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"The only way to be happy, is to give happy."

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I will never understand how decadance can be considered 'cool,' nor how laziness can seek justification as rebellion. How can ingratitude be disguised as victimization, or cynicism as intelligence? These are the bastardizations prevalent in our society today. And they all have something in common: they are equally pathetic.

Honor goes to the man and/or woman who works mightily toward honorable aims. There is, has been, and always will be dignity in hard work. One of success's biggest secrets is no secret at all: "Those who toil upward in the night" will beat the less committed nearly every time.

Just as predictable as the fruits of hard work is that when work is meaningful it doesn't even feel like work. The man or woman giving full effort toward meaningful endeavors gets 'caught up' in it, 'wrapped up' in it, engulfed, fanatical. They grow to love it. Predictably, this is also when the video game players, sports junkies (okay, I'm a little guilty here), passivists, lazy, unmotivated, un-goal-directed, un-purposeful bystanders will start to air their 'concerns.' "We're worried about you," they'll say, sometimes sincerely, sometimes not. "You can't keep such crazy hours." "Slow down, enjoy your life." But such statement may as well be offered up in a foreign language. To the truly inspired, they will fall on deaf ears.

Try to stop Tiger Woods from pursuing his goals when he was in his prime as a golfer. Make Eli Manning stop throwing touchdowns. Go back in time and convince Michael Jordon to refrain from practicing so hard. Greatness has no answer for such obstruction, besides pity. The 'great ones' look at those who mock them, those who try to stop them, or even those who admire them, and feel sorry that these others 'don't get it.' They must be perplexed how people can fail to understand the joy and fulfillment that comes from giving one's all to a calling for which one was designed.

Don't ever shy away from hard work. Chase it down and honor it with your full intensity. Apply yourself mightily in the direction of something meaningful and honorable. You may not be understood, but you will not be disappointed.

Posted in LLR Daily Application

7 responses to “Hard Work”

Cathy

December 30, 2008

Thank you, Chris,
For these words. I needed to hear the encouragement.
In my day job, I work for a state contractor for a government sponsored health care program. I spend my day processing paperwork and writing rejection form letters for unacceptable stuff. If it weren’t for the fact I could listen to about 5 CD’s a day at my desk in my headphones, the sheer negativity of it would drive me bananas!
When I started working there a few months ago, I brought with me habits from my last job, some of which I learned through the System and the rest I learned from the work ethic I got from my parents. I would take no morning break, a very short afternoon break and work late with no overtime if I had stuff to finish up on my desk. I always felt if there was work to be done, I needed to do it and finish it, even if overtime pay wasn’t offered and breaks were ignored.
I got sat down repeatedly by my boss and her assistant. I had to take my full breaks. No working after when it was time to go home. And so on. At the final sit down session, just a couple of weeks ago, I was told a reprimand was on tap for my file if I kept up my prior habits.
So, I’ve been trying to do it their way. Full breaks, leaving at quitting time and ignoring any leftover work until tomorrow. And disliking every bit of it. The only good part, aside from the aforementioned CD’s, is the positive books I bring to read on breaks now, to speed my departure from there . . . Team Mona Vie, take me away!!

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Phyllis Hoff

December 30, 2008

Chris:
What a great post. This was one of the many lessons my father taught me as a little girl. Always
work as hard as you can, and give a little more each time. Your efforts will be rewarded. He was so right, and I have been rewarded over and over.
Overachieving is something you and my father had in common.
Thanks Chris and May God Bless.

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lisatower

December 30, 2008

Thanks for the courage to voice the truth against modern society’s opinions. I’ve been a stay-at-home, homeschooling mother of three for years and this year, I was forced to go to work. The only way to justify leaving my children to work on school while I’m gone, was to have purpose in my work. I found a job by the grace of God as a server in a tea parlour. I told my boss on day one, “I can’t leave my kids for just some $7/hour job. I have to have a purpose in it to make it a worthwhile sacrifice.”
I go in early, don’t just stand around when it’s slow, leave late, work through breaks, do more than is required and never leave without doing my work. Also, I take pride in edifying and encouraging our customers – mostly retired, lonely, elderly women looking for a little attention and appreciation. I’m absolutely shocked at those around me who think nothing of being late, lazy, selfish and complain constantly.
This isn’t to say I’m anything special (at least by the TEAM standards). It’s to let others know that the habits I use at work have definitely been learned from years of training taught through this business; principles based on hard-work, ethical and moral decisions, doing the right thing even when it’s hard, thinking win-win, etc. Anyone seeking to change their ways, or to steer their family’s ship in the right direction, needs to be a part of our training system – the books, the CDs, the meetings and seminars, but most of all, the association.
Chris, your message and the purpose of TEAM to develop leaders in all areas of life is one that just HAS to be shouted from the rooftops. Our nation needs it more than ever. Our future, and that of our children and grandchildren, is dependent on what we teach them TODAY.

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Lydia Seibert

December 30, 2008

Thanks, Chris for the reminder. Sometimes others ridicule a person committed to their task and the goals associated with the task. But those so committed see it as life and death. Life, because true life is not in the task but in the journey; death because there is no life in the mundane, the ordinary, the daily grind. Someday the truth will be revealed, and you are correct that hard work will pay!

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Andrea Woolsey

December 30, 2008

Chris,
I will have to agree that working hard eventually pays off, but doesn’t that come with ramifications? Realistically speaking one should learn to work “smarter” and stay focused on their goals with streamline execution. Wouldn’t you agree with me? Life is a diamond, it has many facets, working is a small part of how it defines us as humans. I would hope through technology and the faults of others working harder becomes smarter so we can enjoy life and be a game player or a sports fanatic, take time to spend with our families and enjoy the entertainment possibilities. A true leader finds balance in success.

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Brittany Schlabach

May 14, 2013

I love that when you are consumed with meaningful work it doesn’t even feel like work but rather, a ministry.
Awesome post, Chris!

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Carrie Gillispie

August 22, 2014

Chris,
I agree. Laziness has unfortunately become almost as much of a status symbol as wealth & prosperity. Hard work has been a part of humanity since Adam & Eve. God provides the seed & the increase, but that part in the middle is for us to do whole heartedly unto the Lord. We gain such a sense of accomplishment when we work hard and have an end result to look at and reflect on. Thanks for speaking the truth Chris!

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