Results

Not so long ago, in a not so distant land, school children were taught, there is no A for Effort.  Seems like a pretty simple concept.  First, the word, "effort" doesn't begin with A, and the grading system didn't even include an E.  There was a bell curve, then the percentile.  When the bell curve was replaced with the percentile grade, that made sense, in that every A in the class did not require a failed couterpart, or for every F, there was no guarantee an A was earned.

We didn't stop there, though.  We didn't stop there in grades, we didn't stop there in sports, therefore; the work environment was transformed as well.  Back when there was no A for effort, work had to accomplish something, achieve results.  A farmer couldn't just go "spend time" in the field and have food in the winter.  As the industrial revolution broke down accomplishment and the motivation of the workers, we see what happened.  While Americans were fighting for benefits and more pay for not working, the people of other nations were fighting to survive, and they were willing to work.

I am appalled at what has happened in sports.  Truly outstanding athletes are drug tested constantly and severely overpaid.  The transition I noticed, though took the motivation away from those who would aspire to athletics.  It seems so many programs now, offer no winners or losers, just participation trophies and awards. That's nice on a superficial level, but everyone still knows which kid can't run and which kid strikes out, and which child misses the ball . . . every time.  What it really has served to do, is stifled the motivation for those who would excel or even strive to win.

What's wrong with the reality that everyone doesn't excel in the same area?  Some people don't excel at any one particular thing but can achieve and accomplish a myriad of tasks.

Life has taught most of us there is no A for effort, but the other 1% has figured out there are valued results in achievement and accomplishment.