Cultivating All-Star Work Ethic 

In 1979, basketball legend Larry Bird nailed his first three-pointer from the Boston 
Garden's legendary parquet, setting the pace for more than a decade of championship 
performance. Certainly, Bird was a sensation-but he hadn't signed up with a sensational 
team. Prior to his arrival, the Celtics were floundering; they'd failed to make the playoffs 
for two consecutive years. How did Bird help turn the team around? Talent, 
determination, and perhaps most of all, unflagging hard work.

Having trouble keeping your productivity up when you’re at work? Cultivate a work 
ethic that's almost guaranteed to put points on the board, whatever your work climate. 

Here are some of their suggestions for refreshing your efforts on the job: 

1. Become more accountable. 
 
Sharing your goals with others generates positive peer pressure and helps you keep daily 
distractions at a minimum. 

2. Stop whiling away the hours. 

Ever notice how much you accomplish when you're preparing to leave on vacation?  
Work half that hard every day!

3. Do the worst first. 

As Zig Ziglar says, "If you've got to swallow a frog, you don't want to look at him too 
long." 

4. Mimic your mentor. 

Take a look at a successful colleague that everyone admires. What are his or her work 
habits? How dose they dress?  Dress like them and act productive like them.

5. Visualize your goals. 

Go ahead-look into that crystal ball. Sending your kids to the college of their dreams-
debt-free? Relaxing on your sailboat? Identify specific, long-term goals, and visualize 
them every morning. Then, break them down into smaller steps and reward yourself 
when you've checked off these steps from your to-do list. Developing a concrete action 
plan helps you stay motivated and less susceptible to bad habits.

6. Cultivate good habits. 


Start now-in approximately 21 days, your behaviors will take hold as habits. Set daily 
minimums for activities you can control.

When it comes to success nothing in the world can take the place of persistence 
and determination.  And it all starts with  good Work Ethic.