The World of Grandpa Don

“If I can just get past this …”

How often have you heard this? How often have you said it? I know that I have. Whatever “this” is it is not part of the long-range plan; it is a detour, a roadblock. Treated as such, it is dealt with as little effort as possible. After all, ... it is not important. “This” may be an elective course or an entire quarter at school. “This” may be a minor task at work or an entire employment taken as a stepping-stone to something better or to fill an emergency need. “This” may be a confrontation with a family member, over what could be a minor issue or an on-going problem.

In any case, “this” is short shifted and poorly done ... if done at all. But that is not the worse part. It is a drain on energy. It dampens the spirit causing depression and results in failure, however justified. “This” becomes a negative of life, a stain on the mind and soul. It works toward a pattern of failure. The subconscious mind asks, “If don’t make it in unimportant things, how will I succeed in the major ones?”

The alternative is that whatever comes along is treated as a challenge. It is regarded as the most important thing in life (at the time), to be faced and completed to the best of ability. A positive attitude buoys the spirit. The task or situation may, in fact, be more important than perceived, particularly if it involves other people … and it usually does. Positive results can never come at the expense of other people. Positive results may not always be the best results, but they must be the result of one's own best effort.

The benefit in something well done is a positive outcome and a building of an atmosphere of success. A pattern of success is established or maintained. The subconscious perceives that “I can do anything!” Furthermore, the effort and winning attitude is noticed by others and usually has positive results.

A person with dreams of becoming a concert pianist practices scales to improve his dexterity. Even after achieving some degree of accomplishment he continues this seemingly trivial practice in order to make the fingering of the keys an instinctive habit. The trivial things of life are like that and the mastering of them will make success an instinctive habit as well.

Success is not a goal; it is a way of life.

To treat success as something to be attained in the future is to rob a good part of life of the feeling of satisfaction in accomplishment. There are a myriad of successes each day when everything is done with the aim to put our mark of reputation on it.

During the construction of a large faculty in a distant location, local electricians were asked to assemble a sample high voltage cable slice so the contractor could chose the one who would perform the actual work. This is a very critical task and poor workmanship could result in explosive cable failure and be a threat to both life and property. Judging was based on workmanship and time to complete the task. One worker, when finished with his sample splice, a four hour effort, took out a small can of paint and a brush. When asked what he was doing, he replied, "I am putting my mark on my work." He was immediately selected as the project's Splicer. This person took pride in his work, even the sample which would soon be discarded was something that he was eager to call "His". He obviously did not just do a "good enough" job.

A successful person proudly leaves his "mark" on everything he does. He leaves no slipshod work behind him.  Even taking out the garbage needs to be done correctly and with care to insure that the next person to handle it will not find it more difficult than it should be. There is no task too menial to be done correctly.

You need not be a perfectionist. Only God is perfect. That is why each of us has been created with specific talents and interests so that taken together our accomplishments will provide all the needs of the world. We should not be reluctant to to attempt new things for in doing so we may find within ourselves an undiscovered gift, or even a new path. Never fear change. Accept it as part of life and deal with it as if your life depended on it. It does!

Success, when measured as a great accomplishment or in terms of possessions or fame is often like a child playing hide and seek. She is elusive and takes pleasure in being sought after. But if she is no longer sought, she will reveal her hiding place since she also delights in being found. When goals are set and life is lived in the accomplishment of all things to the best of one's ability, success will not only reveal herself, but will reward beyond the wildest dreams.  

Life can be filled with daily successes giving joy and satisfaction as it is lived. Or ... we can just get through it dreaming about that great success down the road and being miserable in our mediocrity and failure.  Success is not a goal; it is a way of life. It is the way of life that God has planed for us.

I think I have just revealed the secret of success.

Grandpa Don Plefka
©01/09/2006