The story goes that after one of Ludwig van Beethoven's
performances, several people were offering him their congratulations, when
one woman commented, "I wish God had bestowed me with such genius." "It
isn't genius, madam, nor is it magic." Beethoven replied. "All you have to
do is practice on your piano eight hours a day for 40 years."
That's not the message most people want to hear. Most people would prefer
to buy the magazine which headlines, "Miracle Weight Loss Discovery," in
the hopes of finding a quick solution before their class reunion, rather
than start a daily diet and exercise program. They'd sooner check out a
seminar promising, "become a millionaire within months" rather than start a
debt reduction, monthly savings plan. And they'd rather put their future
hopes in a weekly lottery ticket than in themselves.
It's an instant messaging, plug-and-play world. Too often we bring that
instant gratification thinking into our workplace. We have little patience
for the business idea that doesn't show an immediate return. We aren't
interested in learning how to do something; we just want to do it. We don't
want to hit the singles, just the home runs. We want mastery, money and
success. And we want it now.
But I learned in twenty years in management that there's no Apprentice show
in the workplace, where a few months of successful exercises and projects
makes you a contender for a six figure job. The only ticket you can buy to
the career lottery is a time-stamped one that takes years of hard work,
perseverance and drive to collect.
People who are winning at working know that. They know they're not going to
instantly appear at the top of an organization or be text-messaged a
significant salary. They know what happens to them, is up to them. Just
like a house is built stone-by-stone, they know they build their own work
success step-by-step. They know it takes time, and they use that time wisely.
People who are winning at working practice and develop their skills while
others remain tourists in the workplace. They do, while others think about
doing. They achieve goals while others contemplate them. They execute ideas
while others are still discussing them. They step out of their comfort
zones to try things and learn from them while others stay trapped in
repetitive sameness. They bet on themselves by nourishing their talents
through hard work and efforts, knowing like Beethoven, that's the only
magic to be found.
Sign up to receive Nan's free biweekly eColumn at www.winningatworking.com. Nan Russell has spent over twenty years in management, most recently with QVC as a Vice President. She has held leadership positions in Human Resource Development, Communication, Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. from Stanford University and M.A. from the University of Michigan. Currently working on her first book, Winning at Working: 10 Lessons Shared, Nan is a writer, columnist, small business owner, and on-line instructor.Visit www.nanrussell.com or contact Nan at nan@nanrussell.com.
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