Main Idea
What is the difference in take home pay between a great waiter and one who satisfies his customers? What caused that difference? What is the difference between a sales person who is setting his appointments for the next week on Friday afternoon and one who is playing golf? What separates the truly great athletes such as Albert Pujols or Michael Jordan and the athletes that have a lot of potential but never seem to reach that potential?
Expansion of Idea
Each of us has been given different gifts. We may have been created equal, but we are not identical. There is always someone better than you in your chosen field. There are people who have been given more talent than you. The big secret is that industriousness or hard work is a great equalizer. No matter how much talent you have been given, without hard work, you will be a failure. If you have not been given quite as much talent as your competitors, then hard work is even more important. The funny thing is that the truly great competitors such as Albert Pujols, Michael Jordan, and Larry Bird all outworked their opponents. They were given talent that we would all love to have. Yet, they spent more time developing that talent than almost anyone else.
If you go into a restaurant, you can tell which waiters are making the most money. They are the ones working the hardest. The same is true in every business, large or small. Other people may have been given a better starting point than you. They may have better talents than you. They may have better finances than you. However, there is no reason that anyone should outwork you. This is one of the cornerstones of success.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Are you working hard?
If yes, what do you need to do to continue to work hard?
If no, what is holding you back from working hard?
Are you being a positive role model for your team members or a negative role model?