There are about 7 billion people living in this world right now, and I believe that all these people want to succeed in their life in some way or other. And I believe that we, as human beings living on Earth, are all given a special talent and a purpose to share with the world. As we live every day, I think we all long somewhere in our hearts that one day, we wake up and find an innate ability that magically transforms us into geniuses, bringing us to the top of the world. Maybe like Leonardo Da Vinci with his beautiful Mona Lisa painting or Steve Jobs with his iconic Apple gadgets, or Beyonce singing the national anthem in front of thousands at the super bowl.
So what is the secret ingredient that makes the magic happen? Thomas Edison, the father of inventions, proudly said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration,” and “There is no substitute for hard work.” Plain and simple, but hard work is the magical ingredient that separates successful people from ordinary people, the billionaires from the peasants, or the leaders from the followers.
But this is easier said than done. If you often find it difficult to keep working hard, here’s a piece of wisdom for you. The wise Chinese philosopher, Confucius, once said, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” This still holds true today. Basically, if we really love what we are doing, it is natural for us to keep doing it until we get better at it. So, love comes before hard work just like happiness comes before success.
Of course, there are days when things don’t go the way you want or turn out the way you like. But at the end of the day, if you really love what you are doing, you will come back again the next day and work on it. This is a habit of successful people. Others see them and say, “Wow, they work so hard!” But the people doing this don’t necessarily feel that way; they are doing it simply because they love it! Listen to Edison who made more than 1,000 inventions. He said, “I never did a day’s work in my life. It was all fun.”
So the first condition to be successful is to enjoy what you are doing. Ask yourself if you really love what your doing. If you can confidently say, “Yes!” then you are on the path to success.
Related: Selflessness Is the Way to Success
Do you love your job? Find out how you can find your calling in Ryuho Okawa’s latest book The Heart of Work available online at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and bookstores nationwide!
The Heart of Work
Success at work can bring great joy, but we find true delight when our tasks are imbued with passion and purpose. When we live our calling, we can carry on through thick and thin, because we know that our work brings value to others and personal fulfilment.
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