I'm going to see my best friends from college this week in Florida. We're all very different. Two doctors, a couple of businessmen, an airline pilot, a JAG officer, and two of us in ministry. But we share a few things in common: We love God, are committed to our friendship with one another for life, and we all know the value of hard work.

A work-ethic seems like an increasingly rare thing these days. It's one of the top things I look for when I hire a new staff person. When I spoke to the chairman of the board of Hyundai at business school, I asked him what one piece of advice he'd offer young people. He said, "work hard."

Down through time, successful people have given the same advice:

"Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the
talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work."
~Stephen King

 

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." ~Thomas Edison

"Life's real failure is when you do not realize how close you were to success when you gave up." ~Thomas Edison

"I don't fear the man who practiced 10,000 kicks one time. I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times." ~Bruce Lee

"I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it."  ~Thomas Jefferson

"Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!" ~Prov. 6:6

I've lived to an age where most of my work is behind me. And I don't regret working hard. As I mentor young people, I care about their dreams. But I care about their work ethic even more.

Think about your reputation. Are you known as a hard worker? If so, where did you learn your work ethic? If not, is it something you want to change?