Go Out and Work For It

Go Out and Work For It

1988 9 September 5 Go Out and Work For It (355) ‘No steam or gas ever drives anything until it is confined. No Niagara is ever turned into light and power until it is tunneled. No life ever grows until it is focussed, dedicated, disciplined.”

This assertion made by Harry Emerson Fordick in his book, Living Under Tension, is of equal relevance to those at the outset of their careers, to the drifters of this world and to those who are suffering from a sense of defeat.

Anyone who has just found work for himself – and this applies to everyone from the common labourer to the highly placed professional – would do well to reflect upon the necessity for dedication, discipline and the proper channelling of his energies. A lackadaisical, care-me-not attitude will not only achieve nothing in terms of work output, but will lead to professional failure and possibly loss of the job. No manager wants to have lazy, unwilling employees work under him, and no such employees can ever hope to rise to a managerial position.

People who drift through life, going from one job to another with either very mediocre success, or no success at all, and sometimes not even working for long periods, need to think even more of the beneficial results of devotion to duty. They may initially feel happy in their lethargic aimlessness, but they are no boon to society, can never properly support a family, and eventually become a burden to themselves, others and the government.

As regards those who have attempted to succeed in life, but who have suffered from some major setback, they must realize that one setback, or even a series of setbacks, is not the end of life. One can always make a new beginning, even with very meagre resources. It is a question of seriously focussing the attention on the actual problems, leaving all regrets and protests aside and disciplining oneself into making the efforts that it requires to pull oneself out of the slough of despondency. Once out of it, it is a sense of dedication that will speed one onwards to success.

Never just dream of success. Go out and work for it.