Here is a true story of a marine engine salesman. He used to work from five to nine (not nine to five). While the whole world would be fast asleep, he would be up and preparing notes for the day. There were no laptops, no emails etc., he would write fax messages for his Principal in UK, USA, Netherlands, Germany etc. While his colleagues would go back home after five o clock in the evening, he would visit his customers in the Fisheries, Shipyards, Oil Terminals, Naval and Maritime organisations etc. In the first two years, there was rejection, dejection and disappointments only. Then the fruits of his tireless, hard work started to come. The salesman knew without any doubt that success only comes to you when you forego and forsake your comfort zone. This has always been the case with greatest sports personalities, great leaders, famous scientists (like Thomas Elva Edison), best corporate and business entrepreneurs etc.
World’s best fast bowlers used to be on the ground at 4:00 in the morning; the champions like Tendulkar and Gavaskar would don their batting pads and gloves at 7:00 in the morning, rain or shine; world’s best cricket ball hitters used to target hundred sixes a day for perfecting this stroke. Imran Khan used to practice his action in such a manner that he never bowled a No Ball in his entire career. This is easier said than done.
There are business leaders who work hundred hours a week, year after year; start issuing and receiving mails at 4:30 in the morning; fly 200,000 miles a year. They all had one thing common, confidence, that their hard work will not be wasted! This is the promise of God also that “verily, He will not let be wasted, the efforts of its doers”. Prophet of Islam was persecuted mercilessly for thirteen years in Mecca with very little rewards but as soon as he migrated to Medina, he was welcomed open heartedly by its people. This was the reward of his efforts. It also shows that your reward may be delayed but it will never be denied. Secondly, the reward may not come where the efforts were made. So do not compromise on your efforts.
There was a student who was always a position holder and a recipient of scholarships. He never considered himself talented. He had girls and boys around him so much more gifted that he used to envy them. Yet he outshined them because when they would be watching movies, gossiping aimlessly, he used to be glued to his books. Fun and frolic maybe important but sheer hard work is far more so. This is what carves out champions in you. Remember, our great Jehangir Khan used to sprint six to eight hours on beach sand every day and then spent a similar number of hours on the squash court, day in and day out, before he became the British open and World champion for a record number of times.
