March 30, 2025

Hard Work > Smart Work

What if we focused on consistent effort rather than finding shortcuts?

"Work smarter, not harder."

It's something we keep hearing. And so we go looking for the smartest way to do our next task, only to end up procrastinating or feeling overwhelmed. These smart ways are often tricks that never seem to enrich our skills much.

Smart work's focus on relentless efficiency and productivity can lead to:

• Burn out from the constant pressure and stress.
• Overthinking and procrastination from waiting for the perfect solution.

What if an impactful life comes from how hard we work?

Hard work is not only how much brute force and long hours we put into a task, but also how consistently we work and how committed we are to it.

When we don't shy away from hard work, we can build powerful life skills like:

• Resilience: When we face challenges head-on, we learn to adapt and grow stronger.
• Discipline: Consistent effort creates powerful habits that lead to long-term impactfulness.
• Self-discovery: By dedicating ourselves to the process, we uncover our true values.

What's one shortcut you tend to take that could benefit from a consistent and committed effort instead?

Effortfully,
/rajesh