I've never really been the smartest person in the world. I got good grades in high school and did pretty well in college, but I never really understood what I was doing, I was just good at playing the game of school. Looking back on my life I've realized more and more that hard work is what has saved me time and again.
There are a few experiences that I can think of that taught me that hard work is both something that is useful and needed.
Example 1: When I was in both junior high and high school, I wrestled. When I was in junior high, I wrestled with both the junior high in the spring as well as with the high school during the winter. The harder I worked, the more I loved it (I won't say that I got a lot better, because I really was never that great - no state championships here). But because I invested myself in it, I appreciated it and love it more with every practice.
Example 2: As an LDS missionary, I found myself at some points not working as hard as I could have, and I will always regret that, but not the lessons I learned about hard work. My mission taught me 2 things about hard work. First, it taught me that hard work equals happiness, a lesson I had learned as a wrestler, but was strengthened while a missionary. Second, it taught me that if I didn't work hard, then I would always regret it. I have never in my life regretted working hard.
Example 3: Since I have been married I have never just worked. I have always been either a student and a worker, a student and a teacher, a teacher and a wrestling coach, a wrestling coach and a student, etc. My family will be a constant, but I always seem to have something outside of the norm of home and work. Do I regret this, no. Is it hard, yes. There have been days, weeks, and even months where I don't see a light at the end of the tunnel, but it always comes and I am always happy when it does, and it is always worth it.
Hard work is what is needed to be successful. I think this country has lost a little bit of its elbow grease over the years. It's time to roll up those sleeves and go to work.
