, but eventually something better will come along. 

Viral work happens overnight, but it’s gone by the next sunset. 
Vital work takes a lifetime to cultivate, but has the potential for influence that extends far beyond the grave.

The bum hopes for virality.
The artist hustles for vitality.*

The artist doesn’t cash in on the idea of overnight success. If it can happen overnight, then it can be taken away in the same amount of time. Instead, the artist cashes in on hard work, cultivating relationships, and doing work that matters day in and day out.

Sure, Apple can ship your computer to you overnight, but the impact you make with that computer requires patience over the course of an entire career.