If Only [Blank] I Would Have Been Successful

by Walter Naeslund on February 23, 2010

You can have all the talent in the world, all the education and the rich dad. You can have a ton of friends, two dogs, and a boyfriend/girlfriend who’s CEO of whatever important company. You can have lottery luck, social skills, 1/4000 Twitter ratio and 3000 “friends” on Facebook, you can have rock star background and killer legs. But whoever works the hardest will always win in business. Always.

What a great way to start off a Tuesday!

{ 18 comments… read them below or add one }

Anton Waern February 23, 2010 at 08:07

Wow, inspirational! Not always true, but always right!

Matthieu Hartig February 23, 2010 at 08:20

Haha! Just as Anton writes, not always true but always right!

Walter Naeslund February 23, 2010 at 08:28

True or not doesn't matter. It's about attitude.

Andreas Norman February 23, 2010 at 08:49

I think “talent” is an important factor as well ;)

andelius February 23, 2010 at 11:10

I think we can all agree that there are people out there working their asses off but still not being effective, right?

andelius February 23, 2010 at 13:08

SO not true. I guess we can agree that there are way too many people out there working their asses off, and still not being effective. I'm actually considering the health in delivering such a lame and mediocre stating-the-not-obvious-kind-of-phrase Mr Naeslund, it seems to be opposing everything you seem to want to give the appearane of

Walter Naeslund February 23, 2010 at 14:17

I believe that it's a matter of attitude. Assuming full responsibility will make you more successful than blaming circumstances, regardless of if it's warranted or not.

Walter Naeslund February 23, 2010 at 14:18

Talent plays a role, but there are many many talented people out there not getting ahead because of not working hard enough.

Andreas Norman February 23, 2010 at 15:09

True but I don't see many talentless people getting ahead just because they are working hard.

But working hard is an important factor. 40h/week won't get you anywhere close to what 60h/week will get you.

andelius February 23, 2010 at 15:23

But that is changing what you said from the beginning. You said “whoever work the ahrdest will always win in business” and that is not true at all. “Working hard” is not equivalent to “assuming full responsibility”, not even in your reality.

Erik Töyrä February 23, 2010 at 17:40

This is a tricky one. I both agree and disagree with you at the same time. If the last sentence were rephrased into “But whoever works the hardest and most effective towards the goal will always win in business. Always.”, then I would agree. It's not only about working hard. It's also about working on the right things at the right time. Doing so will always give you an advantage over someone who works harder but fails to do the right things.

Walter Naeslund February 24, 2010 at 10:55

…or rephrased: “whoever has this mindset will be the most successful”, which is sort of my point. Never blame ANYTHING. :)

martengunge February 24, 2010 at 14:53
martengunge February 24, 2010 at 15:03

Sounds like some Sartre wouldn't hurt to keep up the good mood.

“Man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world – and defines himself afterwards.”

http://philosophy.ucdavis.edu/may/mattey/phi001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccYh8iZC5-E&feat

http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/

martengunge February 24, 2010 at 15:04

Sounds like some Sartre wouldn't hurt to keep up the good mood…

“Man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world – and defines himself afterwards.”

http://philosophy.ucdavis.edu/may/mattey/phi001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccYh8iZC5-E&feat

http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/

martengunge February 24, 2010 at 15:53
martengunge February 24, 2010 at 16:03

Sounds like some Sartre wouldn't hurt to keep up the good mood.

“Man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world – and defines himself afterwards.”

http://philosophy.ucdavis.edu/may/mattey/phi001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccYh8iZC5-E&feat

http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/

martengunge February 24, 2010 at 16:04

Sounds like some Sartre wouldn't hurt to keep up the good mood…

“Man first of all exists, encounters himself, surges up in the world – and defines himself afterwards.”

http://philosophy.ucdavis.edu/may/mattey/phi001

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccYh8iZC5-E&feat

http://www.btinternet.com/~glynhughes/squashed/

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