Sustained Effort Matters

There is an interesting article on the Harvard Business Review site, which details the most effective strategies for achieving success. The author list nine possible strategies in order, the strategies that are most impactful are listed at the top. To see the article, click here. This work is the follow up to a previous article, which explains how the author’s research revealed nine strategies. To see the first article, click here.

The punch line of this is work is that persistence is king. Having the ability to stick it out good or bad will help you prevail over your challenges. Goal achievement and skill mastery are the result of effort; they are not accomplished with some mythical talent you’re born with.  Here are few quotes we enjoy about effort.

“Success is dependent on effort.” – Sophocles

“Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.” - Winston Churchill

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest.” – Confucius

“Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my lord do you learn.” - C. S. Lewis

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” - Mahatma Gandhi

“Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit.” - Napoleon Hill

“Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed on an equal or greater benefit.” - Napoleon Hill

 

Seeking Greatness

A friend of our club is always saying that people just do not know how to commit. To find some one who will stay focused, pay the price, and forgo all the distractions of life, is rare. To give a sustained effort is very difficult, and it seems that work ethics often falter when there are challenges. That being said, for those with a growth mindset it is the effort and intention that counts.  Here is a clip from a very inspirational movie of a man whose commitment has produced amazing results. We highly recommend this film!

Here are few quotes we love and we think Jiro would to:

“the essence of boredom is to be found in the obsessive search for novelty. Satisfaction lies in … the discovery of endless riches and subtle variations on familiar themes” - George Leonard

“At the heart of it, mastery is practice. Mastery is staying on the path” - George Leonard

In this clip you will gain a greater understanding for how Jiro views work and what keeps him motivated.