Seventeenth century physician and philosopher John Locke said “All wealth is the product of labor.”
While it is a fairly obvious and simple statement, the concept is often forgotten in today’s business climate of billion-dollar unicorns.
Making money is important, but it should not be the primary goal of a career. When money is the primary goal, it tends to drive the wrong behaviors.
Bad habits, shortcuts, and mediocre work will provide a living, but they are not sustainable or scalable.
I’ve been fortunate to work around some very successful people in my career. I’ve observed their habits. Here’s what I’ve learned over the years:
Show up early, stay late, do your homework. Hard work is always rewarded and daily, deliberate practice is necessary to hone skills and gain experience. The best professionals are always thinking, studying and experimenting with their respective disciplines. You can never be great just working 9 to 5.
There’s a huge difference in getting it done, and doing it well. It’s easy to get in the mode of checking off items on a to-do list. Productivity will pay you an average wage, but excellence will command premium compensation.
Life-long learning stimulates ongoing improvements. You’re either growing or your shrinking – physically, mentally, and professionally. There’s no status quo. Mental agility and durability must be cultivated on a daily basis. That means becoming a good student – the best student – of your profession. Reading, writing, and speaking turns you into an authority that allows you to charge more and make more.
The fundamentals of making a lot of money are not very glamorous but they never go out of style and they always pay off.
Be good. Become great. And the money will follow.
Have a great week.
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