I work so hard to make that sure I'm successful. If you're

When Shawn Mendes declared, “I work so hard to make sure I'm successful. If you're positive and really excited and enthusiastic about what you're doing, it's going to happen, and it's going to happen big time,” he revealed a principle that echoes across centuries: that success is not a matter of chance, but of hard work, unwavering positivity, and burning enthusiasm. His words remind us that greatness is born where effort and passion converge, where the will refuses to falter and the heart glows with excitement for its labor.

The ancients too praised this union of effort and spirit. The Greeks spoke of areté, the excellence of mind, body, and soul achieved through disciplined striving. The Romans revered virtus, the courage and energy to pursue noble goals. Mendes’ reflection belongs to this same lineage, teaching us that diligence without enthusiasm becomes drudgery, while excitement without labor is a dream that dissolves. It is the harmony of both — the plow of effort and the fire of joy — that makes success flourish.

History offers us glowing examples of this truth. Consider Thomas Edison, who worked tirelessly, conducting thousands of experiments before perfecting the electric light. He once said, “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” Yet he also carried within him the excitement of discovery, the childlike wonder that fueled his ceaseless trials. Like Mendes, Edison proved that when labor is joined with positivity and passion, the result is not only success, but success “big time,” transforming the destiny of nations.

Mendes’ words also serve as a rebuke to despair and indifference. Too often people labor without love, trudging through life’s tasks as though chained, and in doing so, they drain their own strength. Others, filled with fleeting enthusiasm, abandon their work at the first trial. But he reminds us that true success demands both: the discipline to persist when weary, and the joy that makes persistence feel worthwhile. In this balance lies the secret of enduring achievement.

At the heart of his teaching lies the alchemy of the soul. To meet your work with positivity is to draw energy even from toil; to approach it with enthusiasm is to transform duty into delight. This does not mean the road will be easy, but that the journey will be meaningful, sustained by love for what you are creating. When this spirit fills the heart, obstacles lose their sting, and setbacks become but stepping-stones.

The lesson is clear: success is not merely granted — it is built, day by day, through hard work, lifted by joy and carried by faith. Do not wait for chance to crown you; instead, rise each day with enthusiasm for your craft, and let your positivity be the fuel that turns trials into triumphs. For what you sow in diligence and joy, you shall reap in abundance.

In practice, this means committing to both discipline and delight. Wake early to labor with focus, but never lose sight of the passion that first drew you to your path. Remind yourself often why you love the work you do, and let that fire renew your strength. Speak words of positivity to yourself when doubt arises, and approach each challenge with enthusiasm, knowing that every step forward is a step toward something greater.

Therefore, let us embrace Shawn Mendes’ wisdom: when hard work joins with positivity, excitement, and enthusiasm, success is inevitable — and it comes in abundance. Strive with diligence, love what you do, and let your joy overflow into your labor. In this way, your efforts will not merely bear fruit — they will shape your destiny “big time,” leaving a legacy that inspires all who follow.