SUMMARY
In a world that celebrates shortcuts and instant results, it’s easy to forget that some of life’s greatest rewards can’t be rushed. This week’s reflection reminds us that the deepest satisfaction comes from rolling up our sleeves, embracing the hard work, and finishing what we start.
The Green Clippers
When I was kid, I mowed lawns.
And I loved it.
It all started on a cool spring day in an immaculate single-car garage in northern Minnesota.
To this day, I can still vividly remember being “knighted” by my father as the master groundskeeper of Chez Hunnicutt.
I never felt more important in my life.
I was 10.
Dutifully, to uphold the sacred responsibilities of this office, I would routinely: (1) shod my feet with a rugged pair of steel-toed Red Wing boots, (2) grab my yellow buckskin gloves, (3) slip on a pair of cheap sunglasses (Foster Grants to be precise), and (4) strut out the back door.
Then, with a single firm tug on the starter cord, I was immediately bear-hugged by a roar that could only be generated by a legendary push mower known as the “Toro Whirlwind.”
Replete with a 21-inch deck and a 4 horsepower Briggs and Stratton engine, I would take my position at the south edge of the lawn.
Then, as my father would always say when there’s work to be done, “Son, it’s time to ‘get to steppin’.”
To put it plainly, I toiled mightily in this task.
...never, ever, ever forget that it’s the last six inches that matter most
That mower was a heavy beast. The grass was long and lush. And I was just a skinny kid.
But with each effort-filled pass, a homely-maiden of a yard was methodically being transformed into a beautiful princess.
And when Round 1 of man vs. mower was over, I was almost giddy with the result.
What was once ragged and unkempt was now beautiful and new.
But the task was not complete—not even close.
Round 2 was about to begin.
Grabbing my green-handled grass clippers, it was time to get serious.
And herein lies the lesson for today.
What We Can Learn From Green-Handled, Grass Clippers
Back in the day, every kid had it drilled into them that proper lawn maintenance was a two-round prize fight.
Round 1: Mowing
Round 2: Trimming
Because you could see the immediate impact of your efforts, Round 1 was (relatively speaking) fun.
Round 2 (trimming) was work.
The first was for poseurs.
The second was for purists.
Now here’s where a bit of history can help some of our younger readers.
Circa 1972, when it came to Round 2 and lawn trimming, there were no shortcuts.
There were no weed-eaters or weed-whackers.
Nor was there such a thing as a gas-powered brush cutter.
And most certainly, there were no hair-combing, cake-eating, three-speed, 56 volt ARC lithium battery operated, high-performing, brushless motors in existence to remove the dregs.
Old-school, baby.
Green-handled grass clippers.
On all fours.
By hand.
Was it fun?
Not by a long-shot.
Did it ever get easier?
No, it did not.
But I can tell you this: There was absolutely no better feeling in the world than finishing a yard the right way.
In fact, to this day, I carry this feeling with me.
And for this experience, I will be forever grateful.
...“earned dopamine” only comes through hard work, intense effort, and prolonged, concentrated focus.
Old-school, baby.
Green-handled grass clippers.
On all fours.
By hand.
Was it fun?
Not by a long-shot.
Did it ever get easier?
No, it did not.
But I can tell you this: There was absolutely no better feeling in the world than finishing a yard the right way.
In fact, to this day, I carry this feeling with me.
And for this experience, I will be forever grateful.
Cheap Dopamine Vs. Earned Dopamine
Interestingly, scientists call this extraordinary feeling “Earned Dopamine.”
By way of background, you may recall that dopamine is the brain’s ultimate “feel-good” chemical.
But here’s where it gets interesting.
In stark contrast to the “cheap dopamine” you get from swiping on your smartphone or watching cat videos on YouTube, “earned dopamine” only comes through hard work, intense effort, and prolonged, concentrated focus.
And here’s the best part of the whole thing.
Over the long-haul, “earned dopamine” not only gives you a sense of intense satisfaction when it comes to working hard, but it also helps you to become more disciplined, more focused, and better at actually finishing the projects you have started.
Who knew that a pair of green handled grass clippers could provide all that?
As a quick aside, even though I’ve only recently been able to define that great feeling you get when you complete a challenging task, the concept has been around for centuries.
In fact, way back in Greek antiquity, ancient philosophers used to call this “eudaimonia” and it referred to the fulfillment that can only be derived from seriously hard work and exhaustively meaningful effort.
(Had my father know this term back in the day, I have no doubt that when he was hugging me for clipping the edges of that entire yard three times a week, he would have referred to it as “YOU-DA-MAN-ia.”
Man, that was always a sweet moment.
Easy Choices, Hard Life. Hard Choices, Easy Life.
There’s an old quote that goes, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like hard work.”
This is gospel truth.
...in all that you do, work hard and finish strong.
Listen, we live in age where “hard work” (aka grinding) is seen as a detestable thing.
In fact, when given the choice between easy and hard, far too many people choose the former.
And sadly, when this choice becomes the default, the consequences are severe.
To be sure, not only do people who choose easy over hard stunt their physical, emotional, occupational, interpersonal, and spiritual growth, they also miss out on all of the associated blessings of working hard and grinding (not least of which include a deep, intense, and long-lasting sense of satisfaction!)
And isn’t it interesting that, in an age of endless life hacks, AI, and labor-saving devices, everyone is less happy now than they’ve ever been before.
See the connection?
Like I said, easy choices, hard life. Hard choices, easy life.
Leading With Light
Sadly, we are living in a time where there is general disdain for anything that’s hard.
As Leaders of Light, I’m encouraging you to be different.
In all that you do, work hard and finish strong.
Why?
Because in hard work there is satisfaction. In hard work, there is joy. In hard work, there is growth.
And, perhaps even more importantly, in hard work there is example.
Listen, if there’s ever been a time where leaders need to model the ancient virtue of working hard, it’s now.
In fact, because of your example, others will see that there are still leaders who delight in grinding, who revel in the challenge of taking on hard tasks, and who celebrate pushing projects over the finish line.
(Never, ever, ever forget that it’s the last six inches that matter most. And those six inches are hard fought territory.)
And when all is said and done, do not neglect the golden opportunity for praising people who have followed your example—even if the outcome is less than extraordinary.
Remember, grinding precedes greatness—and people are going to need a lot of encouragement along the way.
Today, right now, take the road less traveled.
Be grateful for the tough challenges you have in your life (because it’s those challenges that provide you with the feedback and fuel you need to keep on keeping on!).
Be excellent.
Master your craft.
Respect the process.
Do things the right way.
Finish the job—pick up your grass clippers and get it done.
And most of all, be grateful for the grind!
