Effort Doesn’t Count
Results Do.
When it comes to work, health, and life in general, I regularly see two fundamental issues that have everything to do with effort. Many people either don’t want to put in the work required to achieve their desired outcome while many of those that at least move past that entitled state of mind excuse a lack of results because at least they “tried”.
Problem 1: a sizable percentage of the population just doesn’t put in serious enough work to mark any real effort.
This problem begins with the participation trophy culture that dominates schools. No one wants to tell kids they didn’t win or do a good enough job, so rather than have that hard conversation parent to child or teacher/coach to student, as a society, it’s easier to just tell everyone that they are winners in their own way. The damage this is inflicting on people is very real. College students with an average GPA in a liberal arts major are schocked — shocked — that companies are not lining up to hire them. Furthermore, many of these all stars refuse to take jobs that they feel are beneath them.Why? It’s harder to take a job that requires one to prove oneself and rise up based on the merits of your effort and outcomes.
We’ve somehow made it acceptable as a society for people to be comfortable with not working hard.
Problem 2: people confuse effort with results. Trying really hard without results doesn’t matter.
Certainly, it is preferable to put in the effort rather than not, but that too is incomplete. At Mizzen+Main, some of our vendors will tell us how hard they are working and detail all their attempts. How helpful is that to us in running our business? Generally, not at all.Of course discussing issues or areas they may need us to change direction or help find another way to achieve our desired outcome is part of the process.
A helpful analogy: when you buy an airline ticket, you expect to get where you are going. When you are delayed, does hearing the pilot tell you how hard the mechanics are working or how much effort the control tower is putting in to get you in the air help you get to your destination? Of course not. It is a prerequisite for you to spend your hard earned dollars with that company that they will put in the effort to do things the right way and get you there. It goes without saying that they will do everything they have to.
Would you marvel at the pyramids if they were half completed? Clearly those that built them worked very hard.
Effort without results does not get you there. Do not accept it.
A final thought: of course I am not suggesting that if you do not reach your desired outcome that your effort is absolutely meaningless. This happens all the time and continued effort, even if you miss the mark, is a fundamental requirement for success. A variation on a favorite quote of mine is “Second place is better than last is better than did not finish is better than did not start.” It’s always better to try, and try your best, than not at all, even if you don’t “win”. At the end of the day, success is a result of luck, preparation, circumstance, and nonstop effort.
Be sure not to accept effort as a substitute for results, from others or yourself.
If you liked this result rather than my effort of writing it, I’d sincerely appreciate if you hit “Recommend” below. Leave a comment — I’d love to hear your thoughts!
