From Rags To Riches

We’ve all heard those hard to believe stories of the magical rags to riches rush to success. Since we only hear of the storied version told in a few pages or words, we mostly think it’s like a “get rich quick” process. In reality, it’s a slow slog from the trenches to the pinnacle.

There is no such meteorically magic pill that takes you from nothing to something. To the miner who has mucked a lot of scree looking for gold, the “eureka” moment comes after repeated steps of hardship and small victories.

Let’s quit thinking everything is simply an overnight success. It takes hard work, or as Edison says,

“The three great essentials to achieve anything worth while are: Hard work, Stick-to-, and Common sense.”

Perseverance

Ask anyone who has “become”. There was a lot of hard work done in public and behind the scenes. John Denver talks about writing one of his more popular songs in the 20 minutes it took to ride up the ski slope in Colorado. A popular Woodstock singer performed a new song made on the spot at the microphone while filling time till the next band could arrive.

What you never hear are all the failures that never produced a platinum performance. Why? There are many missteps to the pinnacle of success.

There are no secrets to success.
It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.
~Colin Powell

Work Ethic

I’m not sure why people don’t know this. There is something to having a work ethic that keeps you focused! Even while you keep looking for growth opportunity.

Think about a submarine, searching for an antagonist, while scoping outward there is still the work of keeping the sailors safe! The power plant must still produce. Oxygen scrubbers must still keep the air safe to breath. The container that holds everything dear must still be watched over to keep the sea on the outside!

Sitting at the hotel this morning, the pool guy is responsibly preparing the waters for swimmers to enjoy. The lady keeping the food hot and fresh is scurrying around. The front desk is processing people out and getting their schedule ready for the new day. While I’m enjoying blogging my thought!

Here’s My Thought Today

There is nothing like success that comes after all acknowledging it isn’t easy. There is much hard work to get to this point of life. The little details are important, just like the big decisions. They all represent Life.

Along the way, you never forget people. It’s not that they are part of your final success, rather, they are your success. It’s how you treat and respect their station in life, and not use them as the stepping stones forgotten in your wake.

Along the way, you never forget your failures that mark your growth. Yesterday is still important as you recognize the victories that it produced today, and tomorrow.

Along the way, never let your personality lose it’s effectiveness to show your focus on people that are important to you. It’s your personal way of greeting others that will keep you humble.

Remember a Lesson from Jesus

It’s not about the destination, it’s all about your journey. The little woman putting in her two mites in the offering, she gave more than all the rich people who equally contributed. Only, she did it from her “all” and not from her surplus. (Mark 12:41-44)

Though poor, she was “All In”.

There was nothing left for her to give. She gave it all. And perhaps this is the biggest lesson from a rags to riches story. Give it your all. Every day. Make your work ethic important to remember and perform every single day. It’s not all about that “riches” moment, rather, it’s about each step you take. Day in. Day out.

Opportunities to be “all in” exist every moment of every day. Let me take you back to an Edison quote:

The reason a lot of people do not recognize opportunity is because it usually goes around wearing overalls looking like hard work.