Work Leads To Luck

Work hard. Let's unpack that.

Why?

Happiness is dependent upon progress. No progress = no positive emotion. Progress takes into account the future by acting in accordance with what we believe and value to be true and better. The truth and betterment are not always easy to say or do. Therefore, we work hard to turn away from Hell and toward Heaven through our words and actions, one decision at a time.

How?

Figure out who we are, what we want, and the desires within our hearts. By doing so, we intentionally provide ourselves with direction. This reflection and meditation take time. This time investment requires self-control. Self-control is one of the foundational principles of maturity. Is it easy to control our impulses? No. It’s hard work.

When?

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” It’s the start that stops most people.

When working hard with my clients, we often come back to an integral idea: Environment of Excellence. A student is likely to have a similar GPA to his or her closest friends. Adults, with high probability, will have almost identical levels of skeletal muscle mass and body fat as the people they invest the most time with. The top predictor of someone’s future income is the average income of those from their hometown zip code. 

In science, the term “homeostasis” refers to the ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment in response to external changes. In other words, our biology is hard-wired and programmed to be normal, to be comfortable, to be like it’s always been. Therefore, we must reprogram our internal environment by enhancing our external choices.

My 97-year-old grandfather, one of my best friends and role models, served in the United States Army and then graduated from Bucknell University. After college, he sold 3M Scotch tape door-to-door when it was a new and innovative product. In a similar fashion, he went on to sell modern mutual funds and investment products when many Americans were unaware of what those were. Without a steady salary and paid solely on commission, he rang doorbells and met with new prospects to support and take care of his wife and five children. Three decades later, he retired as the Vice President of American Express. Last week, during dinner at one of his favorite restaurants, I asked him how he accomplished so much. He replied, 'Mark, two words: hard work.'

There are no true and integrous shortcuts to success. There is no substitute for the work. We can eat different foods, add variety to our exercises, and upgrade our inner circles, but there will always be the constancy of work. Present-day sacrifices provide future fortunes.

When we want what others do not have, we must be willing to do what others won’t do. Willingness progresses into eagerness through progress. Progress (and I hope I’ve made this clear by now) demands we work hard to create a new normal, a healthier homeostasis, a better future—for ourselves, our closest relationships, and for those we love the most.

Leaders are not normal.

Leaders sacrifice short-term satisfactions for long-term goals of greater value.

Leaders work f****** hard.