Why Get a 'B' When You Can Get an 'A?'

The Leadership Blitz

October 7th, 2009

The question of the day is this: How strongly do you believe in yourself?

When times are tough and you're faced with a challenge, do you take the easy route and walk away with a safe result?

Or do you believe enough in your abilities that you can apply your skill set, utilize your knowledge, and accentuate your strengths to acquire the best results possible?

This story is a great example:

A professor was preparing to give a final to his class. The students filed into the classroom and took their seats. The professor looked the classroom over and said the following:

"I know you have all prepared hard for this test. However, I will give each of you the following option. You can stay and take the test. Or, you can leave now, forego taking the exam, and you will receive a 'B' for this course."

Several of the students pondered the professor's offer, and some took him up on it. The teacher took an attendance of those who decided to leave the classroom without taking the test and gave them a 'B' for the course.

Once all those students left, the professor looked at the few remaining in the classroom. He said the following:

"My students, it is great to see that you have the belief in yourself that you could achieve the best results possible if you applied yourself. Each and every one of you receive an 'A!'

End story.

Now, if you had been put in this situation, which option would you have chose? The easy 'B,' or the belief in yourself that said you would've gotten an 'A' simply by applying the knowledge you've absorbed?

As leaders, we are faced with the challenge of choosing the "safe route," which gets us more of what we already have. Or, we can venture down a path that presents challenge, struggle, and the ability to grow...but also offers a greater reward at the end.

Believing in yourself is the cornerstone of any venture you set out to succeed in. If you have a little voice in the back of your head telling you it's OK to take a day off or saying you don't have what it takes to get the job done, there's no way you'll ever outperform that voice.

Leaders perform. Leaders do whatever it takes to succeed. Leaders get an 'A.'

Believe in yourself today. Don't take the safe route that provides comfortable results. Shatter your comfort zone and get something you've never had before!