We’ve all heard it many times: “Give it your best shot.” “Do your best.” “Give a 100 percent effort.” “Go the extra mile.” Yet because we’re not always sure what the “payoff” might be for our efforts, sometimes we adopt the attitude of “Why bother?”
I’ve found it to be extremely helpful to remember this: While I don’t always know what my reward, if any, will be on any given project, I do know that when I give my best effort to whatever I’m working on, rewards often come from unexpected sources.
I received a story on my e-mail from an anonymous person that demonstrates this point extremely well.
An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house-building business and live a more leisurely life with his wife, enjoying his extended family. He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by.
The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter agreed, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end a dedicated career.
When the carpenter finished his work, the employer came to inspect the house. He handed the front door key to the carpenter. “This is your house,” he said. “My gift to you.”
The carpenter was shocked. What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it differently.
So it is with us. We build our lives, one day at a time, often putting less than our best effort into the building. Then with a shock we realize we have to live in the house we have built. If we could do it over, we’d do it much differently. But we cannot go back.
You are the carpenter. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Your attitudes and the choices you make today build the “house” you live in tomorrow.
I couldn’t have said it any better, and that’s why I wanted to share this story with you.
As a teen, you have absolute control over the way you build the house of your future. You have your entire life in front of you. If you go the extra mile; give life your best shot; live with integrity, kindness, honesty, and thoughtfulness; then, chances are, you’re going to build a real beauty; a house you can be proud of.