A “B” for effort won’t get you far. Results are what matter.

I read an article recently and was shocked to learn that a small percentage of college students feel they deserve a B just for showing up for class. A survey seems to support this. In addition, many feel that effort, even without results, should be rewarded with good grades.

I once had an employee who had grand ideas about her own ability and ideas. One of her ideas involved controlling health care costs with wellness programs. I had my doubts but agreed to proceed and spend the money. 

There is nothing wrong with such programs, but turning them into quantifiable savings is virtually impossible. This is especially true when the programs exclude family members where most health costs are incurred for an employer group.

After several months, a report was ready to demonstrate the value of the program. The consultants made their presentation with great confidence and flourish. They were consumed with their own rhetoric and charts, but without hard data, no ability to link the program to actual dollars saved, but lots of feel good assumptions. Neither the consultants nor the employee seemed to gasp that fact-based results I could present to senior management were required.   

At the end of the year the employee’s performance evaluation reflected this work and similar activities with what amounted to an “needs improvement” rating. She was incensed even threatening to file discrimination charges. Management forced me to change the rating to “meets requirements” which still didn’t go over well, but she received a C+ for effort I guess. 

This event was about 25 years ago, but I never forgot it. 

Results do matter whether at school, work, investing or life. Good intentions are fine, but they don’t get you very far. 

I’m going to save for retirement – and put my money in a safe, savings account. Please don’t tell me you plan to retire at age 55. 

I listen to the calls for a higher federal minimum wage – even though most states are already higher – and think where does that get a person? They are still in a MW job at the bottom of the economic ladder and since a rising tide raises all boats, at best they are treading water. Real results must come from getting out of that job. 

I attend a lot of grandchildren’s sports events.  I listen to many of the parents in attendance and cringe, but keep my mouth shut. “Good job,” “nice try,” “it’s okay, next time,” they yell when that didn’t occur. Imbedding that type of encouragement in the child’s psyche may create a future unique philosophy – like a B for showing up at class. 

Clearly don’t belittle or embarrass the child, but I suspect they can sense false praise too. Dropping an easy fly ball is not a good job. I say gently guide them on doing better, not on ignoring failure.

I watch pro football and I’m amused at the celebration after a touchdown. What the heck are they celebrating? It’s the fourth quarter and their team is loosing 30-3. Where were they the first three quarters? 

Getting from kindergarten to retirement is a long haul. For most people it’s not easy. There is a lifetime of good decisions needed – and good fortune. You aren’t going to get there simply by trying – even hard. You need results. You need the ability to delay immediate gratification or even forgo it. 

You need knowledge to help make good decisions. Trying hard to build a diverse portfolio means nothing if you don’t actually do it. Trying hard to save is not cash in the bank unless you save first. Trying to control spending, but then rationalizing that vacation, is losing the trying. 

Maybe all this trying – and complaining – is why many millennials are in such a funk as they march toward middle age.

Many people who are very successful have also failed, but they didn’t mask the failure as a good effort, they learned from it and did better the next time with results.

So try hard, but that alone is a no credit course.