Work harder, not smarter...

 

There are among us a select few who are exceptional.  These few have been graced with skills and abilities which set them apart from the masses. And they exist in all parts of our society.

It may be mental acuity; physical prowess; uncommon proficiency in the arts or music.  Regardless of their unique gift, they excel with an ease and certainty of accomplishment that makes us mere mortals recognize that indeed we are not all created equal.

And yet, even at this rarefied level of potential, some achieve so much more than others.  If they all have started within a narrow range of competency what separates one from another?  I submit that it is ‘working harder’.  Some are simply willing to make the sacrifices needed to hone their skills and abilities and to produce/perform at an exceptional level that is possible for all but achieved by few.

We have lived for the past decades with the motto ‘work smarter not harder’. That stands in sharp contrast to the work ethic of our ancestors. In my opinion that has only led to generations that have an expectancy of accomplishment that greatly exceeds the reality of their efforts. First of all, what really is ‘smarter’?  And secondly, when did working harder become a social taboo?

Work should be hard.  It should stretch our abilities.  It should challenge us and reward us.  It should make us better in the ‘doing’ as well as in the ‘completing’.

In stating this opinion let me also champion the need for balance.  We develop sayings in response to realities and the one that says ‘all work and no play makes one a dull person’ has much truth.  Someone who has only one priority seldom lives a happy and fulfilled life.

By extension, one who only works hard will have no standard by which to measure or enjoy their success. We need balance of activities in our lives to ensure that we do not become one dimensional creatures of habit.

We are informed by surveys over the past decades that employees are less and less engaged.  Some feel that their contributions are not properly recognised.  Some say it is because they have a lousy boss.  Some say that they are not compensated well enough.

Could it be that they really are not challenged by what they do; that they don’t have to exert themselves mentally and/or physically to accomplish their tasks; that there is no fulfilling sense of accomplishment and thus no personal satisfaction in a job well done?

Technology has made work easier and there is much to praise in these advances.  But we are built for work as well as play.  And when it takes effort to not just ‘do’ but to ‘excel’ the individual derives so much more knowing that it was their choice to work harder that led to that outcome.

Let’s celebrate hard work again.  I believe we need to push more to reach our full potential.