The Mirror Test
Ever hear the story about the rich man who asked his unemployed
son to build him a new house while he traveled for a year?
"Build it well," he told his son. "Of course, you'll be
reimbursed for everything, including your time, when I return."
After the father left, the son decided it didn't make sense to
work that hard. He had more important and fun things to do. So,
the son applied just enough personal effort to accomplish the
task within the timeframe. He even cut corners on materials and
construction staff to save money that he could spend on personal
whims.
When his father returned, he paid the expenses promised, then
asked his son, "Are you happy with the quality of this house?"
"Oh yes," said the son, "it's a great house. "I'm glad to hear
that," replied his father, "because I'm giving it to you."
Too many people I've encountered, in my twenty years in
management, operate like that son. They do just what they need
to do to get by. They cut corners. They trade short-term whims
for long-term gains. And like the son in the story, they end up
hurting themselves.
You see, get-by-effort reduces opportunities (not to mention
income), hijacks self-esteem, hides talents, limits
soul-potential and ultimately shortchanges your life. It's no
surprise half-hearted efforts yield mediocre results.
But people who are winning at working aren't interested in
getting by, and they're certainly not interested in
shortchanging their life-potential. They're excited to explore
their life's equivalent of Olympic Gold. They're intrigued by
seeing what they can do, finding what they're made of and using
their unique gifts.
People who are winning at working aren't looking for the easy
way, the fast way or the most comfortable way. They want the
satisfaction of knowing they offered their best-self to their
work. And while they understand accomplishment can be difficult,
require enormous efforts and tax their determination, they
persist in the quest to find the best of who they are and bring
it to the world.
You see, people who are winning at working aren't competing with
you, they're competing with themselves. Their challenge is to do
better this time than the last, to grow, to improve, to evolve.
They're not into half-hearted attempts because it diminishes
their ability to maximize their potential, discover their
strengths and accomplish their dreams.
As football coach John McKay puts it, "All that matters is if
you can look yourself in the mirror and honestly tell the person
you see there that you've done your best." Want to be winning at
working? Use the mirror test. And by the way, what are you
saving your best efforts for, anyway?
(c) 2006 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.