4 – Try your hardest.

This one is a no-brainer for me. Why bother spending all that time at school or work unless you are going to give it your best effort?  This doesn’t mean getting the best grades. It means that you make the effort commensurate with the task.  

At school, at work, at life - people recognize and value hard work.  Working hard is a discipline that will follow you throughout your life.  I believe that our ambitions are fostered by our efforts and that meritocracies recognize and reward these traits.