In the movie The Natural, at the opening of the film, Roy Hobbs’ father looks at him and says, “You have a gift, a talent. But that’s not enough.”

Unfortunately, the young Hobbs, preternaturally gifted at baseball, has to learn that lesson on his own, as a crazed fan shoots him while he’s on the way to a tryout with the Chicago Cubs.

In the iconic film, it takes Hobbs, played by Robert Redford, a full 16 years before he can come back to baseball from the injury, this time with less natural talent but far more perspective and appreciation for the game.

While I definitely can’t relate to the Natural, a couple of months ago, I found myself focusing on the wrong stuff – the things that don’t enhance who I am or make me/us better.

As I should have expected, my talent was not enough. I stumbled.

Even though I’ve been at this for almost 25 years, sometimes I still need to be reminded what it’s all about: effort and work ethic over talent, all day, every day.

Lesson learned.

Also a few months back, I started working out with a Peloton Treadmill (I recently got the bike too).

And one of the things I noticed almost immediately was that the trainers (who are talking through the entire session) never use the words “work out” or “training.” Instead, it’s always about maximum effort.

They don’t just expect you to give maximum effort every time (which would be physically impossible), but at the time that those max efforts are needed for the session.

Great effort each and every time – but MAX effort only when the time is right and is required.

That’s it, isn’t it? No one can be at max effort all the time. But when max effort is required, give it your all. MAXIMUM EFFORT!

Industry legend, mentor, and close friend Harry Hoopis says, “Imagine our business, a sales and relationship business, without any contests or methods to measure success?”

How much more difficult would it be to assess how well you are doing against your peers? Against your own expectations? That you were giving great effort – or maximum effort?

Thankfully, we can measure our efforts against those who we respect as well as against our own definition of success. Just like Roy Hobbs learned to tap into what was left of his talent with maximum effort at the most opportune times, but also embracing and pushing his teammates.

Talent is not enough, but maximum effort is.

So, let’s work together on that max effort and push each other to become the best we can be.

-J.D.