“The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary.” – Vince Lombardi

I love quotes. Actually, I love quotes that are one sentence long and apply to multiple areas of my life. In other words, I love one-liners like this one from Vince Lombardi, the famous late coach of the Green Bay Packers.

Success comes before work—but only in the dictionary! It applies to almost everything in my life, and in yours as well.

It applies to my writing. It applies to my pastoring of a church. It applies to my career. It applies to my hobbies. It applies to the parenting of my five young children. And yes, it applies to me being the kind of husband that my beautiful wife deserves.

Everybody wants to be successful, but not everyone is willing to do what it takes to get it. That’s what so very often separates the have’s from the have not’s. Success has a invigorating tone to it, but work often reminds us of sweat, frustration, long hours, and minimum wage.

But does it have to be that way?

I enjoy being a writer, but with all honesty I can say that I actually enjoy “having written” rather than the process of writing. I savor the sweetness of a finished page, but the blank whiteness of a new one makes me quiver like a bashful freshman on the first day of high school.

Why is that?

If I were an Olympic gymnast, getting handed the gold medal by default (because no one else bothered to show up!) wouldn’t mean as much compared to earning it myself by sticking the landing. It is the blood, sweat, and tears that make winning so exhilarating. The work to get there doesn’t make the final result less satisfying. In fact, it is the initial work of preparation that makes success all the more gratifying.

The change that needs to occur, then, is that we need to reprioritize our goals and habits. We need to understand that the work we put into the journey is just as important as the destination itself. And when this switch occurs in our thinking, success will soon be standing on our doorstep begging to come in.

Here are three tips for turning hard work into the thrill of success. These should help you to realize that work and success are loving marriage partners, not foes on a battlefield.

1. Rarely Do Sluggards Trip And Fall Into The Winner’s Circle. I enjoy watching television, but the tube hinders my activity. I enjoy surfing the internet, but I can’t finish my novel with the click of a mouse. Laziness breeds failure. Winner’s win. Losers watch the highlights on television late at night.
2. Leaders In Your Niche Worked Their Way Up The Ladder. Most college students want to be the CEO at their first job after graduation. The problem, however, is that recruiters don’t hire CEO’s with fresh student loans. (Insert sheepish grin here.) Practically all CEO’s got to the penthouse by first paying their dues.
3. Work Is The Pathway To Success, Not A Hurdle To Jump. What you need to do is find your passion and work at it. Whatever you are most interested in doing, pursue it with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. When you are exercising your passion, work becomes a thrill—not the burden! Remember, there are few things in life more satisfying than a good plan that comes together in the end.

Question: What is the one thing you are most passionate about? What have you be working at in order to ensure its success?  Share your comment by clicking here.

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Today’s Post is shared by:  Charles Specht.  He is a writer, a pastor, a father of 5 children (2 adopted “special needs” children from China), but mostly just a guy trying to figure it all out. He’s devoted to pushing the envelop of Christian media, encouraging believers to be deliberate when crafting their own words to declare the inerrant Word. He has a passion for technology, for reading and writing, for serving Christ, and for figuring out how the worlds of traditional- and self-publishing are evolving before our eyes. You can visit his website at  www.charlesspecht.com or follow him on Twitter @CharlesSpecht, Facebook, and Google+.