Coherence: Once we have started an initiative, project, program or process that we are convinced of its impact on our lives, and that is sure to take us to our destination, and becomes our legacy, we must refine a particular aspect of our behavior and that is consistency in executing our plans. This does not need to be formal and in writing. This is more in our mentality and attitude. If you have clearly defined and/or understood the logical steps towards the goal, there is no debate, discussion, doubt or self-betrayal about it. You just have to go for it. Be unscrupulous with yourself. The results you have considered are so fundamental that you cannot imagine the opposite, that is, failure. The universe will never let you down. He returns what you give him. So don’t give him ego poison, but ego food. He will take care of you. Be consistent in executing all the logical steps that you have identified or that give you practice in achieving the stated goals. Be consistent at all times. Don’t get caught up in debating with yourself whether you should wake up or sleep longer, or wanting to put off taking action for the next day. Do what is due today, because tomorrow has its own activities and deserves all your capacity and all your attention.
Repetition: As you pursue your life and/or career goals, you will make mistakes and disappoint yourself. This is how we learn in life. You should never be overly critical of yourself to the point that you are discouraged from trying again. I grew up in Jane Furse, in the Sekhukhune region of Limpopo Province, South Africa. There is a football club in the town of Ga-Sekwati Mampuru, called Sekwati Try Again FC. I like them a lot because their name is very motivating. Life is about repeating and trying again. If you fail to do something, you must try again. You grow from your mistakes. All you need is a positive attitude and self-control to try again. I think it’s Jimmy Cliff who sang the song, Second Time Around. There is always a second time and many more times in life. We must take the opportunity to try again and take the second chance. Sekwati Try Again FC was a very good football club. They never gave up. You win against them, they will come for you next time. They would have studied the previous game, identified your strengths and weaknesses, and figured out how to approach the game a second time. This time, they will successfully beat you. So repetition is the master of success.
Staying Power: Success in life depends on your stamina, that is, your staying power, tenacity, and drive to endure. Nothing is easy in life. You better get used to the practice of staying the course until the end of the journey. I have never heard of anyone dying from persistence. What kills people is the aversion to their work and the problems caused by other human beings in the workplace. It is also caused by our inability to deal with the complexity that other human beings bring, or our attitude towards it. Therefore, it must have staying power. Never take problems personal. Otherwise, that’s what will cause you stress and ultimately kill you. Be in the rational mind at all times. Do not get excited about the challenges and problems presented to you by your colleagues, managers, leaders and/or subordinates. Be aware of the language your superiors use when dealing with you. Respond to them using the same language they are using. If they are using command language or instructions, get it right the first time and respond accordingly. Do not respond with the language of emotions, because it will irritate them and they will see you as a crybaby and a spoiled rat. If they are using the language of facts, make sure you get the facts and stick to them. If they use the language of reason, make sure you understand why they are communicating the way they are communicating with you. Therefore, always be aligned with the communication language of your leaders, colleagues and stakeholders. Therefore, its staying power is not only physical, but also emotional and mental. You can condition yourself accordingly.
Hard Work: At the end of it all, it’s all about hard work. This does not suggest that your life should stop, no. You just have to understand that every action requires a little push if you want to be better than others. Nothing can beat hard work, especially if hard work is accompanied by creativity, innovation, and intelligence. We must love what we do. We must condition ourselves to plow and invest first before we can reap. Once we find ourselves wanting to harvest where we have not plowed, we are on a dangerous path, which will lead us to self-destruction. It is beautiful to reap the fruits of our sweat. You enjoy such fruits without any guilt.
So the work ethic according to the previous post is about consistency, repetition, endurance (staying power), and hard work. Nothing less, nothing more. You must develop a work ethic to be successful. That is the winning formula. Of course, his natural talent comes in handy at all times. But as John Maxwell wrote in his book: Talent is not enough, in fact, talent is not enough. It requires the right personality, attitude, hard work, determination, etc.