Text: "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."

Roll Call: The reading aloud of a list of names, and subsequent responses, to determine who is present or absent.

Every day, the sun rises, and you have a choice. To do your best or to be less. This is the daily roll call of life. To be your best self, you have to show up, even on your bad days, your sad days, your glad days. Dependable. Steady. Consistent. Steadfast. Constant. Trustworthy. None of us are perfect and none of us can be our best selves at all times. But we can answer the roll call, we can show up and do our best, give all we have to give on that day. Over time, that alone will place us high in the order of things. Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Hard work beats genius when genius doesn’t work hard. An ordinary man with a plan can beat a brilliant man without one.

Show up. Every day. It makes a small difference daily, a huge difference over the years.

Closing Quotes:

“Do well the duty that lies before you.” – Pittacus of Mytilene, c. 640 BC-568 BC

“Do your duty and a little more and the future will take care of itself.” – Andrew Carnegie, 1835-1919

“The willingness to show up changes us, it makes us a little braver each time.” – Brené Brown, Daring Greatly

“We never fail when we try to do our duty, we always fail when we neglect to do it.” – Robert Baden-Powell, 1857-1941, founded Boy Scouts

“Showing up is essential. Showing up consistently is powerful. Showing up consistently with a positive outlook is even more powerful.” – Jeff Olson

As always, I share what I most want and need to learn. – Nathan S. Collier