Effort, the real ingredient of life's success
Shashank Bhushan
Vice President-Human Resources | Global HR | CHRO | Strategic HR Business Partner | Talent Architect | M&A | Transformational Leadership | Strategic HR | Thought Leader | HR Tech Evangelist | Culture Specialist |
The other day, as I caught my teenagers glued to reels on their iPhones (surprise, surprise!), homework left tragically untouched, I channeled my inner sage. Quoting Theodore Roosevelt, I declared, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort!” The response? A symphony of eye rolls and a sarcastic chorus of, “Sure, Pa!”
But as they grudgingly returned to their half-finished projects, it hit me: this wisdom isn’t just for teenage slackers; it’s life’s universal operating system.
In the boardroom, “effort” isn’t just buzzword bingo—it’s innovating like Steve Jobs revolutionizing the tech world. Think about how Jobs relentlessly pushed his team at Apple to create “insanely great” products. It’s about solving seemingly impossible problems and leading by example. Effort is what separates the visionary leaders from the corporate climbers.
As an employee, effort translates into dedication and commitment. It’s consistently crushing deadlines, not just meeting them. Think of the coder who spends late nights debugging, not because they have to, but because they care about delivering a flawless product. It’s about never settling for mediocrity. Sure, the rewards might not be instant, but the satisfaction? Priceless.
Now, being a spouse or a parent—buckle up, folks. This is where effort gets real. It’s about showing up, even when you’d rather hide under the covers with a book. For instance, when my daughter needed help with her history project at 11 PM (on the night it was due, naturally), I didn’t just Google it for her—I became a temporary history buff. Effort is about investing time and energy, even when the well seems dry. The bonds you build are worth more than all the sleep in the world (okay, almost all).
Even as a citizen, effort drives progress. It’s not just complaining about potholes; it’s joining the community meeting to advocate for better roads. It’s about staying informed, even when the news cycle feels like a never-ending dumpster fire, and standing up for what you believe in, whether it’s a peaceful protest or a letter to your representative. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but every bit of effort adds up.
So, next time you hear me quoting Roosevelt (probably while confiscating a phone), remember: effort is the not-so-secret ingredient to a life worth living. And hey, at least my kids are starting to agree with me…or so they say. We’ll see how long that lasts. Whenever or never—stay tuned!
#EffortMatters #LifeLessons #Leadership #PersonalGrowth #Parenting #Motivation #Inspiration #Dedication #SuccessMindset #MakeEveryEffort
Global HR Leader I Area Director HR I Thought Leader I Hospitality I Airlines I Hotels I Marriott International I Emirates
1 周Shashank yes I echo your sentiments. Efforts makes a difference in the way we create our life. Thanks for sharing
Founder | CEO | Entrepreneur | Curating Success Stories with Purpose | TEDx Speaker | 3X Top LinkedIn Voice | Golfer
1 周True that Shashank Bhushan, with my little one ready to enter his tweens… for me every thing revolves around putting in the efforts to ensure I give him quality time and am there with him during his developing years… Ps. On a lighter note get to play a lot more golf ??
Experienced Talent Acquisition Manager | Passionate about connecting people with the right opportunities
1 周So true ! So happen to read this at the apt time! Effort is truly about perseverance and commitment even when things aren’t the way you planned or thought.. Effort is more like a way of life .
President Human Resources
1 周Love this . It’s the quality of investment ( time and energy ) in the process that creates the engaging bonds . Well said ??
Leadership & Talent Development | Organisational Development | Diversity & Inclusion | Experiential Education and Training | Business Storytelling | Executive & Career Transition Coaching | Wellbeing | TEDx speaker
1 周As a blessed parent to a teenager, Shashank, I empathise with the urge to impress upon them the importance of "effort"! ?? Over the last 16 months, I have become deeply interested in imperialism-colonialism-capitalism and my historical and economic understanding has become significantly enhanced. I've seen the gains that effort has helped me make. The other important thing I've learnt, and embraced wholeheartedly as you know, is that the force underlying effort is "interest". The most magical thing is that when we are doing something we are interested in, we don't even feel like we are making effort! For instance last night I was up working on a brochure for a new product and then making a deck for a pitch till 4 AM. Did not feel like I was making effort at all. I did feel the after effects this morning though..... ??