Reward Results, Not Effort

When I was a young, brilliant teenager (all sarcasm intended) I had a bunch of after school and summer jobs.  I worked for my father quite a bit at his used car dealership.  I would wash cars, change batteries, clean the building, paint, and any other odd job he could come up with to teach me how to work.  I worked there so I could save up for that sweet 1984 Mazda 626 which became my first car.  I continued to work there afterwards so I could put gas in it.  During the school year, I obviously didn’t work as much, as my main “job” according to my Dad was school.  I was not exactly excited about school as a teen.  The school was even less excited about me.  I spent a bunch of time in detention, suspension, and in the principal’s office and zero time on the honor roll.  As a result of my scholastic underachievement, I was regularly asked to come back to my father’s office for a closed-door session.  The closing of the door meant the butt chewing was about to commence.  The conversation went something like this:

Dad:  Did you get your report card?

Lazy Teen (me): yes

Dad: How were your grades?

Lazy Teen: OK

Dad: What were your grades?

*I don’t know why I didn’t just get to the point and say my grades sucked and I was an idiot.

Lazy Teen: Math – C, English – D, History – C, PE…. – A!!!

Dad: You know school is your job, right?

Lazy Teen:  Yeah Dad, but I am trying hard.

At this Point things always took the same predictable turn out of my favor.  For some reason, I always tried with the lame “I am trying hard” bit.  Epic fail every time.  This was the usual moment my dad would point to the framed piece of paper behind him on the wood paneled wall, and ask me, “What does that say?”  I would read the words once again:

Reward Results, Not Effort

Giving a great effort in a given activity does count for something.  It can be character building to some degree, but that is about it.  A gerbil works extremely hard running in that little wheel in his cage, but he doesn’t really accomplish anything except probably sweaty fur.  So hard work alone won’t cut it.  Success comes from combining hard work with responsible decisions.  People that work the hardest and make the most responsible decisions over the long haul become the most successful.  Watching six hours of TV per day doesn’t fit into either category: hard working or responsible decisions.  So in actuality, no one really cares how hard you work, if you don’t produce something of value, and nor should they.  So let’s all save the “but I worked soooooo hard on my Women’s Studies PhD in college, but I can’t find a job that doesn’t involve draining a french fry bin.”  Your effort is irrelevant; it is results that matter in the grownup world.  Results emanate from effort, coupled with good decisions.    

So What?!!!

A friend of mine, just the other day asked me for some fitness/nutrition advice.  It was not the kind of in depth, technical stuff that I really geek out on, but rather a more common problem for most gym-goers.  She said, “I have a problem.  I am not really feeling the gym thing right now.  I don’t feel motivated to go in and train.”  I paused for a moment to gather some wisdom from the recesses of my mind… didn’t happen.  I warned her in advance that this was a total man answer, and there would be more of a follow-up comment to the seemingly callous response.  I responded, “so what?”  Her face spoke volumes.  Sensing that she was not happy with my response, I elaborated.  I asked if she ever wanted to just get into her car and drive for the mountains to escape her two whining children?  She responded honestly, with a yes.  I said, so what?  We both agreed that running for the hills might feel good in that moment, but it was not ultimately happiness or progress inducing.  That is what GROWNUPS do... we don't primarily rely on our emotions to make decisions.  Reliance on just emotions to make good decisions is like relying on low bar back squats to make you stronger, or like relying on Miley Cyrus to make a good role model for your daughter, or politicians to make your life better, or garlic to freshen your breath, or ice cream to help you lose weight... it doesn't work.  

All of us face things daily that we would just rather not do, yet we press through like adults.  I love my job, but I would rather stay home and lift all day… so what?  So below is a good starter list of easily solvable problems with that magic phrase.

1. I know that you would rather not hold the door for the person behind you… so what?  Don’t be a hateful troll.
2. You want to drive in the fast lane, below the speed limit… so what?  Move!
3. You don’t want to take a job that is “below you” because you have a Masters degree in Bulgarian Polka and you are waiting for the right opportunity to pop up… so what?  You chose a stupid degree and listened to your idiotic professors.  Start flippin’ burgers Polka boy.
4. Oh, you were dealt a bad hand in life, so you just want to lie down and blame the world for your problems… so what?  I am so sorry that your idea of a setback is that harder working people make more money than you.  Maybe you should make better life choices and stop playing with Pokemon cards in your spare time… you are thirty for God’s sake!!

If you are a weightlifter, or have interest in strength training at all, these are two great projects coming out.

AMERICAN WEIGHTLIFTING

Greg Everett

THE ARTIST & THE OLYMPIAN