Hustle beats hard work when hard work doesn't hustle.

Today at our beautiful school I was cleaning the floors and bathrooms making sure it was the best it could be before class when my mind started to wander.  I often find this type of work relaxing and meditative.  I know weird right, but for me I can't relax until all the work is done and I give myself permission to stop.  It's just my thing.  I don't expect my family or friends to do the same or even understand.  Its just my thing.  As I was mopping I started to think about how this relates to our students and their future success.  My students will meet many people over their lifetime that they will believe have their best interest in mind and some how be let down by those people.  The drive to succeed has to be nurtured and a path laid out that they can go alone at some point.  The old saying that leaders are born is not true in anyway shape or form.  Leaders are made.  Everyone has the potential to be a leader in different ways and in different industries.  Hard work is not enough.  Everyone works hard, but hustle is kind of a secret ingredient.  For 25 years I have worked two jobs just so I could do what I love.  Thats hustle my friends.  Hard work is the act of doing your job to the best of your ability everyday.  Hustle is the willingness to do everything and anything it takes to follow your dreams.  I have hustle and so do my students.  At some point in everyones training they decide to reevaluate if martial arts is right for them.  The reason some one may have started martial arts at my school is learn karate, but the reason they stay is because they have that desire within themselves to be better than the norm.  This can't be taught but instead encouraged.  The world has changed and now everyone has a college degree working at the local ice cream shop.  Thats the norm.  When I was young that made you a superstar right off the bat.  So what are you willing do to help yourself and your child succeed?  I know what I will try and teach the students that stay with me.  These students will have that secret ingredient they found for themselves, hustle.