How a Healthy Work Ethic Can Overhaul Your Life
Apr 12, 2017
In my last blog post, I talked about how people ask themselves the "wrong question." That question is "What do you want to do?" instead of "How do you want to live?" Hopefully, you've started to answer that question in your life. If you haven't, spend a quick 30 minutes thinking about it. Write down everything you'd do if money weren't a factor and you weren't chained to a 40-hour workweek.
Where would you live? How and where would you travel? What charities would you support? What schools would your children attend? How would you take care of your family? And so on and so forth.
Doing this activity can be intimidating because people think attaining the things they want isn't possible. Fortunately, that's not true at all, but that's a topic for a later date! Today, we're going to talk about work ethic. One of the most critical factors in achieving your goals, work ethic gives you the "oomph" you need to live the life you've imagined.
3 Real-Life Examples of Outstanding Work Ethic
Work ethic exists virtually everywhere you look -- from the janitor working the night shift to top-performing CEOs like Elon Musk. Let's consider a few examples of outstanding work ethic from people who dominate their fields.
1. Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan was famous for his work ethic. He practiced for hours every day. Eventually, this dedication started to rub off on his teammates, making the Bulls under Michael Jordan one of the best NBA teams in history.
Before regular practice started, Jordan would practice at his house. Over time, Scottie Pippen decided to join him. Pretty soon, most of the team followed suit. Through sheer work ethic and determination, Jordan recruited his entire team to work harder.
The accomplishments of that team speak for themselves.
2. Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant's professional trainer has a story of receiving a phone call from Kobe at 3:30 in the morning. Nervous his player had been in an accident, he sped to the gym to meet him. He arrived at 4:30 to find Kobe practicing hard, the only person in the gym.
With nobody to hold him accountable or demand he do it, Kobe was out there all by himself, honing his craft and furthering his already legendary work ethic. That's success in action.
3. Gary Vaynerchuk
Gary Vaynerchuk, a well-known serial entrepreneur, is recognized for working 18-hour days. He says, "Working 18-hour days is the only gear I know." Don't let his work ethic fool you, though; Vaynerchuk isn't a slave to his desk. Instead, he's mastered the craft of working harder and smarter than his competition, which makes him the best in the game.
The Road to Success
When people become successful, it's easy to look at them like aliens. "How did they do that?" we all wonder. It doesn't happen overnight. Instead, you need to consider what the person was doing 10 years before. If you're changing your life and know you need to increase your work ethic, shadow someone who is successful. Lived experience is the best way to learn.
While it's true that you'll need to get out of your comfort zone to find someone to shadow, it'll be worth it in the long run. When you stop creating excuses and obstacles, you can build your work ethic and learn from people who have done it.
To keep yourself accountable, take a moment at the end of each day to write down one step you took that day to get closer to your goals. Seeing your hard work come to life on paper will keep you inspired and allow you to keep track of the things you're working to change.
