Just showing up for Work Everyday, sounds like a no-brainer doesn’t it. But, how many can actually say that they always show up for work, ready to work!
Setting an example is not the main means of influencing others; it is the only means.
–Albert Einstein
I always enjoy using Sports figures as examples in life lessons. They know how to compete and to keep on top of their game.
If Albert Einstein was right, Cal Ripken should have been a CEO or politician rather than a shortstop, because Ripken led by example over and over … and over again.
In the preface to his 2007 book Get in the Game, Ripken tells about a conversation in the dugout during the 1998 All-Star Game.
Derek Jeter was playing in his first midsummer classic. He leaned in to ask Ripken, “What’s the secret of playing every day? How do you do it?”
Ripken’s answer “You know, Derek, I just … I just play.”
“I didn’t just show up for work, as has sometimes been said. I also showed up to work.”
Cal obviously didn’t just “show up”, he continued to hone his skills and practiced on the areas that needed improvement.
“I think the numbers will back me up,” Ripken says. “I worked at my game, worked on my weaknesses. I wanted to make sure that I wasn’t just on the field, but that I was a contributor every time I was out there.”
A new study carried out by British scientists revealed that it takes a person 10,000 hours of practice to become an ace in a certain discipline. They say that top musicians, sportsmen and chess players were all able to become masters in their field by achieving the level where their time of practice reached 10,000 hours.
Do the math? 10,000 hours divided by 8 hours is 1250 working hours (assuming an 8 hour day). If we were to work every day that would be 3.42 years to achieve the masters level! It is suggested that the difference between the one who is good and the one is brilliant is the number of hours spent practicing.
Ask yourself honestly the following questions:
Do you always show up for work and when you do are you ready to work?
How many hours do you spend practicing your craft?
I would suggest that we would all be more successful if we Just Show Up for Work!
