172 to View

We don’t, thankfully, start at the finish line in life. We begin in similar states with limited capacities. With time and, more importantly, effort we find our way and develop skills to become of value to ourselves and the world. As Zig Ziglar reminds us, “There are no elevators to success. You have to take the stairs.” This chapter represents the heart of the message of Earn Everything. Anything worthwhile, all things meaningful, is the result of giving effort and working hard. Everything must be earned. Earned with a currency we all have. Our own effort. Exert effort, then earn outcome. The effort in is the single greatest contributor to the outcome earned. GIGO works both ways. Garbage in, garbage out. Also, conversely, as greatness in, greatness out. If you put in quality, you get out quality.

“The results you achieve will be in direct proportion to the effort you apply.” -Denis Waitley-

Our health. We develop muscles from working against resistance. First we must do the work in order to build the muscle. We build cardio capability by working at various intensities. We huff and puff on the treadmill to raise our heart rate. We then benefit from stronger blood vessels and heart. We practice breathing exercises in order to build the ability to manage and reduce stress. Sweat is the smell of effort. We work on improving our diet and reducing junk food in order to shed a few pounds. We take action, then we get a result. Consequence follows action. Action must precede. The wisdom of Ann Landers applies, “Remember, nobody ever drowned in their own sweat.” There’s nothing to be scared of in working hard. Only good things come from it.

Our finances. Before we own a house, we must save for a down payment. We develop a retirement nest egg from years of savings. We must do the act of saving before we can compile the noun of money.

Our relationships. Before we are liked, we must make ourselves likeable. Before we can be respected, we must be both respectful and do something that makes us respectable. People don’t line up to be around us just because we’re alive. Our family, friends, and others appreciate us for what we bring to the table. The characteristics of our personality that make us who we are.

Stuff. We can’t walk into a store and help ourselves to whatever we want. We must earn the money before we can spend it on things.

Everything. For example, I saw an internet article titled “15 Best Books for Building Self Confidence”. Maybe, this article gets some clicks? Maybe even a few of the books are considered or read? However, you don’t get confidence by reading about it. You get it by doing. The only way to confidence is to get good at something. Confidence follows competence. First, you must develop competence in an area, then you obtain confidence in that ability. First you give effort, then you get the result.

“Confidence is not something that comes out of nowhere. It is the result of months and years of practice, constant work, effort, and determination.” – Anurag Prakash Ray

It doesn’t matter how detailed your destination is on your map or how many steps you have planned for your progress. It only matters that you get up and take action towards those steps and that destination. You won’t arrive by looking at your map. If you want to be liked, be likeable. No one owes you friendship. You need to earn it by being interested in others, trustworthy, interesting, reliable, and more. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to be serious. Showing up to a job interview for an office job in ripped jean shorts and a wife beater isn’t going to help your cause. No one owes you respect. You need to earn it by showing up respectful of the environment and job you are seeking.

Damian Lillard, an NBA Basketball player, has also demonstrated prowess as a musician. Lillard offers “If you want to look good in front of thousands you have to outwork thousands in front of nobody.” Progress is the result of effort. Distinguishing oneself from others is much about doing more than others. By doing this we’re living W2D WOW or showcasing willing to do what others won’t.

Earn Everything, Give to Get, or 172 to View is a meaningful mindset to adopt in order to both help yourself commit to improving as well as to focus on adding value to others. Developing yourself to be of use to others is the surest path to progress in life.

Internalizing as incantation, the words Give to Get help us move our mind from our wants and desires to focus on those of others.

Our effort reveals our perspective. If we’re willing to work, we demonstrate our desire to earn our way. If we try to avoid it, it suggests we’re entitled. “Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all.” Sam Ewing.

“The one thing that matters is the effort.” -Antoine De Saint-Exupery-