There are those who love hard work and then those who don't. Most likely, it's obvious to the eye as to who is most determined and dedicated to reaching a goal. There isn't much moving forward for the person who feels the task at hand is too difficult to achieve. Sometimes, there is even moving backward for the person who is not willing to accept difficulty before something becomes easy. But then there are those who are passionate about learning news skills, habits and traits in order to make a change, for a change.
Hard work works for everyone, regardless of talent. Whether you think you "got it" in you or not in order to achieve, there's nothing natural or gifting about working hard for something that you don't have now. Medical doctors who treat cancer patients are not born as natural healers. They work hard to find answers. Teachers are not naturally talented to educate but instead, passionate about helping others. You can be anything you want to be but you have to put forth an amazing amount of hard work over many many years. And for many, there's some initial trying but it doesn't last long because things get hard and uncomfortable. Hard work is demanding, time-consuming and exhausting. But the outcome is rewarding, fruitful and special. Entertain the idea that you can achieve success.
Skills, motivation, intelligence and discipline are learned traits. If you learn how to be great, you will become great. For some, they learn quickly and adapt easily. For others, learning is slow, adaptations is a work in progress. But no matter the speed, you will keep improving until you give up.
Anyone can work hard but not everyone wants to. It's easy to look for the easy button, to wish things were different or to hope for a different outcome. It's so simple to want things to be natural and effortless or the way they use to be but there's not such thing as a successful outcome in life without practicing, working hard and gaining experience and skills along the way.
Whoever you choose to compare yourself to, likely did not succeed overnight. Even those who are most accomplished worked hard in some capacity before they found success. For many, setbacks are keeping you from progressing. For others, setbacks motivate you to move forward. Spend 5 years learning how to succeed and you will often gain a lot more than you had hoped for when you finally do reach your goals.
Easy doesn't cut it and you really don't want the easy route. Easy teaches you nothing about what you are capable of achieving. Easy is boring and not what you want in your only life. You may not believe this to be true but if you are dedicated to devoting the time, money and effort to a goal, it will pay off. Job, education, family, sport....learn how to reach beyond what is comfortable.
If you are ready to put in the work, you must be consistent and patient. You can be 100% dedicated, disciplined and focused but if you rush the process, you will likely find yourself in first place at a dead end road. Slow down the process and you won't miss the right and left turns that will give you the shortest route to your final destination.
Starting today, be willing to work hard for things to work. Keep your goal in mind with an end date but accept where you are today with a mindset that will keep you moving forward.
For many people in this world, life will seem easy. There will be no major setbacks only stressful temporary situations. As for others, there will be life-changing events that force a person to dig really deep to the point of questioning "can I do this?" alongside arguing against "is this worth it?"
I say yes. You CAN do this and it IS worth it.
Perhaps life is hard enough and you have no desire to push any harder. Maybe there are extra steps that you are not willing to take or you are choosing to do the bare minimum to just get by. Perhaps there is a to-do list that never gets complete and a thinking of "tomorrow I will be better" started nearly a decade ago.
Everyone has the potential to succeed and everyone has the ability to behave in a way that brings success. Great performances do not come from those who do not work but instead, from those who are willing to go the extra mile even if there is an easier route right across the street.
The reality is that nothing in life is easy. We get comfortable being comfortable and if it isn't quick, easy or natural, it is too hard, difficult and not worth it.
If you find yourself behind a bump or a mountain, stop but don't turn around. What lies ahead of you is demanding, it's tiring and it won't be easy. But if you have a goal or a dream, you have to want it and know that it doesn't happen by doing nothing.
Life gives you chances to change your attitude, your path and your direction but this doesn't mean you need to change your final destination.
Hard work works. Develop a work ethic that makes you wake up every morning, excited to get out of bed, excited to see what you can achieve for the day. Assure yourself that nothing feels better than working hard for something that you want to happen. Learn how to be better today than you were yesterday and when you feel weak or vulnerable, remind yourself that excuses do not work....only you do.