PUT IN THE TIME, TO DO THE WORK, EVERY TIME

 “Gardens are not made by singing 'Oh, how beautiful!' and sitting in the shade.”― Rudyard Kipling

That is so true. And, yes, it is easy to understand. But, no, not so easy to do — especially by the majority.

How wonderful will it be if we can merely talk and sing our way to success? How fantastic would it seem, if our forbearers had just talked their way into today’s opulent civilization? How fabulous will it be if we can bank the future of our children on talks and wishes alone?

Daydreaming and fantasy apart, the real world in which we exist, lush gardens, don’t  happen by talk, neither do they happen by chance; lush gardens are made happen by intelligent work — with your minds and hands on the field, clearing weeds, tilling land and fertilizing plants. 

Sing along, if you like, but you must get your ass off the shade and put in the time to do the work, every time — if, in any measure, you desire a truly lush garden. 

That is the veritable truth of life in that short verse from Joseph Rudyard Kipling. And, for the purpose of this article, “the garden” is only a metaphor that applies to every form of success desirable by men — and women. 

Whether the desire is to be a valedictorian, exemplary leader, excellent employee, model parent, dynamic entrepreneur, we should not only dream and talk ourselves into success, but more importantly, we must get off the shade, and put in the time — the quality time — to do the hard work, every time.

Benjamin Franklin concurs with Kipling in his pithy instruction when he said:

“Success in ANYTHING is not about talk, but about action.”

Not that positive self-talk, motivational spiels and inspiring songs are useless in the achievement equation, only that their usefulness is proportionate to our faithfulness in investing the time for meaningful and fruitful labour.

The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing. You know that, don’t you? That was Walt Disney. The principle he lived.

It is on this basis that I studied the impressive work of Malcom Gladwell, Outliers, to learn about what makes success possible for superstars in the halls of fame. 

To learn about what makes them tick; what makes them the finest and the best; the brightest and the most famous, in different spheres of life, and various fields of endeavours.

Since the best demonstration of leadership is example, the insights from the book will be a good urge for anyone seeking productivity guidance.

Are you curious?

If you are, cool down, your curiosity will be sated in few minutes as you are about to have a treat of counsel on what it takes to be a master in your own line of work.

EVERYTIME UNTIL YOU WIN…EVEN AFTER

Everyone!

Everyone wants to win; everyone dreams of achievements; everyone talks about success, and many are even optimistic about making it happen — even if it is being positive that they will only do something about it, someday in the future. 

However, not everyone puts in the time as much as they put in the talk. Not everyone starts the journey. Not everyone does the work. Not everyone does it today. And certainly, not everyone stays the long course.

But, few do — the fortunate few.

This work is essentially aimed to prod myself — and you — in that direction.

The path of the elite few who are always bias for action above everything else. 

The vital few who put in the time to do quality work on a consistent basis, delighting everyone around them and affecting many others far away.

Cherish to become someone?

Please read on to know what it really takes without fluff — the kernel of enduring greatness in all walks of life.

Here are the nuggets from different parts the book that I could extract for the theme of this article:

“The thing that distinguishes one performer from another is how hard he or she works. That's it. And what's more, the people at the very top don't work just harder or even much harder than everyone else. They work much, much harder.”

“Practice isn't the thing you do once you're good. It's the thing you do that makes you good.”

 “If you work hard enough, assert yourself, and use your mind and imagination, you can shape the world to your desires.”

“In fact, researchers have settled on what they believe is the magic number for true expertise: ten thousand hours.”

― Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers: The Story of Success

As you can see for yourself, it is not about talk, nor about luck and chance, but it is about time, quality time fully made of good work, repeated many times, over a number of years.

This is somewhat consoling, to me.

Since our world often seems unfair, in many ways: like being born in Africa compared to Europe; being born by poor parents compared to wealthy families; and being born to elites compared to illiterates. 

The fact that, with quality work, each and every one of us can make something of our lives — in the end — is a source of great solace to me.

Sometimes when I experience the pain of mental rigour, thinking whether I am the only person in the world feeling stress and pain. That whether “the gifted hands” do not work this much, or whether they have some magic power to numb off such feelings while doing it. 

This confirmation gives me enough perspective to endure and persevere. 

Since I now know that, every great one endures and perseveres to surmount the temporary discomforts of work to obtain pleasing future blessings. And that’s what makes them great.

Doing the work is the ultimate equalizer for everyone who earnestly desires to realize the big dreams of their hearts. 

Whatever the disadvantages, we may apparently suffer — naturally or by circumstance — we can surpass them with unflagging determination to do the required work, repeatedly, over a number of times, until we triumph.

MY THREE PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATIONS

VALEDICTORIAN:

To become the best student in your academic pursuits, budget a block of few hours (say, 3 fixed hours) to study and practice every day — without fail. 

Arm yourself with knowledge of the 10,000hr rule and study continuously, even on the days you have the impulse not to. 

Is this not more productive than talking all day about doing it?

EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP:

Devote some time — say, a fixed daily hour — to learning and improving the key skills of your leadership position. 

Political leadership will include knowledge and skills about your people and your jurisdiction.

Will this not take you there faster than empty grandiloquent rigmaroles?

EXCELLENT CAREER: 

Pay close attention to the fundamentals of your industry and have a daily measurable time — say an immovable block of one hour — devoted to work and improve on them.

Will talk or this, is what will eventually get you a handsome raise from your boss?

Clearly, to make the most of our gardens, we need to leave the shade now and get back to work.

Heed the 10, 000hr counsel, stand up from the shade, get in the game, jump into the field, get rid of the weeds, and start planting the seeds of life, beauty and freedom.

Do that relentlessly, and ultimately your garden will not just be lush, it will be remarkable. And it will remain remarkable, as long as you never cease to put in the time, to do the smart work, every time.