Diligence: The Key to Accomplishment

By Dr. John C. Maxwell
NR

When studying the accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin, it’s hard to believe one man could have contributed so much to society during his lifetime. Consider a list of Ben Franklin’s notable achievements. Over 200 years later, many of them influence our daily lives.

• Invented bifocals, the lightning rod, and an odometer for carriages
• Founded America’s first public library, public hospital, volunteer firefighting organization, and fire insurance company
• Founded the American Philosophical Society
• Wrote Poor Richard’s Almanac, one of the most popular books in early America
• Wrote America’s first political cartoon
• Held position of Postmaster General of the American Colonies and dramatically improved the United States’ postal system.
• Owned colonial America’s most prominent printing network
• Served as America’s first ambassador to France
• Was the oldest person to sign the Declaration of Independence
• Proposed idea of Daylight Savings Time
• Made groundbreaking scientific discoveries in the field of electricity. During his experimentation he coined the following terms: battery, conductor, charge, uncharged, negative, minus, plus, electric shock, and electrician

What made Benjamin Franklin such an extraordinary individual? Natural genius? Charm? Charisma? While Franklin may have had each in abundance, his diligence stands out as the quality most responsible for his greatness. His maxims on hard work are still ingrained in America’s vernacular.

Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
Diligence is the mother of good luck.
Lost time is never found again.
Plough deep, while sluggards sleep, and you shall have corn to sell and to keep.
One today is worth two tomorrows.

OUR PROBLEM

Everyone can be diligent, but few are. Why? True diligence runs contrary to human nature. In fact, the trait common to all humans is our desire for instant gratification. We want as much as we can get, as fast as we can get it, with as little effort as possible. That is our nature. We all have a natural inclination to follow the path of least resistance. We seek out shortcuts, hoping to get maximum return on minimum investment.

Perhaps nothing highlights our trouble being diligent better than dieting fads. The secret to a healthy body is to eat less and exercise more. It’s that simple, yet we can’t seem to discipline our diets or find our way to the gym. Instead, we fuel a $50 billion weight-loss industry in a vain search to bypass the consequences of a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle.

WHY IT’S WORTH FIGHTING FOR DILIGENCE

Earn an advantage

Since the average person lives for the moment, a leader gains ground on the competition by being diligent. When others are slacking or cutting corners, a diligent leader is building a firm foundation for success. By sacrificing temporary pleasure for long-term profitability, a diligent leader stands above the crowd.

The secret of your success is determined by your daily agenda. The most successful leaders accept no excuses for taking action each day in the direction of their dreams. When energy is low, the diligent forge ahead anyway. When emotions are negative, the diligent rise above their feelings. When obstacles block the path, the diligent climb over them. Through time, discipline promotes the diligent above their peers.

Gain control

When a person’s life spirals out of control, it seldom results from a momentary lapse of judgment. Rather, an accumulation of bad decisions lead to a series of negative consequences. For example, look at Michael Vick’s predicament. Although blessed with loads of ability, Vick did not diligently surround himself with positive influences, and he ended up sabotaging his career. Instead of enjoying an iconic life as a sports superstar, Vick will be locked behind bars where he will be powerless to control his football future.

The diligent select the life they want to live rather than responding to a life dictated by circumstances. For instance, if a leader wants to retire early and have a secure future, then he or she will diligently save and invest with that goal in mind. If a working father desires to have a healthy family life, then he will prioritize time with his children and find ways to express his love for his wife. The diligent see a desired destination, and they stick to the path that leads there—even when the road is hard.

Win Respect

Leaders draw others to them from the attractiveness of a life well lived. Diligence through time yields results, and those results stand as testament to a leader’s character. Followers flock to a profitable leader who has proved his or her worth over an illustrious career.

Similarly, leaders search for talented individuals who consistently demonstrate excellence in their work. Most anyone can have a brilliant moment, but the best workers leave a track record of success by diligently contributing in whichever roles they are given.

 

RISK-TAKING

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”

~ Robert F. Kennedy

“A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable but more useful than a life spent in doing nothing.”

~ George Bernard Shaw

“You miss 100% of the shots you never take.”

~ Wayne Gretzky

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I… I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.”

~ Robert Frost

On this day…

• 1 Timothy 6 – 2025
• 1 Timothy 5 – 2025
• The Nicene Creed – 2024
• The Apostles Creed – 2024
• Their fear of me is a commandment taught by men – 2011
• Strange is his deed! and to work his work–alien is his work! – 2011
• Works – The Lord’s Doings – 2011
• Works of God – 2011
• The song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb – 2011
• The winepress was trodden outside the city – 2011