“Hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t hustle!”

A thought by John C. Maxwell (2017-03-07) from his book, No Limits: Blow the CAP Off Your Capacity (p. 53). Center Street. Kindle Edition. (Click on the title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

John says, “As a college freshman, I needed a job. My friend Steve Benner suggested we apply at a grocery store to be stock boys. Sounded good to me, so we went to the store and talked to the manager.

“‘Boys,’ he said, ‘follow me to the back of the store.’ He quickly turned and walked briskly to the back of the store. I remember thinking that he sure seemed in a hurry. Steve was on his heels, while it took me a few seconds to catch up with them. At the back of the store, we filled out our applications, shook the manager’s hand, and waited for his call.

“The next day Steve found out that he was hired. I got a call, too— saying I wasn’t.

“That entire day I couldn’t figure out what happened. How come Steve was accepted and I wasn’t? I wondered. The next day I could stand it no more. I went to the store and asked the manager why he didn’t hire me.

“‘You didn’t walk fast enough to the back of the store,’ he answered. ‘I’m looking for boys that show energy. Steve did, and you didn’t!’

“Wow. I was pretty sure I would have done a better job than Steve, yet he got hired because he hustled. As I walked out to my car, I realized that hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t hustle!”

We too many times don’t hustle when we really need to.  We use it on things that don't really matter.  Like getting to the front of the cafeteria line.  In other words don’t be late for a job interview or an important project or a meeting with your boss.  You need to know when it is showtime in your day.

He starts this section by saying, “It’s vital to increase your energy as much as possible. It’s also crucial to use the energy you have wisely. Use it when you need it, and conserve it when you don’t. And know the difference between the two.”

He ends it by saying, “You need to know when it’s showtime every day in your life. No matter what hour of the day it occurs or how many of them you have on a particular day, at those times you need to show up and give 100 percent of your energy. That’s the only way you’ll reach your capacity.”

So, do you know?