Work Ethic is a set of values based on hard work and diligence, according to Wikipedia. It also expands the work ethic definition as “being a belief in the moral benefit of work and its ability to enhance character”. To me work ethic is just getting things done consistently.

Most people “act” as if they’re working, and “perform” as if they’re busy, but in reality no one believes them. The only measures of hard work are results. What’s the end product? What’s the quality of the end product? In what quantity can you consistently produce great product?

Michael Jackson, RIP, had a true work ethic and this showed in the end result of his projects. Changing and revolutionizing an industry doesn’t happen overnight. It only happens with consistent, great results from knowing without a doubt that you’re working harder than most people around you.

Before Michael Jackson, music video producers were lazy and shortsighted. “Who cares? It’s just a music video.” Well, apparently the world cared. Michael would practice a single dance move for many hours a day for many months. His results were obviously better than his counterparts. He succeeded because of his work ethic.

We live in a pleasure-driven society and we only look for comfort. “It’s too hot”, “it’s too cold”, “I don’t have this…” “I don’t have that”… excuses, excuses, excuses. When you have a true motivation to get something done, and you combine that with a hard work ethic, things will get done. There are no excuses.

Waiting for something or someone to get things done is like Michael Jackson waiting to do Thriller when it was more convenient, or when he got paid more money, or when Joe Jackson came back home. Most of the time a superb work ethic means doing things when the situation isn’t perfect.

Doing things now, rather than later, is part of having a great work ethic. Basking in the sun, resting from work you haven’t even done yet, is simply moronic. There are people out there that actually “take the weekend off” when they don’t have shit going for themselves. I truly don’t understand it… so you’re in debt up to the eyeballs and you’re “taking the weekend off?” You’re literally celebrating the 4th of July? You’re sinking in quicksand, but yet, you have time to watch the fireworks? I don’t get it.

Could it be that the human condition is to live in misery? Common sense tells us that we need to survive, so we eat, and we search for shelter, etc. So if our careers were dying in the garbage, why wouldn’t we have the same survival instincts? If our life were in danger, we would do whatever it took to survive. So if our careers were in danger or even worse, non-existent, why wouldn’t we do whatever it took, then? Why wouldn’t we do whatever it took RIGHT NOW? Why after the long weekend or after the Holidays?
I’m sure Michael Jackson didn’t have everything he wanted when making Thriller, yet he managed pretty well. You can’t substitute a hard work ethic for anything in the world.

My suggestion to developing a good work ethic is to get things done right now. Once you’re done reading, actually don’t even finish reading, go and get something, anything done. Don’t go make coffee, check your email, turn the TV on, see what’s that noise outside, blah, blah, blah, and just get things done. Don’t answer the phone, turn it off, and get to work. Submerge yourself in what needs to be done and don’t come back until it’s done.

After you’re done doing what you need to do, don’t start celebrating. You’re not done, because what you’ve just finished doing created a new set of things to do. Work ethic means that you will get done what needs to be done, and then you’ll get the next thing done, as well.

To get extraordinary results you need to work extraordinarily hard. You can start a brand new career or take your career to another level of greatness RIGHT NOW. Don’t rest. Once you die, you’ll get all the rest you’ll need.