Do the Tough Job First

One of the many important lessons that boys are taught in Scouting is to be self-sufficient. This is not just learning how to find food in the woods, cook it on a fire you made with a few sticks without poisoning or catching yourself on fire. To be self-sufficient is the ability to take care of yourself and not depend on others to do it for you. Seems easy enough right? The fact is a good many adults never learned the lesson.

                To this day, there is no better way to be self-sufficient than to have a good job, earn your keep and be in debt to no one. The good job part varies from person to person based on what your dreams are and what your skills are. For some, it is a career in business, law or medicine. For others, it may be farming, the skilled trades, or the arts. If it wants you to wish to do, do your best at and work hard it is a "good job".

“Do the hard jobs first.  The easy jobs will take care of themselves.”

– Dale Carnegie

(1888-1955)

Author / Speaker

                Success-minded people learn the secret to doing the best job is to be willing to work and do the difficult things first. That will always put you ahead. No matter what line of work you do, there will always be those who look for the easy way, the least amount of work. If you are the one who steps up and does the hard work first you will always be in the front of the pack. As Thomas A. Edison said, "There is no substitute for hard work."

                There is an important principle at work here. Self-sufficient people know that with hard work comes freedom and reward. People who complain about working too hard will always have to work too hard. They will never find the freedom of doing what they love and earning a living that allows them to live as they wish. Author, Zig Ziglar used to say. "Do more than you are being paid to do and eventually you will be paid for more than you do." 

                Never back away from hard work. In fact, run to it, embrace it and do it well. No one ever pays for mediocre. Success-minded people, like Scouts, do their best because they are the best. Not an ego thing, just reality. Hard work is always welcome, it is always rewarded and it will always be rare.

You matter! You matter to the world and to yourself. Remember to be your best, love God, have good manners, achieve the unknown and change your world.

Scouting Out of Uniform is a personal blog based on the lessons learned from Scouting that relate to personal development and success principles and is not an official site of The Boy Scouts of America. John Patrick Hickey does not represent or speak for the Scouting program; however, he does completely support and encourages Scouting for both young and old. John Patrick Hickey is an author, speaker, Personal Development Coach, and proud Scouter. To read more from John Patrick Hickey or to get his books, training and book him to speak to your church, business or group, visit our website at www.johnpatrickhickey.com.   © 2018 John Patrick Hickey