Yesterday, my favorite morning radio program featured “Larry the Cable Guy.”  He was live on the air for about ten of the funniest minutes I’ve ever experienced.  I’ve never really given the guy a chance, quickly changing the channel whenever coming across him on T.V.  I have to admit, however, he had me in stitches during the entire show.

In listening to the interview, it became apparent that  he’d been on this radio program before, typically to promote an upcoming performance in the Seattle area. 

Near the end of the interview, the host mentioned that every time Larry is a guest on the show, he seems to have brand new material.  The host was curious about how he managed to keep his act so fresh and not repeat any old material.

For the first time in the interview, Larry became very serious and replied:

“For the past several years, I have disciplined myself to write comedy bits for two hours every day.”

He went on to describe how he frequently has to force himself to find time to write.  Even on those days when there seems to be no time… he “forces” himself just the same.  He credits his great success to holding steadfast to this discipline, and believes that he wouldn’t have lasted in the competitive world of comedy without it.

The lessons here are so clear:

1. What appears effortless, usually takes an incredible amount of diligence and hard work behind the scenes.
2. Any success that lasts, is built on hard work and consistent discipline.
3. There are no short-cuts to success.
4. Your success is up to you.  No pointing fingers.
5. You’ve got to have a system!

No matter what you do, without a system and accountability to that system, you probably won’t accomplish what you intend to.  For example, if recruiting is part of your job, you can’t be flying by the seat of your pants.  You must set aside a certain period of time every day to recruit within the parameters of a system.  Only by doing this day-in and day-out, without fail, will you succeed.

“I find the great thing in this world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving:  To reach the port of heaven, we must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it, but we must sail, and not drift, nor lie at anchor.” (Oliver Wendell Holmes)