THE HABIT OF DOING MORE THAN PAID FOR 575There are two reasons, however, which transcend all others in their
importance.
First, by establishing a reputation as being a person who does
this, you will benefit by comparison with those around you who do
not render such service, and the contrast will be so noticeable that
there will be keen competition for your services, no matter what your
life's work may be. Whether you are preaching sermons, practicing law,
writing books, teaching school, or digging ditches, you will become
more valuable and you will be able to command greater pay as you
gain recognition for Doing More Than Paid For.
The second, and by far the most important reason, is basic and
fundamental in nature. Suppose that you wished to develop a strong
right arm, and suppose that you tried to do so by tying your arm to
your side to give it a long rest. Would disuse bring strength, or would
it bring atrophy and weakness?
You know that if you wanted a strong right arm you would develop
it only by exercising and working it harder. Out of resistance comes
strength. The strongest tree in the forest is not the one that is protected
from the storm and hidden from the sun, but the one that stands in
the open, where it is compelled to struggle for its existence against the
winds and rains and scorching sun.
The purpose of this lesson is to show you how to harness this
law of nature-that struggle and resistance develop strength-and
use it to aid you in your struggle for success. By forming the Habit
of Doing More Than Paid For, you will eventually develop sufficient
strength to enable you to remove yourself from any undesirable station
in life, and no one can or will desire to stop you.
If your employer should be so unfortunate as to try to pay you
less than you are worth, that won't last long; other employers will
discover your unusual quality and offer you employment.
The very fact that most people are rendering as little service as
they can possibly get by with serves as an advantage to those who are