19 Nov Work Ethic
By Danny Bellmore
I vividly remember a thought-provoking conversation I had one evening, with a long time member of the Hell’s Angels. He said one thing to me that has always been stuck in my head – “If what it is you want comes easy to you, then it probably is not worth having.” What it comes down to is this: if you want something bad enough you work your ass off for it. Look at a guy like Bill Gates, or even the late Steve Jobs, these guys were not born into wealth, and they fought tooth and nail for their riches. Their success took years. The same holds for powerlifting, or any other sport for that matter. Tom Brady was barely known, a 6thround draft pick, until that one day when he got the call to fill in for a sidelined Drew Bledsoe. What all these athletes and warriors have in common is an unsurpassed work ethic. Here are some things that I follow to sharpen my professional acumen. I may not be as successful as the people mentioned above, but I have come an incredibly long way from where I started, and against significant odds at many times. My success is a direct result of my self-motivation and steely work ethic.
Be on time
‘On time’ is one of the elements of respect and ethics that will get you noticed very quickly. Never showing up on time will have the same effect – people will see. Being punctual shows the people that you surround yourself with that you are serious about the commitment and respect their time. People will be more apt to help the guy who is consistently punctual. The ones who show up right at the last min, or chronically late are letting their actions determine what is essential and will not be taken seriously.
Show up
You not only need to show up physically, but you need to show up mentally – mind and body. The individual who shows up but does the bare minimum to get by and abides by the “fake it till you make it” motto, will be noticed and ostracized quickly. These people are the first to bitch about not being as successful as the next guy and are often flat-out jealous. Don’t be upset because you are not willing to do what the next guy is willing to do to get where he is and where you want to be.
Do the little things
You hear the phrase very often that the ‘devil is in the details.’ These little things are the so-called icing on the cake, and the fact will remain that if you want to get to the top, it is the little things that will get you there. Over time, the attention to details is what will set you apart from the next guy. Let’s look at the gym, the guys that do their assistance and pay attention to the things that don’t seem to matter are the ones who are gaining. The ones that are lazy, do just enough to get by, and play the part, are the guys that get hurt or fall short of their goals. There is no one other than yourself to place the blame. The same sentiment applies to the guy at work that has not advanced in years in either pay or position. You lose the right to bitch if you think you can proceed by just griping and doing just enough.
Be Multi-Dimensional
Imagine this; a powerlifter or strength athlete trying to follow the path of least resistance?! Most people prefer to stay in their comfort zone, never wanting to do anything other than what they know over and over. I am a firm believer that the more you know, the more valuable you become. Don’t ever turn down a chance to learn more about different positions within your company. Your broad knowledge of the company makes you more of an asset. When promotions or a higher job position is available, they will fill the slot with a person who needs less training. Returning to the example of training, are you happy with your total or would you like to learn how to add pounds to your total? Knowledge is power in whatever avenue you pursue. Don’t get caught in that rabbit hole.
Have Pride
This component of pride goes without saying but bears repeating. While staying humble, you need to take pride in your work. In the gym, you work on honing your skill. You are the guy who dials his form to perfection because you know that’s what it will take to get better. At work, you’re the guy who makes sure that all his work is done on time and in a neat manner. Now there is a fine line between being cocky and showing pride. There are times that you may need to show vulnerability and that’s ok if it gets you to your goals. Humble pride will aid your ethics, while foolish pride will only make you look like an ass.
To read more of Danny Bellmore’s articles click HERE. Be sure to grab your copy of 10/20/Life 2nd Edition and learn about the best ways to optimize the mental side of training and competing.
Danny Bellmore
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