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Do you see a man diligent
in his business? He shall stand before kings.
Proverbs 22:29
Become the One in a Thousand
Who Achieves Incredible Outcomes
In any endeavor we undertake,
or any goal we pursue, we can experience outcomes that are
incredible; great; good; okay; poor; terrible; and catastrophic
. In my fifty- plus years , I have experienced all of these
outcomes personally, professionally, and financially . On
studying the lives of many of history’s most successful
people, I discovered that they too have experienced of the
gamut of these outcomes in one or more areas of their lives.
But in the areas of their greatest achievements, without exception,
they have achieved incredible outcomes. A nd every one of
them achieved their incredible outcomes because they learned
and utilized one simple, yet incredibly powerful, skill. This
skill was their key to achieving their impossible dreams.
George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas
Edison, Clara Barton, John D. Rockefeller, Henry Ford, Sam
Walton, Walt Disney, Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and Steven
Spielberg are just a few of the people who have used it. The
fact is, whenever it is used, it ultimately produces incredible
outcomes.
Moreover, incredible outcomes are almost never achieved without
it. Unfortunately, less than one in a thousand people fully
utilize it. The good news is that it is a skill that can be
easily learned. And it can be used by anyone, regardless of
their background, education or IQ.
I’m talking about the
skill of diligence. Most people think they understand what
diligence means, but nothing could be further from the truth.
When Solomon talks about diligence, he’s talking about
a trait that is as rare as a ten-caret diamond. The reason
it’s so rare is that true diligence runs contrary to
human nature.
We all have traits that are
part of the human condition. These traits produce our natural
drives, inclinations, strengths and weaknesses. Diligence,
however, is not one of them. In fact, the trait common to
all humans is our desire or drive 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.
Fortunately, despite our natural inclination, we can choose
to follow a path of greater resistance, and become diligent
in the pursuit of any endeavor, project or goal. And I f you
develop the kind of diligence that Solomon refers to, you
can achieve incredible outcomes in any important area of your
life.
Solomon’s concept of
diligence (It’s not what you think.)
My computer dictionary describes
diligence as, “A persistent and hard-working effort
in doing something.” I love the word “persistent;”
persistence is certainly a part of diligence. “Hard-working,”
on the other hand is not the most accurate term to use when
trying to understand Solomon’s meaning. I’d prefer
to use the phrase, “smart-working.” If I need
to cut down a tree and try to cut it down with a hammer, that
would be hard-working, but it certainly would not be diligent.
It could take me hours, even days to chop down a tree with
a hammer. On the other hand, if I use a chain saw I might
cut that same tree down in minutes. I would not be working
nearly as hard, but I’d be working a lot smarter. My
computer software lists the following words as synonyms of
diligence: meticulousness, conscientiousness, thoroughness
and carefulness. Although all of these qualities are important
aspects of diligence, they do not fully convey Solomon’s
meaning.
To fully understand what Solomon
meant by the word diligent, we need to add these definitions
to Solomon’s words found in Proverbs 20:11. “Even
a child is known by his doings, whether his work be pure and
whether it be right.” The key words here are, “pure,”
and “right.” Solomon uses the word “pure”
not just in the sense of a moral or ethical value, but rather
about work in its purest form. It's more akin to a mining
term than an ethical term. Solomon’s mines represented
a tremendous portion of his wealth; he often used mining terms
in his writings. And if you’re mining for gold what
do you do? You dig a lot of dirt, you find a big rock, and
you take that big rock and subject it to a tremendous amount
of heat. This melts all of the impurities. What’s left
behind is pure gold. That is the “pure” sideof
diligence. It’s getting down to investing one’s
days, hours, and minutes into that which brings a pure return
on the time and effort invested.
The other side of diligence
is the “right” side. It’s not just about
working at something with persistence, and by working smart.
It’s about doing it right-- expeditiously, efficiently
and effectively. In other words, doing it on time to the highest
standards possible, regardless of what is demanded or expected.
It means bringing creativity, persistence and even other people
and outside resources into the effort to achieve an extraordinary
outcome.
Now before you back away and
say, “That’s just not me. I’m not a creative
or persistent kind of person,” let me tell you, you
can be. All you need to do is follow Solomon’s recipe
for developing the skill of diligence. He understood that
anyone could develop this skill. Remember, he said, “Even
a child. . . ” And once we’ve mastered the art
of diligence, we can use it in any important area of our lives,
in any endeavor or pursuit to achieve incredible outcomes.
We can use it to turn poor marriages into great marriages;
good careers into incredible careers; and a failing business
into a successful one.
Diligence
DILIGENCE is a learnable skill
which combines: creative persistence, a smart-working effort
rightly planned and rightly performed in a timely, efficient
and effective manner to attain a result that is pure and of
the highest quality of excellence.
Sound complicated? That’s
because true diligence involves all nine qualities. That is
why true diligence is so rare. Perhaps it might be more easily
understood by a simple illustration.
My freshman year of college
I was made a platoon commander in R.O.T.C. The other 39 platoon
commanders were juniors and seniors. The major R.O.T.C event
of the year was the annual drill competition among the 40
platoons. Prior to the competition, one officer thought his
platoon would win hands down. He thought he and his platoon
had been diligent all year in their weekly 7:00 AM drill sessions.
What he didn’t know was that my platoon showed up every
week at 6:00AM (voluntarily) and practiced for two hours instead
of one. He didn’t realize that I had taught my platoon
complex drill-team maneuvers during the hour each week that
we alone occupied the drill field. Every one of the 30 cadets
in my platoon worked diligently to master the maneuvers.
By the time the competition
rolled around, we had practiced twice as many hours, and learned
far more complex routines. In relation to the other platoons,
we had been truly diligent, while the others only thought
they were being diligent. The result was an “incredible
outcome.” My platoon won the event, scoring 287 points
out of a possible 300. The favored platoon placed second,
scoring only 168 points. I was the only freshman to command
a platoon in the history of R.O.T.C. at Arizona State University
to win the annual drill competition. I was named Cadet of
the Year, given a 90-minute ride in a supersonic fighter,
and offered an Air Force flight scholarship to pay for the
remaining three years of my college education. I n all fairness,
however, we all won it – my entire platoon. And we did
it, not because we were smarter or better educated, but because
we were truly diligent.
The Rewards of Becoming Truly
Diligent
It is human nature to follow the path of least resistance.
Solomon understood that we needed to be motivated to choose
diligence over our natural inclination to “go with the
flow.” And what is that motivation? Being truly diligent,
he tells us, brings us priceless rewards, while a lack of
diligence can produce devastating consequences. Here are some
of the rewards he promises.
You will gain sure advantage.
In any endeavor, would you rather pursue it having a strong
and unshakeable advantage, or having a lasting handicap? Solomon
assures us that those who are truly diligent will gain an
insurmountable advantage over those who are not. He says,
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage.”
(Prov. 21:5). Whether we’re competing against companies,
individuals, circumstance or simply time, diligence will give
us a unique advantage, one that will result in greater productivity,
achievement, wealth and fulfillment.
You will be in control of
the situation, rather than have the situation control you.
Would you prefer to have your destiny controlled by your boss
and other people, or would you rather control your own destiny?
Solomon says, “The hand of the diligent will rule, but
the slack hand will be put to forced labor.” (Prov 12:24).
Those who are truly diligent not only control their own destiny,
but enhance the achievements of those around them as well.
You will experience true fulfillment.
The vast majority of people are in a perpetual state of hunger.
Not for food, at least in America, but for things. Americans
today have more debt and lower savings than any generation
in our nation’s history. No matter what we have, it
seems as if it is never enough. Contentment and true fulfillment
seems to be as rare as a winning lottery ticket. In contrast,
Solomon tells us, “the soul of the diligent is made
fat.” (Prov. 13:4). When using the word “soul,”
Solomon is referring to a man or woman’s innermost being,
their very core, the seat of their personality and emotions.
Imagine being so contented and fulfilled that you crave nothing.
That’s the kind of fulfillment that is promised to the
diligent.
You will attain the respect
and admiration of those in authority.
While others fight to be noticed, the diligent are sought
out by people in positions of authority or prominence. That
is what Solomon means when he says that the person who is
diligent in their business, “shall stand before kings,”
(Prov. 22:29). They become bright stars that give off so much
light that they draw the attention of all around them.
Your needs will be satisfied.
Those who work diligently in their field of expertise will
achieve enough material success to satisfy their needs. In
Proverbs 28:19, Solomon writes, “He that tills his land
shall be satisfied with bread, but he that follows vain persons
is void of understanding.” Here, he also warns that
if you stray from your field of endeavors to follow vain people
or their advice, you will lose the path to understanding.
Translation: don’t be fooled by people who look successful
on the surface and offer “get rich quick schemes”
which sound too good to be true. They are. When you encounter
such people, run away.
You will experience ever-increasing
success.
Solomon assures us that those who diligently labor will experience
success and wealth that continually grows; but, money that
comes to us easily, without significant effort, will nearly
always be lost. He says, “Wealth gotten by vanity shall
be diminished., but he that gathers by labor shall increase.”
(Prov.13:11). As hard as it is to believe, most lottery winners
lose all of their winnings in a relatively short amount of
time. And even gamblers lucky enough to win big, eventually
lose their winnings and end up in debt. The casinos in Las
Vegas don’t offer free palatial hotel suites to high
rollers out of the goodness of their heart. They do it because
they know that no matter how much a high roller wins, he will
ultimately lose a lot more.
Your efforts will be profitable.
Solomon promises that ALL diligent labor results in a profit.
One that is measured by the successful achievement of your
goals, and the financial reward you receive for achieving
those goals. In Proverbs 14:23, he says, “In all labor
there is profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty.”
Apply that labor to your marriage or your parenting efforts,
and your profit will be measured by the amount of fulfillment
you and your family gain. M ere talk, on the other hand, Solomon
warns, is cheap and easy, and leads only to poverty. Diligent
labor is demanding. It requires vision, creativity, commitment
and effective partnering. Essentially, Solomon is telling
us that if you are not profitable in your career, or if your
marriage isn’t as fulfilling as you wish, you are probably
not working diligently enough. Applying diligence to any area
of our lives always brings profitable results.
The Consequences of Not Being
Diligent.
Our greatest motivations in life are the desire for gain,
and the fear of loss. Solomon tries to motivate us with both.
If his seven rewards don’t provide the motivation you
need to pursue diligence, perhaps the consequences of not
being diligent will spur you on.
You will always be at an insurmountable
disadvantage.
The diligent take all the time they need to plan, and prepare
so that they can perform with excellence. Those who aren’t
diligent fail to take the time they need to plan, prepare
or perform. They tend to “shoot from the hip, ”
and their haste ultimately results in failure. Solomon says,
“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage.
But everyone who is hasty {comes} surely to poverty.”
(Prov.21:5).
I have lost my life savings
five times, and in each instance I acted with haste-- I was
anything but diligent. The first two times, my losses came
to $20,000, and $120,000, respectively. The next three times,
the amounts were much greater, in the millions of dollars
. Similarly, my daughter lost her savings when she acted hastily
without seeking counsel from me or others. Had either of us
acted with diligence rather than in haste, she would still
have a nice savings account, and I would have millions of
dollars more in my financial portfolio .
You will be ruled.
No one likes living their life out of control. We hate being
overly controlled by others. Yet Solomon warns, “The
hand of the diligent will rule, but the slack hand will be
put to forced labor.” (Prov 12:24). Who decides how
you spend your days? How much money you’ll be paid?
Whether or not you’ll be promoted, demoted, or even
let go? Even with those who own their own businesses, if they
are not diligent, their customers or their competition controls
them.
You will crave, but find little
solace.
While those who are diligent see their deepest desires satisfied
and enjoy a profound sense of fulfillment, those who lack
diligence are subjected to endless cravings that can never
be fulfilled. In Proverbs 13:4, Solomon not only tells us
that the soul of the diligent will be made fat, he warns,
“The soul of the sluggard craves, but he gets nothing.”
Sadly, for those who lack diligence, their lives are defined
by desire rather than fulfillment.
You will lack understanding.
Today, the television airwaves are filled with people who
promise wealth without work. You can buy real estate with
no money down, make hundreds of thousands of dollars in stock
trading, even if you have no money in savings, and on and
on. Solomon cautions that those who chase after quick-buck
artists and their get- rich- quick schemes demonstrate only
their ignorance. “He that tills his land shall be satisfied
with bread, but he that follows vain persons is void of understanding.”
(Prov. 28:19).
Your wealth and security will
dissipate.
“Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished., but he
that gathers by labor shall increase.”(Prov 13:11).
Solomon contrasts the two ways people gain wealth; those who
gain it through their diligent efforts and those who gain
it without working for it. In Proverbs 13:11, he warns that
t hose who gain their wealth through vain pursuits, will see
that wealth decrease and ultimately disappear.
Your efforts will come to
nothing.
Those who diligently labor work their butts off; others are
constantly talking about what they will do someday. Talk is
cheap. It requires no effort. Diligent labor requires a great
deal of effort. But while the diligent is profiting from his
labors, the talker is merely wasting his – and other’s
– time. That’s why Solomon tells us in Proverbs
14:23, that, “mere talk leads only to poverty.”
How can you bring true diligence
into every area of your life?
Solomon gives us four steps that anyone can use to make diligence
a part of his or her daily life. However, there’s one
giant roadblock. It’s a roadblock that we will encounter
nearly everyday. I’m speaking of our inherent tendency
to take the path of least resistance, our innate laziness.
Few of us view ourselves as
lazy. But the truth is, we all have the seeds of laziness
within our nature. And if they are not dealt with, they will
grow into a field that will undermine one or more aspects
of our lives. Left unattended, they can choke the potential
from our lives . Often, we confront the seeds of laziness
in one area of life, such as such as our job or career, and
leave them unattended in other areas such as our marriages
or our relationships with our children. I have known men who
have made great fortunes in their professional lives, while
their marriages end in divorce. It doesn’t have to be
this way. Solomon shows us how to deal with these seeds wherever
they lie, and replace them with the seeds of diligence.
Recognizing the Root Causes
of Laziness
There are four root causes of laziness, according to Solomon:
self-centeredness, conceit (arrogance) and ignorance and irresponsibility.
(He often combines these last two into the single category
he calls foolishness.) To effectively deal with laziness,
we have to deal with its root causes.
Self-Centeredness
“Every man’s way is right in his own eyes…”
Prov 21:2
We naturally see things first from our own point of view.
If we don’t choose to shift our focus to the interests
and well-being of others , we will simply act in a manner
that is most quickly gratifying to our ego and desires. We
become blind to the impact on our future, or upon the lives
of others. Solomon suggests we ask ourselves what course of
action we could take that would be in the best interest of
all who are affected.
Conceit (Arrogance)
The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that
can render a reason…”
Prov. 26:1
Because we often think we’re smarter than those around
us, we act without seeking the advice or counsel of others.
It’s much easier to act first and seek advice later.
And since we think we know more than others anyway, we simply
take the action that we want to take. We simply need to accept
that there are others who are as smart and wise as we are,
if not more so, and seek their counsel before making major
decisions and acting upon them. Those who are truly diligent
seek out the advice of several wise counselors before embarking
on any important course of action .
Ignorance and Irresponsibility
(Foolishness)
“I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard
of the man void of understanding; And, lo, it was all grown
over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof,
and the stone wall thereof was broken down. Prov. 24:30-31
The last cause of laziness is ignorance and irresponsibility,
or what Solomon calls foolishness. Often it results from our
ignorance of the long-term consequences of our actions. It’s
easier to act out of ignorance than it is to become educated.
To educate ourselves takes time and effort . Remaining ignorant
and following the path of least resistance is easy. However,
the consequences of this kind of foolishness can be devastating.
Laziness Results in More Laziness.
“The sluggard will not plow by reason of the cold; therefore
shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing.” Prov. 20:4
Laziness can spread into other areas of your life, as well
. The more often you give in to your natural inclination towards
instant gratification, the stronger that inclination will
become, until it becomes a habit.
Laziness creates a painful
barrier to personal achievement. In Proverbs 15:19, Solomon
says, “The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of
thorns. ”When I was a child, my next-door neighbor’s
backyard was surrounded by deep hedge with red berries and
big thorns. We dreaded those occasions when my friends and
I would accidentally throw a baseball or football into Mr.
Fouts' backyard. One of us would have to fight our way through
the thorn bushes to retrieve the ball. And who ever did the
retrieving had the bloody scratches to show for it.
In the eyes of Solomon, laziness
creates this same kind of barrier to personal success. Few
are able or willing to cross over.
(Part
2 - 4 Steps To Be Diligent...)
Authors Details: Diligence - Steven
K. Scott
Excerpt 'The Richest Man Who Ever Lived' Web
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