Monday Morning Musing: Hard Workers and Whiz Kids

(Photo Source pixdaus.com via Pinterest)

In the last two weeks, I have talked to five different people who seem to be "stuck" in their careers. Oddly enough, they all have something in common. Early on, they were the Whiz Kids. The stars. Opportunities were handed to them because they were enormously talented and highly educated for their field. As they were given better opportunities, they exerted enough effort to make a good showing and got even better at what they did. They started to become well known within their field. They knew all the right people and did all the right things. They climbed the mountain and enjoyed the view.

So why are they stuck? It turns out that while the Whiz Kids were being handed everything and enjoying the view, others, we'll call them the Hard Workers, were fighting for every last opportunity. The Hard Workers took longer to get where the Whiz Kids are, but along the way they learned to go after what they wanted and put in a lot of extra work. The extra work was difficult and often inconvenient, so the Hard Workers asked themselves if it was worth all that, well, Hard Work. And for those whose answer was yes, they redoubled their efforts toward the goal.

And then one day the Hard Workers caught up to and surpassed the Whiz Kids. And the Whiz Kids were shocked. In fact, they looked around and didn't even see anyone else, because the Hard Workers had moved on to another mountain, which they climbed even faster. It wasn't because they were more skilled. It was because the Hard Workers learned so much about themselves as they climbed the first mountain that they were better prepared for the second mountain.

Eventually everyone can develop the skills for the job. The winners for the long haul also develop the necessary internal resources. They know if the goal is what they really want, and they are willing to do whatever it takes, even when it's inconvenient, as long as it aligns with their sense of right and wrong. The Hard Workers have the passion. The Whiz Kids who get stuck just haven't had to test their passion yet. They have gotten as far as their education and talent and connections will take them. They have an interest or ability in their field, but now they need to decide if they have the passion.

I can hardly wait to hear what the Whiz Kids in my life decide, because either way, they have an exciting road ahead.

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