Diligence is the earnest, conscientious application of our energy to accomplish what we have undertaken. When we are diligent, we pay careful attention to detail and are dedicated to achieving quality results. Diligence means that we are continually working toward our goals and making use of what resources and opportunities are available. We are vigilant to avoid errors and stay focused on the task at hand. Our diligence provides a basis for people trusting us with important jobs that may be tricky or complicated. An advantage of diligence is it does not rely on talent, but instead uses commitment, industriousness, and perseverance to transform a vision into reality. Diligence does not just mean hard work, but it must be hard work in pursuit of a tangible goal. Ultimately, a goal without a plan is a wish. Read that again, A GOAL WITHOUT A PLAN IS A WISH
Aesop’s Fables are a collection of nearly 725 stories tracing their origins back to 600 B.C. The stories were usually told person-to-person and the fables are composed of allegories to form a basis of moral story-telling. If you have ever heard the phrases: Slow and steady wins the race or Do not count your chickens before they hatch then there is a good chance you are familiar with some of the stories from Aesop. It is worth noting that common virtues existing a thousand years ago and those common virtues still have relevance today. As one example, consider Aesop’s famous allegory about an ant and a grasshopper and understand what it says about the virtue of diligence:
The Ant and the Grasshopper – Aesop
In a field one summer’s day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart’s content. An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.
“Why not come and chat with me,” said the Grasshopper, “instead of toiling and moiling in that way?”
“I am helping to lay up food for the winter,” said the Ant, “and recommend you to do the same.”
“Why bother about winter?” said the Grasshopper; “We have got plenty of food at present.” But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.
When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger – while it saw the ants eating every day from the grain stores they had collected in the summer. When the starving Grasshopper came up and humbly begged for a bite to eat, the ant was less than thrilled.
“What!” cried the Ant in surprise, “haven’t you stored anything away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all last summer?”
“I didn’t have time to store up any food,” whined the Grasshopper; “I was so busy chirping and singing that before I knew it the summer was gone.”
The Ant shrugged his shoulders in disgust.
“Making music, were you?” he cried. “Very well; then sing!” And he turned his back on the Grasshopper and went on with his work.
In this story, Aesop presents a hard lesson on diligence and also seems to justify the ant’s righteousness in dismissing the starving grasshopper. Being so dismissive of a fellow insect might be hard to accept, particularly since we know kindness to be a character trait, but is the grasshopper entitled to the labor of the ant? Is it the ant’s responsibility to provide for a perfectly able-bodied grasshopper who fiddled his day away? What role would charity play in this scenario if the Ant is a maker and the Grasshopper is a taker?
The Ant was diligent in his work and was following a plan to achieve the goal of having food when he knew it would be in short supply. He was not hoarding in a time of uncertainty. He would have much rather have been playing a fiddle or sitting on the beaches of Pensacola, but duty dictates there is a time for work and a time for play. Generally speaking, honest work affords you the time for play instead of the other way around. The Ant was focused on what was necessary while the Grasshopper was focused on what he wanted. There was no barrier to the Grasshopper carrying grain just as the Ant did. It was a choice to dance and sing and kick the worries and problems down the road and hope for the best. If you can imagine a society where there are more Grasshoppers than Ants, then you can imagine a society with more takers than makers and that is not sustainable.
Likewise, as an educator, I know It is a choice for students to find excuses not to do what is necessary even though the opportunity is right in their hands. Some work to prepare for their future while some dance and sing on their phones all day and kick their futures down the road with the hope that someone will do the work for them.
Whose responsibility is it when the future arrives but the students are unprepared? The teacher? The school? or the one who had an opportunity to choose what to do each day?
- Remove distractions. Spend less time on the internet, phone or watching television. Wasting time holds you back from accomplishing your goals.
- Make a plan. Know what you want to accomplish and set a goal. A goal without a plan is a wish.
- Prioritize. Push back other things of less importance.
- Use time efficiently. Make a schedule and have a plan for the day.
- Devote yourself. If you commit to doing something, then do it right.
- Be realistic. Allow for the unexpected. Then return to your day. Re-prioritize as needed.
- Realize the value of hard work. Accomplish one goal and move on to the next. Each step usually builds upon the previous. Go the extra mile when it’s needed.
If the above list does not serve as inspiration to be diligent and stay focused on your goals, then just put this all-time banger on and turn it up.
#ucandewitt 