No Substitute for Hard Work

Perhaps you have heard of him.  During his career, he amassed an unparalleled number of awards and designations including 2 Olympic gold medals, NBA Champion (6x), NBA Finals MVP (6x), NBA MVP (5x), NBA Scoring Titles (10x), just to mention a few.  But what you might not know is that Michael Jordan, perhaps the greatest basketball player of all time, did not make his high school basketball team when he tried out as a sophomore. Really? Yes.

So how do you go from being cut from your high school team, to becoming the GOAT?

When questioned about his transformation, Jordan spoke about his motivation.  During an interview, he described that, “Whenever I was working out and got tired and figured I ought to stop, I’d close my eyes and see that list in the locker room without my name on it. That usually got me going again.”

He didn’t take the easy road.  He didn’t give up just because he failed, was fatigued or tired. Even when he had doubt, he didn’t throw in the towel.  He was focused, intentional, and dedicated.  He persevered despite what had happened in the past – believing in what could be possible.  And by the end of his high school career, Jordan had been named a McDonald’s All-American.

But even then, Jordan never stopped practicing. He never stopped improving while at UNC or in the NBA when he was excelling at the highest level.  And the ‘off-season’ was anything but.  Jordan spent the off-season shooting hundreds of jump-shots daily, refined his ball handling skills, and improving his physicality. Phil Jackson, who coached him for many years, said Jordan became so great not because of his inherent skills (although they certainly helped), but because he knew how hard he needed to work to succeed – and surpassed that expectation. But many years later, he recognized something else:

The benefit of hard work is not limited to the endpoint achievement.

Hard work builds character, promotes happiness, fosters self-esteem, and contributes to success.  It has been said that ‘hard work highlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some do not turn up at all.’

Recognize the converse is also true. When people are rewarded without due effort, it reduces confidence, promotes dependency, builds entitlement, and robs personal dignity.  Just as focused, intensive, goal-directed training was an essential piece of Jordan’s development, the absence of such dedication would have led to psychologic, physiologic, and functional atrophy.

For those that have embraced hard work (recognize this is action-oriented), I believe the following statement resonates with you:

I learned the value of hard work by working hard.

You’ve likely heard it before, the secrets to success – some principles, elements, steps, factors, or something else. But the honest truth is there’s only one thing you can’t go without if you want to succeed in any area of life, and that’s hard work.  It is persevering when you want to quit – reaching further to achieve what seemed out of reach.  Some call that GRIT – the action of perseverance aligned with passion.

Hard work isn’t a punishment; it’s a gift.

Work isn’t just about getting a paycheck – although that is often a common receivable; it cultivates character development, promotes dignity, and provides some control over your life.  It doesn’t use the past as an excuse, but rather a platform to change your mindset, your legacy, and often your family tree.

Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven’t planted. ~D. Bly

Yet others struggle to see it that way. Some will do anything to get out of work. Examples range from those who say a job is “beneath them,” to folks who want to start at the top without learning the skills to make them successful when they reach that career platform. Some folks try to get by with sheer personality, while others dodge work by hiding in the corner and then stealing the credit. Additionally, some people request promotions or demand more pay, not because it is earned, but simply because they want it. In these cases, the common denominator is the same — hard work is not part of the equation.

A dream doesn’t come reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work. ~C Powell

When it comes to hard work, I find that there are several key factors that can help - The 7 Focus Areas for Successful Hard Work:

Have Courage: Set fear aside, create stretch goals, and get uncomfortable

Stay Disciplined: Create focus, remain dedicated even when days are tough or failures present

Establish Expectations: Reach for the high bar, don’t settle for mediocrity

Have Integrity: Live with honor, build trust, keep your promises

Find Grit: Align passion and perseverance; adversity will come, confront it willingly

Remain Flexible: The path we envision is often not the one that reaches the goal

Bring Value: You are not a placeholder, value yourself and bring value to others

The bottom line is that, while work makes you a buck, it offers you so much more. Hard work (and smart work within that context) provides a sense of purpose.  And if your work aligns with your passion, you wake up each morning excited to get out of bed and get started.  If your current work is the next step toward your goals, the same can be true if the focus remains clear.

Most leaders want stimulating work that keeps them on their toes and contributes to their personal and professional growth. If you can create that environment for yourself and your team, this makes their days more rewarding and their experience more valuable.  It creates an environment that supports courage, resiliency, accountability, and trust.  There is inherent value knowing you pull your weight as part of the team.  Are you up to the challenge?

As Jordan reflected on his career, he commented, “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” “I can accept failure; everyone fails at something. But I cannot accept not trying.”

Take that step.

Embrace the attributes of hard work. 

Motivate yourself toward what really matters and get started.

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 How has hard work impacted your life - your trajectory? Welcome your thoughts.