Effort = Results

Talent and all that are really for the most part just baloney. Any schoolboy with a little aptitude can perhaps draw better than I; but what he lacks in most cases is that tenacious desire to make it reality, that obstinate gnashing of teeth and saying, "Although I know it can't be done, I want to do it anyway."

–M. C. Escher 

This  quote captures a powerful message that helps separate successful and not-so-successful people. A message that I had hoped to instill in my children, including those who were my students, was Effort Equals Results. Accomplishments are achieved by applying oneself.

While many Americans question why students in other countries fare so much better in mathematics, the answer is pretty simply – it's about effort. Many American parents feel as though knowledge is inborn and comes naturally to some. I have heard countless parents explain away their children's poor math scores on the fact that they were poor math students, as well. For some reason, there are folks out there who think doing well in math is more about genetics. Sadly, the kids they were talking about put little effort into their work and there's a good chance their parents modeled and continue to model a lackluster work effort. Heck, maybe it is in the genes.


I would still argue that it is all about embracing a strong work ethic and being reminded that effort equals results, which simply means the more you put into something, the greater the result.

Today's kids  need to be reminded often of the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who beautifully captured the importance of a good work ethic when he said, "if a man is called a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry.  He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and Earth will pause to say, Here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well."

It's all about effort – especially, if you are interested in accomplishing anything.

For more M. C. Escher quotes, visit the link below...http://agutie.homestead.com/files/escher/escher_quotes_1.html