The Myth of Hard Work

Hard work pays. The sky is the limit. Aim at the stars and at least fall on the moon. Keep on keeping on. Winners never quit and quitters never win.

Are these phrases familiar? Well, they dotted our report forms at the end of every school term back in elementary school.

I suppose that these words—often written in red to signify high importance—were meant to motivate the lagging student and to foster continuous improvement in the best student. And yes, our beloved teachers did this for the better good.

Clearly, growing up, the nuances we picked up of a certain sort conditioned us to believe that any setback is almost surely solved by exerting just a little bit of effort. And yes, practice ultimately makes perfect. Ask all those who’ve excelled in sports and in science.

But as Utkarsh Amitabh recently noted in a Harvard Business Review article, “While hard work and success are most certainly correlated, correlation is not causation.”

This is something that wasn’t clearly laid out in our formative years. No wonder that, in recent conversations with a couple of friends, a rather concerted conclusion emerged: “The game is rigged.”

After all, these millennials and Gen Z have put in all the hours as exhorted. They burnt the proverbial midnight oil. They got the A’s and emerged at the top of their classes. Their resumes are decked with countless accolades and achievements. Yet, what do they have to show for their hard work?

Isn’t it ironic that most workplaces don’t even care about the kind of grades you got, whether a first-class or a pass? As long as you have that degree, that’s good enough, while compensation is equal, notwithstanding your impeccable profile?

Furthermore, in the workplace, another buzzword is ‘climbing the corporate ladder’.

The rhetoric is similar to the one we’ve heard since childhood. Hiding under the garb of a perceived gain known as ‘experience’, it calls upon the employee to churn in those files and to take on as many projects as possible, oftentimes to the detriment of their own health and well-being. Along the way, you’ll be noticed by members in top echelons within the organization. Your name will be mentioned during their meetings. You’ll then join the management after many years and finally reap the ‘benefits’ of your hard work in the form of hefty sums of money. Consequently, you’ll give the same pitch to new joiners and the cycle continues.

I’ve written in this column before and will repeat the point to emphasize its importance. Quoting the inspired words of Solomon the Philosopher, “The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race. The strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle.” The wise are often poor, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being at the right place at the right time.”

Ouch, those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives.

Don’t get me wrong. The importance of hard work can’t be overemphasized enough. However, in our imperfect world, dedicating the hours to certain projects, initiatives, and professions may not yield the same results as they did decades ago.

The problem isn’t hard work, but where the pains are directed. This calls for us to be strategic and more intentional in our life choices. To avoid the herd instinct of doing the same thing just because it works for some people. Rather, find out what works for you by self-introspection. Understand your desires, preferences, and long-term prospects. Sooner or later, you’ll discover what resonates with you, what’s truly worth expending your time, energy, blood, and sweat. I firmly believe that this ‘gospel’ will save the coming generations from the regrets most of us now harbor.

Probably Utkarsh Amitabh summarizes it best:

“Most people fail not because of a lack of effort but because their effort was misdirected or misaligned with their interests…People who make informed and intelligent choices about the work they choose to focus on have been quicker to reach success. Hard work has helped them get there, but only because they’ve chosen to focus on tasks, projects, and roles that align with their long-term growth goals.. If you feel that you’re putting in the hours and not achieving the desired results, increasing your efforts may not be the answer. Think about whether your hard work is rightly directed or if you may be putting in too much work for things that have little impact. While hard work can help you establish yourself in a job, it will only take you so far.”

Cheers, good people, to a week and a lifetime laden with purpose and self-actualization!!