#99: How Hard Can It Be?

Today was an easy day for me. All I had to do was reap the benefits of someone else’s hard work.

My beautifully restored Citroën HVan made a comeback onto the road today. The mechanics who had committed to it half a year ago finally did make it happen. There was no shortcut, no easy way out. Not only did they believe in their mission to extend the vehicle’s life, they also knew they could do it one way or another. More than once did they have to choose the «other path», also known as «hard work». I am glad they didn’t give up. Others would have, I am sure.

Doing the hard part is hard. Pun intended.

There are two parts to hard work. One is seeing it, the other doing it.

I let two people explain what I mean as they know what they are talking about.

Seth Godin wrote about the hard part on his daily blog today.

«“What’s the hard part” is a question that everyone on the team should be able to answer. But you won’t find out unless you ask the question.»

The singer Jennifer Nettles sings about doing hard things in her beautiful and moving song «I can do hard things».

«I know it’s a lot to look at all that I got

It’s a lot to see who I am and am not

But I can laugh and I can love and I can dream

I can win or I can lose, it’s all the same

I still dance, and I’ll sing in the pain

And I can do hard things»

Laughter. Love. Dreams.

Winning. Losing.

Dancing. Singing.

Doing hard things.