“But ultimately, beyond a requisite level of intelligence and emotional functioning, the best [counselors] among us are quite simply those who have worked hardest to develop themselves. They are intensely motivated and committed to becoming the best practitioners of their craft – and they are willing to make all kinds of personal sacrifices and devote time and energy in order to make that a reality.” -Jeffrey Kottler in The Secrets of Exceptional Counselors
What makes hard workers work so hard?
Some people’s immediate reaction to this is ‘Oh, it’s simple. They feel inadequate, so their work ethic is to make up for perceived weakness or deficits’. But I think it’s so much deeper than this. People who want to be incredible at what they do are not working from a place of weakness or deficit. They are working from a place of strength and belief in themselves.
People wouldn’t work so hard to become exceptional if they did not already truly believe that they can excel at their craft. Hard workers work so hard because they believe in themselves – they believe in their capacity to become exceptional. They are not satisfied with being average. They are not satisfied with being just like everyone else.
The passion to excel is what gives hard workers the drive to work so hard.
Refuse to be ordinary. Refuse to be ‘just another mental health therapist’ or ‘just another coach, owner, employee, etc.’. Refuse to be disposable.
Find ways to put in the work where others don’t. Put in the hours that other people won’t put in. Most people are working, but few are working at their true, full capacity.
We expand our capacity by pushing past what we are currently capable of. When you’re exhausted at work, put in 10 more minutes before you take a break. When your muscles are on fire near the end of a workout, hold on to the barbell for one more rep.
Show yourself how serious you are about wanting to get better. Show yourself how bad you want it, and I have no doubt that others will soon take notice.
-Adam Barfoot, M.Ed.
