A line from my favorite book says, “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” Now STOP… and really think about that for a minute. What are lazy hands? What are diligent hands? And what does either have to do with you?

Think back, did you ever say to yourself, “Ugh, I don’t want to go to work today!” or “Gosh, I hate my job. It’s so boring!” or even, “I can’t wait for the time I can just go home!”?

If you have, you’re not alone. Most people (either secretly or openly) share this attitude about work. They see it as a nuisance, as something just getting in the way of living their lives.

But the truth is, we were put on this planet to work. And you can work with excellence and diligence, be bitter about the fact you have to work, or just be lazy and completely refuse to work.

If you choose to work with excellence and diligence, you will be promoted to bigger and better things. But if you can’t be trusted to demonstrate a good attitude and work ethic with the small things, then you’re going to be stuck doing these small things for the rest of your life! And it won’t stop until you do it right… with the right attitude.

I’m sure you’ve seen kids and adults who do not work with a spirit of excellence. Their work displays carelessness and frequently a horrible attitude accompanies what they DO do! A textbook definition of “lazy hands.”

So, let’s draw the short line from the role those lazy hands play in making you poor. Exactly how do you make money? You work! If you resent your job, your boss, your work – it shows. It shows in the quality of your work, in your communication with your boss and coworkers, and in your attitude and work ethic. If you are lazy, you will not be promoted. In fact, lazy people are the first to get fired. Lazy hands make a man poor.

Now, what are “diligent hands” and how do they bring wealth? Diligent workers genuinely invest in their work, putting their hearts and souls into their jobs, and truly desire to help the company grow. They have a sense of ownership – they treat the company as if it were their own. Diligent workers work with excellence, making sure to do everything to the very best of their ability… one everything, every time! They do not make excuses – they find solutions. They bring huge value to the marketplace. Diligent workers are also grateful workers.

When you have a spirit of excellence and gratefulness, seeing work as a privilege and stepping stone to greater things, a whole different line of fruit comes out of the work you do. You will be placed on an accelerated track and WILL be promoted quickly.

Can you imagine if your parents taught you to enjoy work? Imagine if you learned to look at work in a totally different light: as a privilege and opportunity to make money. Look around you – millions of people are unemployed and desperately seeking a job. So if you have a job – even if it’s not your dream job – consider yourself extremely blessed! It is an honor to work! As I said earlier, if you work with excellence and diligence, you will be promoted. If you are lazy and bitter about work, you will not be promoted. It’s that simple.

So today, evaluate which side of this equation you fall into – “Lazy hands make a man poor,” or “diligent hands bring wealth”? What is your attitude about work? Do you enjoy work, or hate it? Do you work with a spirit of excellence, or bitterness? Do you see your work as a privilege, or a burden?

I have taught to my kids something since they were very young, allowing them to grow up with an incredible work ethic. They have learned the importance of work and responsibility, and it has set them up for a lifetime of success.

We have also created this atmosphere within our own companies and among the employees. We have shown them we actually expect excellence and diligence. And I have to tell you, it’s really amazing to work in a place with this shared mindset. They value work, they take ownership of their jobs and they consistently work with excellence. You wouldn’t believe how incredibly rewarding it is to work in a place like this!

That’s why I highly encourage you to share this with everyone in your company today. This is a great way to get everyone on the same page and begin to create an environment filled with diligence and excellence. Just forward this link, or share it on your social media sites! Then, please share your thoughts on this idea in the comments.

And don’t forget to join me for The Dani Johnson Show today, when we share even more of my personally-selected tips and strategies to help you build a strong foundation for your success! You can find the show on your TV and radio and please remember you can always stream today’s show right here on our website.

In great faith,

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