While driving through my neighborhood the other day, I saw many neighbors out in the yard mowing. All of them sitting on these big, expensive rigs to get the job done.
Strangely enough, I didn't see a single person using a push reel manual mower.
And - I know what you're thinking - why do I find this "strange?" You see, according to my Linked In feed and many conversations I have throughout the day..."hard work" is the key to success.
Sounds fair and reasonable - sounds like solid advice. But the reality is...hard work in and of itself has no value.
Gasp! That's so un-American! What if some executive reads this and never hires me?! What if my boss reads this and fires me? If hard work has intrinsic value...why aren't we all using push-reel mowers? Why aren't we using hand-tools instead of power tools? If the value is in hard work...why do so many of us default to finding easier ways of doing things?
Because we all know that hard-work in and of itself has no value - we know this everywhere except at work! It's the default response to everything? Want a promotion? Work hard. Want a raise? Work hard. Want to retire early? Work hard.
It's lazy and shit advice; and much like hard-work in and of itself...has no value.
So, am I just lazy and living off the government? I'm just one of them snowflakes? Yeah. That's how I got to my position...by being lazy. But it's the default response if you believe in things like work/life balance or working smart...you must be lazy. That's what the hustle-bros and execs want you to think. Often times because they themselves have gone through so much suffering to get to where they are - they believe others must do the same. Else? The suffering was meaningless and they can't stomach that thought.
What's the reality? Does working hard get you anywhere?
Yes. But not in the way you think.
You see, I do believe in hard work - just not for the sake of hard work. I believe in working hard to take tasks that are difficult today and making them easier tomorrow. If activities in your work today are hard - and they remain hard a year from now? You've wasted a year. The real value in hard work is taking things that are hard now and making them easier for later.
That's value production! Mowing your lawn with a push reel because it's "hard work" produces no value! Yes the lawn is mowed but how long did it take? How much effort? It feels like a wasted activity. Mowing the lawn with a riding mower still gets the job done - it produces the result in significantly less time and with significantly less effort and it's why we pay to buy these larger machines!
The same is true at work. We're no longer in the industrial revolution where our value is based on how many hours we can turn a crank. Our value is in creating more efficiency and reducing contribution time while still producing a result.
Because as you take these tasks that were once hard - that once took several hours to do and make them easier and reduce your contribution time? You can take on other activities and do the same. You can go on learning journeys, add to your skillset and find different problems to solve. This is the real path to success - becoming problem solvers. Reducing the drag of what's "hard" today and making it easier tomorrow.
Working hard for the sake of hard work is a meaningless pursuit. And it's not worthwhile career advice. If you want a raise, a promotion or want to retire early? Find ways to make the hard work easier. Work hard at doing that because that's where real value is created. And success follows value creation.
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