Try hard.
We’ve heard those words time and again.
The implication is clear: Put in the effort and the results will follow.
There’s only one problem.
It ain’t true.
Now, don’t get me wrong. There’s certainly some value to trying hard. To putting the maximum effort into whatever you do.
But ultimately, we’re not being judged on our effort.
We’re being judged on our execution.
This is a difficult concept for us to grasp. Largely because we’ve spent an entire generation praising and incentivizing effort.
My generation grew up thinking we could be whatever we wanted, as long as we tried. Our parents reinforced that theory by telling us we were special, and that a little initiative would go a long way.
Schools and extracurricular activities gave us participation ribbons, simply for making the effort to compete. Gatorade told us that if we wanted to be the next Michael Jordan, all we had to was put in the work — and drink their product. (Yes, sweat and a sports drink were all we needed to Be Like Mike.)
We carried this message like a William Wallace battle cry. Try hard and the rest will take care of itself.
Then we grew up, and reality hit us in the face like an Arctic wind.
You see, the real world doesn’t care how hard you try. It cares about results.
And if you can’t deliver those results, you will be held accountable for your failings.
I use the word failings here intentionally. For lack of execution is failure.
It doesn’t matter if you poured your heart and soul into something. If you didn’t get the needed result, you failed.
This is a harsh lesson for us to learn.
After all, we’ve conditioned ourselves to find silver linings, to tilt toward empathy in the times when things don’t go as planned. In doing so, we’ve made effort into a security blanket that covers us from the cut-and-dry nature of accountability.
But in reality, effort guarantees us nothing.
Someone with superior talent can roll out of bed and execute on a task better than we could, even with hours and hours of trying. And in a task-execution-based society, they get all the benefits. It’s as if we didn’t try at all.
So why put in the effort?
Because it builds character and demonstrates integrity.
Those attributes are valued in the long run. And they’re within your control.
Yes, execution is more highly valued in the short run. But the chances of success are determined by more than your talents.
There are elements out of your control that can negatively impact your ability to execute. If you don’t believe me, try pitching a tent in a gale-force wind.
Effort, on the other hand, is firmly within your control. And much like your attitude, it’s something that can speak volumes.
So, it makes sense to try. To give your best effort day in and day out.
But it also makes sense to focus on execution. To look for areas where you have a chance to make an impact and devote your maximum effort there.
This will give you the best chance for sustained success. And that success can help drive society forward.
Execution drives results. Are you ready to take the wheel?