The New Guy Only Works Half-Days
Several years ago I was working as a project manager on a
software integration project and I had the wonderful opportunity
to welcome a new person to my team. He had an interesting
background and was full of great stories he willingly shared in
the slow moments that our big project was filled with. But, one
story has stuck with me over the years - the story about the new
guy only working half days.
My coworker had retired from the Marines and he shared with me
that whenever a new Marine would join his unit fresh out of boot
camp, his sergeant would call the troops together and introduce
the new member of the unit to everyone. Near the end of the
introductory speech, the sergeant would note that since "Joe"
was the new guy he would only have to work half-days until he
got up to speed. The sergeant would then continue by explaining
that "Joe" should report to work at 6am and would be free to
leave at 6pm each day.
Once I quit laughing I recognized the not so subtle truth in his
story. We have to work even harder when applying new knowledge.
It is not enough to buy a book, take a class, read an ebook or
signup for the latest tele-seminar unless you invest one hundred
times more effort implementing your new knowledge. This applies
to internet commerce just as equally as it applies to starting a
real-estate investment business. Everyone wants to produce new
income streams and many people even have the motivation to reach
out and acquire the physical tools they need, but spending money
is just the first step. You have to invest effort too.
I was reading the January 27, 2006 issue of The Week, a weekly
international news magazine, and I found an interesting poll.
According to a survey done by Opinion Research Corp. one in five
people feel that "the most practical" way to accumulate $200,000
is to win the lottery. The lottery! I'm here to tell you that if
that's the easiest way to $200,000 then don't bother! The odds
are against any of us winning anything of significance from the
lottery. What this poll reflects is the inherent laziness of the
average person. Anyone can run down to the corner store and buy
a lottery ticket. Total investment - $1.00 and 15 minutes.
Statistically averaged return - zero.
To achieve success, you need hunger and motivation. Are you
willing to work eight hours for someone else, come home, and
work another eight hours for yourself? Are you willing to do
this every day of every week for months with no return other
than the satisfaction of knowing that you are actually putting
forth the effort to create a new success? If you answered yes
then you have the stuff that success is made from. If you
answered no and you think I am a lunatic for even suggesting
such a thing, go back to dreaming about success! You are not
ready.
Even more important than being ready for success is being
prepared for failure. If you fail the first, second, or third
time you attempt a new venture it doesn't matter because you are
programming yourself for success. Every failure brings with it
something that can't be bought - experience. And that's all
success really is - the sum of your efforts, knowledge, and
experience applied to a problem or challenge.
Wear your failures as badges testifying to your experience and
discipline. Keep your successes close to heart to use as energy
for future endeavors. Now go and earn a few badges because
without one or two, your success can only be luck.