Continuous effort, not intelligence, is the key to unlocking your potential. –Winston Churchill

Years ago, a good friend of mine was eager to establish himself in the real estate business.  He had recently graduated from a Midwestern, public university (where Bobby Knight may or may not have coached!) and was looking for his first real job.

After a few informational interviews, he finally identified his dream position.  He intensely researched the company.  He studied the executives and prepared mock questions.  He would not be denied.  Sure enough, as he went through the process, it came down to him and one other candidate.

When the big day arrived for the final interview, he was at the top of his game.  He left the room feeling as confident as ever.  Then he noticed the other candidate waiting in the lobby.  His stomach dropped.  It was time to kiss that dream job goodbye!

The other candidate was an acquaintance from high school.  He came from a wealthy family, had numerous connections in the area, and had just recently graduated from an Ivy League School.

It’s over, Johnny!

But three days later, much to my friend’s shock and surprise, he received a call from the firm offering him his dream position.  How was that possible?

A couple weeks into the job, my friend finally had  a chance to sit down with the hiring partner.

“Do you know why we ended up taking you over that other candidate?”, she asked.

My friend shrugged.

“You demonstrated such incredible tenacity during the interview process.  You were better prepared.  You were passionate.  But, most importantly, you told us you would run through a brick wall to help your teammates”

The hiring partner paused and smiled.

“We can always teach someone the business.  But we can’t teach desire and effort!”

And there you have it, folks.

We Have to Grind

In our work lives, it’s not always about education and lineage.  It’s not always about connections and money.  Of course, those things help!  But at some point it’s going to come down to  to hustle and  grit.  It’s going to come down to our willingness to run through a brick wall for our beliefs and our team.

As managers, we need to remove obstacles, offer solutions, and deliver encouragement so our team members can be successful.  How much are we willing to give?  As salespeople, we have to advocate for our clients and shield them from the minutia so they can be successful.  How hard are we willing to work?  As coaches and teachers, we need to constantly think of innovative approaches and new ways to motivate our students and players.  How creative are we willing to get?

Success takes continuous effort.  It is rarely easy.  But there is no substitute for the grind.

It’s Not Always Easy

But what happens when our effort wanes?  What happens when the grind grounds us down.

We all experience times when we don’t have enough fuel in the tank.  We all have bad days.  We are not machines.

Where do we turn when it seems too painful to run through a brick wall?

We turn outward.   We all have someone who sparks our emotion.  Even in the most difficult times, we all have someone who will re-ignite our energy.

A good friend.  A trusted colleague.  A loving spouse.  A precious child.   A dedicated parent, brother, or sister. 

We don’t live on an island.  We can’t always grind in a vacuum.  When our work lives aren’t working, we need to take a step back and find our motivation.  Oftentimes, that comes from our relationships.

And even on our worst day, there is always one person who will inspire us to run through a brick wall.

Effort Will Make It Happen

Resilience is not about constantly operating at peak performance.    The most resilient people experience negativity and obstacles.   The most resilient people are tempted to throw in the towel at times.  But they snap out of it quicker than most!

We can’t remain passive for long.  We can’t just stare at the ceiling and sulk.    Action will get us back on track!  And that action comes from sustained effort.

And effort doesn’t discriminate.  We don’t need to go to an Ivy League School to grind.  We don’t need to have a pedigree to hustle.   We just need to find our motivation and stay relentless.

Life is not about our resume.  Life is about running through brick walls to reach our potential!

Until next week, keep smiling.