There is no shortcut to success. The certain route for everyone seeking success is focus and work. Most would clarify “hard work.”

That’s the case in every endeavor for every person including presidents.

Whenever any worthwhile goal or objective is accomplished in any field, results should be evident to all. Applause, recognition and deserved awards often follow.

But, last Friday, casting reason and appropriateness aside, the Nobel Prize Committee announced Barack H. Obama as the winner of the Noble Peach Prize. That action blatantly disclosed a skewed political agenda, which has transformed their selection process into a farce. As a result, recipients in general may be discredited; and, their action may actually undermine President Obama.

Clearly, the Nobel Committee’s action is a disservice to all people everywhere.

If Obama actually goes to Oslo to accept the prize and the monetary award that goes with it, the president would be a willing accomplice in this international farce. Acceptance would also be another indication that personal ego and hubris has overwhelmed presidential reason yet again.

Whether one agrees or not with the hard-left turn Barack Obama has taken, clearly it is premature, for even left progressives, to declare victory and distribute trophies. Obama admitted as much with his comments about accepting (it) as a “call to action” rather than a warranted recognition of actual accomplishments. This means he knows the rules were changed for him.

People on both ends — and in the middle — of the political spectrum know the truth.

Setting aside reactive political comments such as (from the left) “he deserves it” and (from the right) “it’s a joke,”here’s how the very liberal NBC-TV program “Saturday Night Live” parodied Obama’s first year in office. The thrust of the SNL skit was the Left should be even more upset by Obama’s lack of accomplishments.

The skit opens with: “When you look at my record, it is very clear what I’ve done so far; and, that is … nothing … Nada”! One year; and nothing to show for it!”

Then the Obama impersonator runs through a checklist:

“On my first day in office, I said I would close Guantanamo Bay. Is it closed yet? No!”

Next, “I said we’d be out of Iraq. Are we? Not the last time I checked!”

Then, “I said I’d make improvements in the war in Afghanistan. Is it better? No, it’s actually worse!”

The SNL skit goes on to checklist his other promises: health care reform, the 2016 Olympics, global warming, immigration reform, gays in the military, torture prosecutions, and limits on executive powers. To each, the Obama impersonator recites a definitive: “No”!

Then, he concludes: “So, looking at this list, I’m seeing two big accomplishments… “Jack and Squat”!

Indeed, the SNL skit was humorous and very well done. It was also factually accurate. It serves as a stinging indictment of the Nobel Prize Committee fallacious award; and, can serve as a guidepost and wake-up call to all Americans.

Because hope is essential in everything we do, it is both an initiating catalyst and a continuing attitude in pursuit of any goal or objective. This is true whether the goal or objective is deemed by others as appropriate or not.

It is right to respect and to nurture hope that is based on truth. But it is never right to use hope as a substitute or replacement for clear outcomes, results and accomplishments.

It would be wrong for President Obama to actually accept this vacuous award. Obama should do the right thing and say, “I have not earned the award and, respectfully, I decline it.”

To do otherwise, in fact, would send a confusing and very depressing message to all those Americans who properly believe in hope and understand there is no shortcut to success.

Richard Olivastro is president of Olivastro Communications. He can be reached at RichOlivastroColumns@Olivastro.NET or 877.RichSpeaks.