Formula for success

I attended an interesting business networking group this morning. The topic of should the modern day worker work harder or smarter arose mid way through the meeting. I have been brought with Irish traditional hardworking family ethics. My father and mother still work long hours to ensure they will have financial security. I have started my first part time job as a golf caddy at the age of eight and have been working hard ever since. My dream growing up was the be a golf professional. I was only an average golfer up until my late teens so I had to find a way to lift my game in order to reach the objective to become a PGA professional golfer. My recipe was to work hard and train longer hours. After two years of solid training I was prepared to take my playing exam which at first I failed. I had to make several attempts before I qualified. I found working hard got me close to my achieving my objective but I still required to make changes. I started working with a mentor and training with golfers who had superior skills. In fact what I had done was continue to work hard but also to work smarter.

You often hear the old adage, work smarter not harder.

I don’t see why any logical person wouldn’t choose to do both. In fact that is what you should do, to reach certain heights it’s what you have to do.

Instead of looking at their definitions let’s look at their effects for you, and the perception or the appearance associated

to Work Hard

If you only work harder you get a good end product, better sense of accomplishment, significantly more confidence in what you have done, and you receive much more respect for the work put forth.

to Work Smart

If only working smart then you finish faster, you may use less resources, though the end product isn’t as gratifying, your efforts aren’t seen as something of great value from on lookers. But the good ideas of saving money or time, will be respected by the ones wearing the cufflinks and working really smart, because they’re having you do the work.

Now that I work in Real the same principles apply.

In my opinion to truly be effective you must do them both. Sometimes simultaneously but most of the time. Many people switch from one to the other instead of combining forces.

What are your thoughts and experiences?