The Importance Of Hard Work

The Importance Of Hard Work

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Often, when people encounter a great deal of difficulty in their lives, they are inclined to stop trying altogether. They may say that life is inherently unfair, and that they have been dealt a worse hand than everyone else has. They might believe that successful people became so because success was handed to them, and that life is just kinder to some than it is to others. Those who have achieved their wildest dreams have done so because they are fortunate, and those who have not should accept that they are not so lucky.

Of course, this philosophy is completely self-defeating and baseless. Those who believe that good fortune and fate are the only heralds of success are completely dismissing the importance of hard work. Although there certainly are cases where mysteriously lucky people have attained successpop singers who cant actually sing, actors who cant act, etc.the majority of accomplished people had to face years of adversity and rejection before reaching their goals. History has shown over and over that luck is no substitute for dedication and perseverance.

Out of Obscurity: Abraham Lincoln

These days, it is difficult to imagine a man becoming President of the United States without first coming from a wealthy background, a well-known family, or both. Abraham Lincoln had neither of these things; yet, he not only won an election but distinguished himself as one of the most famous and beloved presidents to ever lead our nation.

Lincoln described his own family history as undistinguished, and his youth as rough and unrefined. Although he could read and write, Lincolns education at home was extremely unremarkable, and he felt himself ignorant when he came to adulthood. Because of this, he understood the importance of hard work and made an extraordinary effort to learn as much as he could on his own. Moving from profession to professionsplitting rails, keeping shop, fighting a war and finally moving into legislatureLincoln gained the knowledge, experience, and gravitas that would make him a formidable debater. Though he lost a Senate seat to opponent Stephen A. Douglas 1858, his impressive campaign won him the presidency two years later. Though he was only able to serve one term before his life was cut short, Lincoln left behind an indelible legacy of poise and persistence.

700 Ways Not to Make a Lightbulb: Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison did not learn to speak until the age of four. He was burdened with very poor hearing, and was all but thrown out of public school at seven because of his oddly intense, addled behavior. He was home-schooled after that, and in his adolescence discovered the joys of the library. Though his mother was considered an above-average instructor, Edisons voracious reading and hunger for more scientific knowledge soon outstripped her capabilities. He developed a philosophy of self-sufficiency, and understood that obstacles could be viewed as opportunities. "Be courageous! Whatever setbacks America has encountered, it has always emerged as a stronger and more prosperous nation, he said. Have faith and go forward."

He certainly took his own advice when he famously tried hundreds of different materials for the filament inside his incandescent lightbulb before landing on an effective one. About his experimental process and these hundreds of failures, Edison allegedly denied that he had failed at allhe had successfully identified 700 ways not to make a lightbulb.

A Well-Aged Irish Wine: Dick Wimmer

Author Dick Wimmer, who passed away in 2011 at age 74, had an extremely successful first novel. Irish Wine was published to rave reviews, and was followed by two sequels and a strong literary career. If Wimmer had been less persistent, however, that first novel may never have been printed at all.

Irish Wine remained unpublished until 1989. Manuscript in hand, Wimmer pushed through 25 years of record-breaking rejection (literally; Wimmer became the Guinness record-holder for Most Rejected Author after being told no 162 times) and wound up in a New York Times review being compared to James Joyce. The importance of hard work and perseverance was not lost on this writer; even after an exhausting quarter of a century of continuous rejection, Wimmer never gave up on his goal.

About the Author:
SOURCES:

Abraham Lincoln, The White House: http://www.whitehouse.gov

Dick Wimmer Dies at 74, Los Angeles Times: http://articles.latimes.com

Motivational Blog IADOM



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