How to Sustain a Strong Work Ethic You Can Be Proud Of

Realize that wealth is immaterial.

He was the richest man in the world. Anything a person could want only took mere seconds for him to call his own.

Shaun worked hard for everything. After launching a successful tech startup with a friend from college, he kept his head down and stayed focused. It was rare to find a guy like that.

A pocket-sized leather notebook was on him at all times. Ideas would flow like water from his mind. And he wasn’t going to let them fall to the ground without getting those pages wet.

Tall, dark, handsome — he gained lots of attention fast. But for some reason, the money was never enough.

The multi-billion-dollar company grew and was growing still. Until one dark day.

The cops surrounded his mansion.

The lights from their patrol cars flickered through his bedroom window. Each officer drew their weapon and crouched in position.

It was 7 a.m. in the morning. Only his orange Mercedes-Maybach S-Class sedan sat in the circle driveway.

“Police,” the chief announced, “Come out with your hands up!”

Shaun was arrested on charges of conspiring to smuggle prescription drugs illegally for distribution. The scheme was worth an estimated $60 billion. His tech company eventually flopped, along with partnerships it developed over the years.

He had it all. Now he was facing twenty years in prison.

Why? Quick money.

The urgent pursuit of more (minus gratitude) led Shaun outside of what he knew to be true: that patience produces gains worth being proud of.

Make Gratitude a Top Priority

At some point, we’ve all been sold the lie that you can get rich fast. We play it safe as if it wouldn’t be nice to have that much money in a short amount of time. But it would.

Enough money could change your life. It could change your family’s life.

Think of all the things you could do, the places you could go. The stress of everyday life would simply fade away. Or so you think.

The majority of quick money tips lead to disappointment. They promise the greatest blessing and reap the greatest curse. Even the happiness that comes with it is superficial.

In the words of Napoleon Hill,

“Remember that your real wealth can be measured not by what you have, but by what you are.”

Wealth is more than dollar signs and fancy cars. What lies within you gives birth to what lies around you. And being grateful for the present gift is far better than drooling over a future one.

Good money doesn’t fall into your lap overnight. Most of us aren’t prepared for that level of responsibility even if it did.

Some days I look at those who have so much and laugh. I’m glad I don’t have to look over my shoulders, blinded by things instead of focused on the qualities of life that make each day worthwhile.

Dig, Plant, and Water Your Work

You have to wait for steady financial growth. It’s a process that builds good work ethics and encourages you to make the best decision possible.

I am nowhere near wealthy. And my financial status keeps me working hard without looking down on anyone else. But my goal is to maintain a focused drive by patiently digging, planting, and watering my work.

“He that can have patience can have what he will.” — Benjamin Franklin

I wrote about how powerful visualization can be. You’re able to see things happen before they happen. Still, patience is the key that unlocks the door.

It’s okay to look back on your work and facepalm. Yet it’s healthier to acknowledge growth where it appears. The money will come.

When you value yourself, you won’t allow schemes to pull you away. You will do the work with an unashamed pursuit of honest advancement. Your work ethic will speak for itself.

Keep Integrity Close

Like Shaun, we can all fall prey to quick money schemes. They sound good and remind us what we think we want in life. None of us are invincible.

But take a step back. Look at it for what it is. It’s meant to rush you into a field of landmines. It says sprint here when you’re meant to take the long, difficult road leading to a place better than you ever imagined.

Don’t sacrifice integrity for superficial growth. Honor yourself and those who play a role in your life by doing the hard stuff, even when no one is looking.

Whether you’re launching a startup or looking to grow an audience, look at the process of progress as the surest way to see positive results. But don’t get bogged down if it doesn’t happen as fast as you’d like.

• Be grateful.
• Dig, plant, and water your work.
• Keep integrity close.

Never forget that wealth is immaterial. The moment you realize that is the moment you harness the power of active patience. You work and you wait. Because growth happens over time.