Hard work vs smart work
You have to be ‘smart’ about working hard, but hard work always pays. Just being smart or working smart is only half of the real story. So, always strive for excellence and the rewards will follow
These days, you hear a lot of talk about working smart. People often tell you, “You don’t get anywhere by sheer hard work. Look at the people working at construction sites. They are working very hard, but are they getting anywhere in life? If you want to achieve success, you need to work ‘smart’.” Such comments leave most of us in confusion. What happened to sayings like, “The harder you work, the luckier you get”, or to the earlier prescription for success, “Work hard and success will be yours.” Is it important to work hard or not?
I believe it is. Of course, you have to be ‘smart’ about working hard, but hard work always pays. Just being smart or working smart is only half of the real story.
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The fact remains that hard work and smart work must go hand in hand for you to be successful. Smart work is about making the right strategy, about following a disciplined work culture. Hard works translates your vision and ideas into results.
Working hard and working smart are not exclusive of each other. Smart work teaches you to be more productive with your time. (Also read: Make time work for you) If you are happy with your current level of success, then smart work will surely allow you the luxury of not having to work as hard as you otherwise would. But if you want to reach the pinnacle of success in your chosen field, than smart work alone won’t really help.
Many people think that hard work goes largely unnoticed. They believe that unless you are ‘smart’ about letting others know that you are working hard, you remain a drudge. They call hard work a kind of drudgery. They are more interested in letting the ‘boss’ know that they are working hard. Their focus is in the wrong direction.
I believe that hard work always gets noticed - perhaps not in the short run, but eventually people can’t help but notice hard work. And the rewards follow without you having to push for them.
You need to stop worrying about doing ‘hard work’ or ‘smart work’; you should just concentrate on doing your best every day. Thinking about rewards and results saps your energy, creating a ‘neediness’ in you.
Rewards come to you when you are not looking for them continuously. When you step out to work with a passion to do your best, you will bring out the best in others as well! That itself is a great reward.
Last but not least, you need to constantly innovate and improve. You need to work hard as well as smart.