Work Ethic, the Behavior Worth Learning
Albert walked into the kitchen, where his parents were seated at the kitchen table. His smile was beaming. He had just finished looking at his online ACT (American College Testing) assessment scores. The ACT is an annual national assessment of education.
As he walked towards his parents, he raised his hands above his head and shouted, "Success!" Albert was in the top 5% of test takers.
His parents immediately jumped from their chairs and happily hugged him. They were excited for their son. They both knew that his results had everything to do with his work ethic.
In the Wall Street Journal. There was a different type of story. There were no celebrations in most homes. The ACT 2022 college admissions exam results were not good. The national average fell to 19.8 out of 36. The score was down from 20.3 in 2021.
How did so many students not perform well on the test, yet Albert earned outstanding results? Work ethic contributed to the results - both good and bad.
As a high school principal, I observed students with tremendous work ethic. To be successful, they prepared in advance for upcoming tests. Cramming was not a part of their strategy. They knew that to get into the college or career of their dreams, they had to do well on academic tests. For that reason, they worked hard and prepared in advance.
Booker T. Washington was one of America's greatest educators. Booker T. Washington believed in work ethic and the importance of education. He said, "Nothing ever comes to one, that is worth having, except as a result of hard work."
What are the characteristics of an excellent work ethic?
People with a good work ethic show self-discipline, focus on the activities that will get results, and never give up.
Albert showed self-discipline by organizing his time. His weekly schedule included time for studying for the ACT. He knew he would have to put in the time to get good results. Knowing that it takes time is not enough. A person has to show self-discipline and show up during study time. A person that puts in the time demonstrates self-discipline.
He knew he would need resources and information about the best study habits to succeed. His teachers provided him with information about the best ways to study. They also provided him with study resources. Albert participated in every ACT preparation workshop available at his school and the local library. In addition to having self-discipline, he did the right things to achieve well on the ACT.
Albert could have filled his time with many more pleasurable activities. Studying was not easy, but he knew what he had to do. Albert was not going to give up just because things got challenging. Studying was not fun at times, but he did not take shortcuts. He had the willpower to press forward to get results.
Think of a person that you know who has a great work ethic. I bet that they have a mindset of never giving up. A person with a great work ethic engages in activities that will give them the best results. These types of people are also self-disciplined in scheduling time to do the work.
We need to teach young people about the extraordinary benefits of work ethic and let them experience success because of their work ethic.
Martial Arts Perspective:
Becoming highly effective at any skill requires hard work, putting in the time, and practicing smart. The most skilled martial artists I know did not quickly become highly effective. They were driven and never gave up on improving their skills. They had a different mindset than others - I will overcome any obstacle to reach my goal. While others quit, they had a work ethic that contributed to their success in martial arts.
Delaware Hapkido Martial Arts Academy students who demonstrate excellent work ethic live the benefits. They can apply the life skill in or out of the training facility.
Questions:
Can you assess the value of a good work ethic? Why is it important?
Why do you think many of the 2022 ACT test takers did not do well? How would you justify that work ethic played a part in good or bad 2022 ACT results?
Think of a person in your life that has a good work ethic. Based on what you observe, what do they do differently than others?
If you saw a friend struggling with work ethic, what would you tell them so they could improve?
Think of a time that you demonstrated an outstanding work ethic. What facts can you compile about that experience to prove that work ethic contributed to your success?
Suppose you could go back in time. What would you do differently to improve the outcome of a situation that required an exceptional work ethic?
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