Success is Hard Work

"The difference between people who exercise initiative and those who don't is literally the difference between night and day. I'm not talking about a 25 to 50 percent difference in effectiveness; I'm talking about a 5000-plus percent difference, particularly if they are smart, aware, and sensitive to others."

- Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

I believe in America. The American Constitution and Declaration of Independence outline the values by which Americans live. America is aptly called the “land of opportunity,” because anyone who is an American citizen is provided the opportunity to achieve his or her dreams and goals.

This situation has not come easily. Americans of color, of minority ethnic backgrounds, women, and the poor have had to struggle for the freedoms and opportunities they today enjoy in the 21st century. America has been built – life-by-life – from the struggles exhibited by our nation’s founders, the liability suffered by those for supporting the underground railroad in the 19th century, the protests and campaigns for gender rights in the 20th century, the civil rights campaigns of the 1960s, and the millions of poor and middle class students who have struggled and are struggling for equal opportunities and an equal playing field in getting a college education and entrance to the professions.

Success in America comes through dedication and hard work. The opportunity is a gift
won by those who struggled for freedom and equality in the past. The actualization of this opportunity has to be won over and over again by each person. Achievement comes with a price. Whether a person is a professional athlete or a local druggist, a price was paid for his or her successful rise to achieve his or her goal.

America is about opportunity and struggle, dedication and, yes, hard work. As my friend Don Killian said, “It’s about passion, but how do we get students passionate about learning and achievement?” As a college professor for over 40 years, Don still has a passion for teaching and working with young people. He often wonders why students neglect developing their skills at an early age and view college, and perhaps public school education, as just something to “pass through” on the way to somewhere else.

Not many who have achieved at the highest levels have done it alone. There are parents and teachers, mentors and friends, who motivated and prepared them for the rigors of their success. That’s another lesson we learn as we struggle to achieve our goals – there are those who have helped us and we have the responsibility of returning this initiative by helping ourselves and others.