"It is not enough to do our best; sometimes we must do what is required."
-Winston Churchill
One of the most difficult lesson's I've learned recently is that sometimes simply working hard is not the answer. Yes, hard work is a great place to start, and you'll almost always do pretty well if you have hard work as a foundational skill and value.
However, if you're trying to get to the next level or if you're stuck at a plateau, it is even more important to do the REQUIRED work.
Using fitness as an analogy, let's imagine you have a weight loss goal.
You commit to the gym and are consistent with your strength training 3x per week. After a month of consistency you eagerly hop on the scale to see how much you've accomplished.
You look down and frustratingly see the exact same number as when you started a month ago.
How can this be? You've been working out 3x/week and NOTHING has happened?
The thing is, strength training is just part of the required work when it comes to weight loss, not all of it. To lose weight, you need to strength train 2-3x/week, walk 30 minutes/day 5x/week, and track and improve your nutrition habits.
That's what it takes.
So next time you're at a plateau, or frustrated with the lack of specific results you're getting, simply ask yourself:
"Am I doing what is required?"
