Flashback to elementary school field days and a swarm of kids jumping in potato sacks and trying to carry their friend by the feet as if they were a human wheelbarrow. All these insane tasks were done simply for the bragging rights that came with carrying a first, second or third place ribbon back to your classmates. But, your classmates take your boasting with a grain of salt, for they have ribbons of their own: participation ribbons.
All that effort put fourth into making sure you were just that much faster than your competitors during the 200-yard dash suddenly flies out the window because the award you received isn't all that special anymore since everyone has one. What's so special about special recognition when everyone is recognized?
Unfortunately, it seems as though it is more common to witness young teens and children accomplish only the bare minimum rather than strive to achieve overall greatness. Going into something knowing that you will be rewarded regardless of your efforts makes trying seem overrated and a waste of extra time and energy. Working hard on a task becomes pointless, if you're just going to receive the same prize as someone who slapped something together at the last minute.
Of course, there are bright minded individuals who see tasks as opportunities to better their own skills rather than compete with others, and thus give everything their all. Not only does this mindset make for a hardworking and determined person, but it also cancels out the notion of instant gratification. Understanding that all good things in life come from putting effort into something is a lesson that should be learned early in life.
In the real world as an adult with a job, there is no room to lazily piece a project together. Apart from upsetting whoever you work for, such an attitude could result in a pay-cut or even a loss of a job, ultimately shaping the rest of your future. Plus, gaining a reputation as someone who expects praise every moment for simply doing what they should be doing, isn't the best.
Children are taught early on in life that they are wonderful — that they are the apple of their parent's eyes and that they deserve the world handed to them on a silver platter. Through participation ribbons for barely finishing the race or ice cream sundaes even though their room was never cleaned, kids are exposed to a life in which they feel they are entitled. Entitled to special treatment and the utmost rewards for simply being who they are — even if who they are is someone who didn't do their chores.
The great thinkers of the world didn't go into tasks with an entitled attitude. They were probably never handed participation ribbons or told they were No. 1 even if they were No. 6. They didn't expect an extra piece of candy if they got a C on a test, nor did they simply sit on their butt all day and figure that all their problems would be solved the next morning. They worked hard and rather than feeling the need to be instantly gratified, they saw pleasure in accomplishing a challenging endeavor after many instances of trail and error. This is something the future leaders of today need to grasp or we will be living in a world in which no one strives for greatness.
