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The Value of Hard Work and Resilience

Christopher Wagner • Apr 14, 2023

Work Hard - Let's GO!

Hard work and resilience are two essential qualities for success in any field. Whether you are an athlete, a business person, a politician, or anything else, you will face challenges, setbacks, and failures. How you deal with them will determine your outcome.


One of the most inspiring examples of hard work and resilience is Kobe Bryant, the legendary basketball player who passed away in 2020. Kobe was known for his insane work ethic, which he developed from a young age. He would wake up at 4 a.m. to practice before school, continue to train after school, and even late at night. He would push himself to the limit, often playing through injuries and pain. He would study his opponents, his teammates, and himself, constantly looking for ways to improve. He would also seek out mentors and coaches who could help him grow as a player and a person.


"I wanna be the best, simple, and plain." Kobe Bryant

In Data

As a Power BI developer, you can learn from Kobe's example and apply his Mamba Mentality to your data analysis and visualization projects. 


To master Power BI, you need to work hard and be resilient. You must practice your skills regularly, learn from your mistakes, seek feedback from others, and keep up with the latest updates and features. You must overcome data quality, security, performance, and governance challenges. You must find creative ways to tell stories with your data and communicate insights to your audience.


By doing so, you will improve not only your Power BI skills but also your career prospects. Power BI is one of the most in-demand skills in the market today, as more and more organizations rely on data-driven decision-making. Power BI can help you stand out, showcase your value, and advance your career goals.



In Personal Life

Hard work is essential not only for your professional success but also for your personal happiness. Working on your personal relationships means investing time, energy, and care into the people who matter to you. It means being supportive, respectful, and honest with your partner, family, friends, and colleagues. It means communicating effectively, listening actively, and resolving conflicts constructively. It means expressing your feelings, needs, and expectations and understanding those of others. It means showing appreciation, gratitude, and affection and receiving them in return.


Working on your personal relationships requires hard work, but it also brings great rewards. Working hard on your personal relationships can strengthen your bonds, deepen your trust, and enhance your intimacy. You can also improve your well-being, health, and happiness. You can also cope better with stress, challenges, and difficulties. You can also learn from your personal relationships and grow as an individual and a partner.


So keep going with Power BI. Work hard and be resilient. As Kobe said: "Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise."


The Value of Hard Work, Perseverance and Optimism

Perseverance and optimism are essential qualities for success in any field. Whether you are an athlete, a business person, a politician, or anything else, you will face difficulties, disappointments, and failures along the way. How you cope with them will determine your ultimate outcome.


One of the most inspiring examples of perseverance and optimism is Naoki Higashida, a Japanese author with severe autism. Higashida has difficulty communicating verbally, but he learned to express himself through writing using an alphabet grid. He wrote his first book, 'The Reason I Jump', when he was 13 years old, and it became an international bestseller. He later wrote another book, Fall Down 7 Times Get Up 8, where he shared his thoughts and experiences as a young man living with autism. He reveals his struggles, joys, hopes, and dreams in his books with honesty and courage.


"With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable" Thomas Fowell Buxton


In Data

As a Power BI developer, you can learn from Higashida's example and apply his perseverance and optimism to your data analysis and visualization projects. 


To master Power BI, you need to persevere and be optimistic. You need to face the realities of data availability, quality, and security. You need to cope with the uncertainties of data sources, formats, and models. You need to handle the complexities of data transformations, calculations, and visualizations. You need to trust your data and your insights.


In Business

Your company wants to develop a new Power BI feature for its product to allow users to create and share custom reports. The company knows that this feature will be a game-changer for their customers and a massive challenge for them. They will have to overcome many difficulties, uncertainties, and failures.


The company repeats this iterative design process until they achieve a satisfactory solution. They then launch the new feature to their customers and celebrate their success. They are proud of their hard work and grit but also humble and eager to learn and improve.


You need to follow an iterative design process where you plan, build, test, and refine your data solutions. You must experiment with different data sources, transformations, calculations, and visualizations. You need to solicit feedback from your stakeholders, users, and peers. You need to learn from your failures and successes.


By doing so, you will improve not only your Power BI skills but also your career prospects. 



In Personal Life

Imagine you are facing a mountain of challenges and struggles in your life. You are drowning in debt, battling a chronic illness, dealing with a broken family, or suffering from a stressful job. 


You feel like giving up like there is no hope, no way out. 


But you are not alone. 


You have the power to climb that mountain and reach the summit. You have the power of hard work, perseverance, and optimism. Hard work means you don't quit, you don't settle, and you don't stop. You put in the effort, the time, and the dedication to improve yourself and your situation. 


Perseverance means you don't let anything or anyone stop you from pursuing your goals. You persist, you endure, and you overcome. Optimism means you maintain faith in yourself and your future. You have a positive outlook and attitude that inspire you and others. 


By persevering and being optimistic, you can conquer any challenge and create any opportunity. You can also care for your loved ones and deal with personal tragedies. You can grow as an individual and a professional and positively impact the world.


The Value of Hard Work and Personal Resilience

Hard work and personal resilience are essential for success in any field. Whether you are an athlete, a business person, a politician, or anything else, you must work hard and overcome adversity to achieve your goals.


One of the most inspiring examples of hard work and personal resilience is Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese soccer star widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever. Ronaldo was born into a poor family in Madeira, Portugal. He had a difficult childhood, marked by poverty, hunger, and bullying. He also had a heart condition that threatened his career. But he did not let these obstacles stop him. He worked hard to improve his skills, fitness, and mindset. He moved to Lisbon at 12 to join Sporting CP, a professional soccer club. He later transferred to Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Juventus, where he won numerous trophies and awards. He also became the captain and leading scorer of the Portuguese national team, leading them to their first European Championship title in 2016.


"Talent without hard work is nothing" Cristiano Ronaldo


Ronaldo's hard work and personal resilience paid off. He became one of the most successful and influential soccer players in history. He broke many records, including being the first player to score more than 50 goals in six consecutive seasons, the first to win four European Golden Shoes, and the first to score in four World Cups. He also won five Ballon d'Or awards, the most prestigious individual honor in soccer. He is also known for his philanthropy and social activism, supporting various causes such as education, health, and disaster relief.


In Personal Life

Hard work and personal resilience can also help us care for our loved ones and deal with personal tragedies. Ronaldo knows this very well, as he has faced many losses and hardships. He lost his father to alcoholism when he was 20 years old. He lost his brother-in-law and his grandfather in the same year. He also lost his close friend and former teammate, Diego Maradona, in 2020. He has also been involved in legal battles, tax fraud allegations, and rape accusations. But he has always shown compassion, generosity, and strength during difficult times. He has supported his mother, who suffered a stroke in 2020. He has raised four children, three of whom were born through surrogacy. He has donated millions of dollars to various charities and causes. He has also maintained his professionalism and excellence on the field, inspiring millions of fans worldwide.


You may be going through some challenges and struggles right now. You may face financial difficulties, health issues, family problems, or work stress. You may be feeling overwhelmed, discouraged, or hopeless. But you are not alone. You have the power to overcome any obstacle and achieve any goal. You have the power of hard work and personal resilience. Hard work means putting in the effort, the time, and the dedication to improve yourself and your situation. Emotional stability means bouncing back from setbacks, failures, and difficulties with courage and optimism. You can cope with any challenge and create opportunities by working hard and being resilient. You can also care for your loved ones and deal with personal tragedies. You can grow as an individual and a professional and positively impact the world.


In Data

Data validation and data quality require hard work and personal resilience. You need to work hard to identify and correct any errors, gaps, or anomalies in your data. You must be resilient to cope with your data sources' changes, updates, or issues. You must follow best practices and guidelines for data collection, processing, and storage. You must use appropriate data validation and quality assessment tools and methods. You need to document and communicate your data validation and quality results.


You can enhance your data analysis, visualization skills, and outcomes by working hard and being resilient in data validation and quality. You can increase your confidence and credibility in your data and insights. You can provide more value and impact to your stakeholders and customers. You can also learn from your data validation and quality process and improve future projects.


Ronaldo's story shows us that hard work and personal resilience can help us overcome challenges and achieve dreams. Hard work means putting in the effort, the time, and the dedication to improve ourselves and our performance. Personal resilience means bouncing back from setbacks, failures, and difficulties with courage and optimism. By working hard and being resilient, we can grow as individuals and professionals and positively impact the world.


The Value of Hard Work and Long Hours

Hard work is a virtue that many people admire and aspire to. But what does hard work mean in different cultures and contexts? 


For a dairy farmer in Wisconsin, hard work might mean waking up before dawn, milking the cows, feeding the animals, cleaning the barn, and delivering the milk to the market. For a rice farmer in Vietnam, hard work might mean planting the seeds, tending the fields, harvesting the crop, and selling the rice to the buyers. Both farmers work long hours and face many challenges, but they have different lifestyles and values. The dairy farmer might enjoy the comfort of a warm house, a car, and a television, while the rice farmer might live in a simple hut, ride a bicycle, and listen to the radio. The dairy farmer might value independence, efficiency, and innovation, while the rice farmer might value community, tradition, and harmony. Hard work is not a universal concept but a relative one that depends on the culture and context of each individual.


The number of hours each type of farmer may work can vary depending on the season, the weather, the market, and other factors. However, a general estimate can be made based on some assumptions and averages. A dairy farmer in Wisconsin may work about 12 hours a day, from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m., with some breaks in between. A rice farmer in Vietnam may work about 10 hours a day, from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m., with a more extended break at noon. Both farmers may work six or seven days a week, depending on the demand and supply of their products. Therefore, both farmers may work about 70 hours a week on average, more than twice the typical 40-hour workweek of an office worker in the United States. However, the number of hours does not necessarily reflect the quality or the outcome of the work, as many other factors influence each farmer's productivity and profitability.


In Business

Hard work can also mean different things at different phases of a career or when a person decides to change jobs or advance their career. For example, a young professional just starting out in their field may work hard to learn new skills, gain experience, and build a network. They may work longer hours, take on more responsibilities, and seek feedback and mentorship. For them, hard work is a way to establish themselves and grow professionally. On the other hand, seasoned professional who has been in their field for a long time may work hard to maintain their reputation, update their knowledge, and adapt to changes. They may work smarter hours, delegate tasks, and share their expertise. For them, hard work is a way to sustain themselves and stay relevant. Finally, a person wanting to change careers or advance their job may work hard to explore new opportunities, acquire qualifications, and overcome challenges. They may work extra hours, pursue education or training, and take risks. For them, hard work is a way to reinvent themselves and achieve their goals.


In Personal Life

Hard work and long hours are not only applicable to work life but also to personal life. Working hard in one's personal life can benefit one's well-being, happiness, and relationships. For example, a person who works hard in their personal life may invest time and energy in their hobbies, passions, and interests. They may pursue their dreams, express their creativity, and enjoy leisure. For them, working hard in their personal life is a way to enrich themselves and have fun.


Similarly, people working hard in their personal lives may devote time and attention to their family, friends, and community. They may nurture their bonds, support their loved ones, and contribute to society. Working hard in their personal life is a way to connect with others and make a difference.


Moreover, the experiences gained from working long hours at a job can positively impact one's ability to work hard in their personal life. For instance, a person who has worked long hours at a job may have developed discipline, resilience, and problem-solving skills. They may also have learned integrity, responsibility, and teamwork. These skills and values can help them to work hard in their personal life by setting goals, overcoming obstacles, and collaborating with others.


Conclusion

Now you know the secret to success and happiness in any aspect of life: hard work. 


Hard work is not a burden but a blessing. 


Hard work is not a punishment but a privilege. 


Hard work is not a sacrifice but a reward. 


Whether you are working on your professional skills, relationships, or resilience, you need to work hard to improve yourself and your situation. You also need to work hard to overcome any challenge, failure, or difficulty that comes your way. You must work hard to believe in yourself and your potential and never give up on your goals and dreams.


As the stoic philosopher Seneca said:



“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.”


Dare to work hard.


Dare to overcome adversity.


Dare to achieve greatness.


You have the power within you to do so.


CHRIS WAGNER, MBA MVP

Analytics Architect, Mentor, Leader, and Visionary

Chris has been working in the Data and Analytics space for nearly 20 years. Chris has dedicated his professional career to making data and information accessible to the masses. A significant component in making data available is continually learning new things and teaching others from these experiences. To help people keep up with this ever-changing landscape, Chris frequently posts on LinkedIn and to this blog.
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In a dynamic data engineering scenario, Sam, a skilled professional, adeptly navigates urgent requests using Microsoft Fabric. Collaborating with Data Steward Lisa and leveraging OneLake, Sam streamlines data processes, creating a powerful collaboration between engineering and stewardship. With precision in Azure Data Factory and collaboration with a Data Scientist, Sam crafts a robust schema, leading to a visually appealing Power BI report.
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NOTE: This is the first draft of this document that was assembled yesterday as a solo effort. If you would like to contribute or have any suggestions, check out my first public GIT repository - KratosDataGod/LakehouseToPowerBI: Architectural design for incorporating a Data Lakehouse architecture with an Enterprise Power BI Deployment (github.com) This article is NOT published, reviewed, or approved by ANYONE at Microsoft. This content is my own and is what I recommend for architecture and build patterns.
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