Ask any professional musician, “Who gets hired?” and they will all give the same answer. It isn’t the most talented player; it’s not the one who can play more notes, or play faster than anyone else. It’s the one who shows up on time; the one who plays what is needed for the music; the one who is reliable; the one who is pleasant and friendly and gets along with others.
You don’t need to be a super-talented musician. You don’t need to be a star athlete, or a top student.
To be respected and well-liked, to feel good about yourself, you need only do what every one of us can do:
- Be a good friend; a good classmate; a good teammate.
- Be reliable. Show up on time, and whatever the work is, give it your best effort.
- Think of others, not just yourself, and help out when you can.
Doing these simple things will earn the respect of all who know you, and the self-respect that will make you feel good about who you are. That’s a pretty good description of genuine success.