Success and business literature is full of recognition for the need for "execution" and "performance". These are other words for good old fashioned hard work. As important as a definite purpose is, goals are, planning is and focused thought, nothing happens without the hard work. Let's look at who have worked hard for success and what they have to teach us.
Most of the most successful people in history attained success through hard work. The so called captains of industry who built the great engine companies of the 19th and 20th centuries did so through consistent hard work. All the great inventors "discovered" the greatest inventions through unrelenting hard work. Nothing about that has changed today.
Successful people work hard
Bill Gates built Microsoft from a tiny start up to the world's most successful corporation through hard work. In his early days especially he would work for hours, often all night long, to build the software giant into what it is today. The same can be said for all the other successful businesses on and off the web today.
There is no substitute for hard work. - Thomas Alva Edison
Thomas Edison is often quoted as saying that genius is 2% inspiration and 98% perspiration. He would often work around the clock, stopping only for occasional short naps, for days on end. From his work we were given what was at the time considered the magic of Menlo Park - the light bulb, the phonograph, etc. While he did not create all these things alone and had a legion of men to help him they all worked long and hard to bring these magical inventions to our homes.
It is entirely possible to earn a decent living and only work 40 hours a week. Those who are satisfied to be mediocre will work even less and spend more time on coffee breaks than on solid performance. However those who wish to truly accomplish something quickly learn that there is no substitute for hard work.
To accomplish great things requires great work
Our greatest Presidents have been extremely hard workers. Thomas Jefferson worked 12 or more hours each day and personally penned thousands of documents. He became proficient as an inventor, surveyor, agriculture scientist, architect, politician and statesman. He observed: "I'm a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."
Likewise Abraham Lincoln would work from early in the morning often until late at night. Others marveled at his capacity to work so hard, to focus so intently and to work so long.
Theodore Roosevelt was a dynamo. He worked all day long at whatever job he was on and then wrote much of the night penning many books and magazine articles. For long portions of his life he supported his family by writing hundreds of thousands of words.
Successful business people have long understood the importance of hard work. The founder of a great retail empire observed, J. C. Penney, Unless you are willing to drench yourself in your work beyond the capacity of the average man, you are just not cut out for positions at the top.
The founder of Walmart likewise spent a lifetime of hard work often putting in 18 hour days to build what is now the largest retail empire in the world.
How hard do you need to work? The answer is actually easy. You must work as hard as is necessary to accomplish what you seek to accomplish. The more you want to achieve the harder you must work. You decide the price you wish to pay. No one however should expect to achieve much without plenty of hard work.
The great thing about hard work is that unless your health has failed you everyone is capable of it. While it is true that hard work alone does not guarantee success, without it success will remain elusive.
Daniel R. Murphy writes on success and how you can build wealth. Would you like to learn how others have been successful in business and in life? For a free success ebook and much information which can help make you successful and financially independent visit http://www.bookstowealth.com/. Begin your self-education today learning how others have become successful and rich! Do it today!
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