A journalist asked Thomas Edison, "What do you think is the first [requirement] for success?"

"The ability to apply your physical and mental energies to one problem incessantly," replied the inventor, "without growing weary."

Diligence is more than being busy. It is a quality of dedication. According to Edison, Diligence is applying "physical and mental energies" to the problem at hand "without growing weary" - that is, without losing interest before the task is done.

Thomas A. Edison (1847-1931)   Thomas Edison searched the world to find the right material for a light bulb filament. His intense interest in new ideas and concepts, coupled with his dogged diligence, played a large role in the 1,093 U.S. patents that he received in his lifetime - more than any other person has ever received.

A person can grow physically and emotionally tired, yet still be interested in seeing the job through. A study of great military leaders throughout history will demonstrate the power of interest in an objective despite emotional and physical fatigue. This ability to foster persevering interest in a job that needs doing is a distinctive mark of diligence.

Thomas Edison had an unusual knack for fostering interest. He would fascinate himself with a subject so thoroughly that it consumed his entire focus. "Anything I have begun," he explained to an inquirer, "is always on my mind, and I am not easy while away from it, until it is finished; and then I hate it."

"Hate it!?" the inquirer gasped in disbelief at Edison's strong words.

"Yes," continued the veteran inventor, "when it is all done and is a success, I can't bear the sight of it. I haven't used a telephone in ten years, and I would go out of my way any day to miss an incandescent light."

It was not because Edison was excited about using electric light bulbs that he invented the revolutionary wonder. Rather, it was because he had developed a fascination with an idea. He fostered interest in getting the job done and then, once done, he set it aside completely and focused all his passions and energies on the next job.

Diligence is being interested in one's work. The work at hand may not be entertaining or fun. A task may be monotonous and even discouraging. History attests to the long and discouraging struggle Edison endured to produce his light bulb. But even a troublesome task can hold interest.

Interest is a matter of choice - choosing to take a personal stake in seeing the task accomplished and the goal achieved. It is as simple (or perhaps, as difficult) as that.

The choice to take hold and personally see a job through is a tough call, but that is the essence of diligence - applying yourself to complete the task.

DILIGENCE ON THE JOB

A person cannot put his heart into his work unless he is personally interested in it. Diligence requires that a person take his work personally.

For some jobs, this is natural. Other jobs may not be that interesting. Any job over time will have periods of interest and periods of tedium. A person's interest at such times may not be in the activity itself, but in the people helped, the company supported, or the satisfaction of knowing you have done your best.

Without some measure of personal interest in seeing a job done will, a person cannot really put her heart into the job. Seek to interest yourself in the task at hand, and apply yourself to completing it.

DILIGENCE WITH BALANCE

At 17, Thomas Edison had obtained a good position in a telegraph office. He was, in fact, probably the best on the line. But young Edison became bored during long, dull shifts.

"I invented an automatic attachment for my telegraph instrument," he later confessed, "which would send in the signal to show I was awake at my post when I was comfortably snoring in a corner. I didn't do much of that, though," he was quick to add, "for some such boyish trick sent me in disgrace over the line into Canada."

A person is hired for a job, not to carry it out according to his ever-changing interests. Rather, he is hired to apply himself to do the work that needs to be done.

Diligence, to be true diligence, does require that a person take interest in his or her work. But even when there is no interest, the complementary quality of dependability must be upheld, "fulfilling what I consented to do, even if it means unexpected sacrifice."

DILIGENCE VS. SLOTHFULNESS

Investing my time and energy to complete each task assigned to me.

The etymology of the word diligence reveals an important insight into the character quality that it represents.

Diligence is a descendant of diligere, a Latin word meaning "to value highly; to love, esteem, prize; to choose." It is formed by combining dis ("apart") and legere ("to pick out, choose").

The original Latin word form which we derive diligence referred to choosing one task or object apart from all others and giving great value and attention to that task or object.

Diligence is not just hard work. It is heart work - putting one's heart and energy into seeing a project completed.

di·li·gence n 1: steady application of effort to accomplish a task 2: exerting oneself to fulfill what is undertaken without unnecessary delay 3: acting with great care and effort

Diligence is dedicating myself and my resources to seeing a task to completion. It is sticking with the job without allowing distractions to draw me away. It is doing whatever is necessary to finish.

CHOOSE

As the history of the word indicates (see etymology at left), diligence is more than just hard work. It is giving one's heart-energy to see a project succeed.

A football player is most diligent at his training when he is excited. He loves the sport. He loves playing the game. He earnestly applies himself and all his energy. A painter excels in her art when she practices diligently. Such diligence comes naturally when painting is something she loves to do.

Sometimes, however, we face tasks we do not naturally enjoy. Nevertheless, diligence requires that we choose to take a personal interest in the project. Unless we give our heart to the task, we cannot truly dedicate our energy to see it a success.

STICK

Diligence requires more than interest. It also requires the self-discipline to set aside other distracting interests and keep focused. Diligence is like a drive on the highway. Billboards, fast-food signs, and other attractions all urge you to take the next exit; but diligence realizes that such distractions can deter from the ultimate goal - arriving at your destination.

THINK DILIGENCE 1. What was Thomas Edison's "requirement for success"? 2. How did Edison focus his interests in order to enhance his diligence? 3. How, in your experience, does being interested increase your diligence? “No man e're was glorious, who was not laborious.” - Benjamin Franklin

FINISH

t is easy to begin a job with gusto and fizzle out before completing it. Diligence finishes to job.

DILIGENCE AT HOME

Read a book from the on ants and how they diligently gather food for their ant colony.

Start an ant farm or find ants in the yard to observe what you have read.


Character definitions and information used by permission. Copyright Character Training Institute. www.characterfirst.com
 

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