Every business owner wants the same thing: a better business. They want to grow faster and be more profitable. And every employee wants a better career. They want to make more money, be recognized, and maybe earn a promotion.
Here’s the problem: I’ve seen thousands of business owners who want the same things, but they’ve gotten very different results. They all get up early. They all go to the office. They all work hard. They all think they “deserve” success because of the effort they put in. But effort alone doesn’t entitle you to results.
Our parents told us that if we worked hard, good things would happen. My father worked in a factory for 35 years. For him, showing up and working hard did mean job security. But if you’re a business owner or knowledge worker, that old formula doesn’t work. Just showing up isn’t enough anymore.
Over the past 30 years, I’ve managed hundreds of employees, and today I work in a 5,000-person company. I’ve seen it over and over again: people who believe that showing up, working hard, or simply doing their best should automatically create great outcomes. It doesn’t. Results are what determine success in a job or in a business.
For employees, that means you need clarity. What does success in your role actually look like? If you don’t know, you need to get aligned with your manager immediately. For business owners, it’s the same—define what success looks like for your business and measure yourself against that definition.
Too many people use effort and comparisons as their scoreboard:
- “I work harder than him.”
- “I’ve been here longer than her.”
- “I come in earlier than they do.”
None of that matters. Success comes from outcomes, not effort.
So here’s the shift:
- Take full responsibility for results.
- Look for creative ways to improve your role instead of waiting for direction.
- Make the people around you better.
- Don’t just point out problems—bring solutions.
In my experience, that’s the difference between people who grow and people who stay stuck.
I have a saying: everyone makes exactly what they’re worth, whether they like it or not.
You’re already up. You’ve already showered, eaten breakfast, and made it to your desk. You’re already there, so why not be awesome?