Do Not Get Suckered In!

It seems to me that our society has taken a turn for the worst over the last several years. A sense of entitlement and ease has engulfed our nation. Modern technology, though wonderful, I’m afraid is also contributing to our lack of patience and our unwillingness to be diligent and disciplined. It seems hard work and earned success is going out of style, and they are being replaced by instant results and quick rewards. And, I believe this lack of effort as a whole is slowly eroding the very foundation of our great nation.

“That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only which gives everything its value."
Thomas Paine

Today often the mentality is if something is hard, then don’t do it. Rather than trying to overcome challenges and persevere, we turn from one item to another searching for instant success. If we do someday find it, this unearned excellence will not result in much satisfaction or happiness—for what is easy is never satisfying very long. Thus our quick success will soon feel very empty indeed.

“That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the task itself has become easier, but that our ability to perform has improved.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Neurologist Daniel Levitan conducted a study suggesting that for someone to master something he must spend at least 10,000 hours doing it. Study after study has proven great athletes, writers, composers, even businessmen have spent about this same amount of time achieving their very high level of success. To break this down, 10,000 hours is equal to three hours a day or 20 hours a week over a 10 year time frame. Thus, what we can conclude from this study is success does not come easy. Hard work, patience, diligence, discipline, and persistence are all needed to obtain true mastery of a skill. For this reason, we must continue climbing towards our goals rather than giving up or looking for an easy way out, because chances are, we will not find it.

“You must deserve victory to feel good about yourself.”
Rick Pitino

The true path to success is hard work, patience, and discipline. Without these, we may never amount to much, and we certainly will not experience the joy and satisfaction that comes from earning success.