The purpose and power of mission

"WTF!"
This was my standard response to the "your-daily-habits-are-the -foundation-of-your-success" type leadership quotes, that is, until I discovered the power and purpose of mission.

  My dad was a "stand up" guy when it came to work ethic. He would get up at four in the morning, do his daddy chores and still be in the office at 06:30 sharp. He was committed, determined and loyal towards his job, but he was just an average man and for all of his hard work, he never amounted to much.

  I don't mean to sound ungrateful, nor am I attacking what my dad did to support his family. The point is that leadership quotes often imply that success is the result of hard work, but evidence in the real world suggests that success needs something more.

  Shaun's dad was also commited to family and job, but with very different results. Shaun's dad worked hard at cultivating an attitude of service to others. He also worked to deliberately grow his skills, which paid off and greatly benefitted his family.

  I know you work hard to have a better life. I also know that you become despondent and depressed when the rewards of your hard work are missing. So, what the jinx are all the leadership quotes talking about? Why do they imply that what we do daily produces our success?

  Our success is directly related to the mission in our lives. Mission is the skills you use, and efforts you put in daily to achieve your goal. Mission requires commitment. It implys service to others and it also expects you to deliberately grow in ability each and every day.

  Once you have given commitment, service, and development to your mission, your mission will reward you with the powerful gifts of focus, momentum, and mastery. These three elements are the seeds that produce life's success.

  This is where the leadership quotes ring true - you must deposit effort into your mission daily. Feeding your mission only now-and-then will produce results only now-and-then. WTF.