The True Test of Character: Doing What You Don’t Want to Do

As a martial arts instructor, a senior enlisted leader in the Air Force, and a leadership trainer, I’ve noticed a consistent truth: people often look for a way out when faced with something difficult or unpleasant.

Facing Discomfort in Different Arenas
In the dojo, it shows up as students claiming they’re too tired to train or that schoolwork is too heavy. In the military, I’ve seen service members exaggerate injuries to avoid physically demanding tasks. In corporate life, I’ve witnessed people overstate their productivity; submitting inflated numbers to meet expectations.

Sometimes the reasons are valid. Life gets busy, bodies get sore, and limits are real. But other times, these excuses are just shields to avoid doing something uncomfortable.

A Lesson in Facing the Unpleasant
Before I joined a pharmaceutical company, I sat through a tough panel interview with five territory managers.

One of them asked, 
“What was your least favorite class in your MBA program?”

​I paused and answered honestly: corporate finance.
Not because I couldn’t do the work, but because I naturally gravitate toward people over spreadsheets.

That question stuck with me. I was never told why they asked it, but I believe they wanted to see how I handled something I didn’t enjoy.

Would I still show up, give effort, and deliver results?

The True Test of Character
That, to me, is the true test of character:
not how you perform when things come easily, but how committed you are when they don’t.

You won’t always love the work. There will always be parts of the job—or life—that just aren’t exciting. The real difference-maker is whether you show up and give your best anyway.

Outcome of Commitment
As I waited for my luggage at the airport after that interview, I got the call—I was hired.

By the way, I earned a B+ in that class.
 

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