Hard Work and Success - Oil and Water??

[Angela Kambarian]

Dear fellow marketers and copywriters:

I am sure many of you recognize the virtue of hard work.
Some of you probably work too hard, work too strenuously,
and work up into the wee hours, until you are ready to fall off the chair-
tired, exhausted and frustrated, and with a terrible migraine piercing your brain.
You are facing a long string of small tasks or big projects that need your
immediate attention.
There is not enough time for friends, family, or some fun that every human being
needs so badly...Not a very nice scenario, is it?

One very wise individual, who has achieved a great deal of success in business and who also happens to be a good friend fo mine says that…hard work and real success – oil and water! The two concepts do not mix all that well. Real success is about working SMART not HARD…He also suggests that the work ethic is a terrible mistake, "a cute term gone haywire". Interesting choice of words...

Usually "work ethic" and hard work are being promoted by employers corporations or clients who want to exploit pathetic workaholics.

Here is what I think. There is a price attached to everything. Of course, there is a price for NOT working hard enough. However, there can be an even larger price for working TOO hard. That's right...

BTW, I would like to share some very disturbing statistics that sent shockwaves across my gorgeous body:

-Individuals who work over 48 hours per week double their risk
of heart disease. Jesus...
-Long-term job strain is worse for your heart than gaining 40 pounds or aging
30 years. Oh, my...
-Approximately 2 million workers die annually due to occupational injuries and illnesses. Believe it or not, work kills more people than war! No kidding...

Looks like hard work can actually kill you. How many rainbow-chasers end up working very-very hard all their lives, expecting big success, but with nothing to show for it.

Here is what I think: What you should do is work on a few things or projects that are truly important and disregard the rest.
I also think that each one of us should channel our energy into areas that offer a bigger chance for big payoffs. If you invest only 3 or 4 or 5 hours a day in creative endeavors that offer immense payoffs, 3 or 4 or 5 hours (not 125!!) may be all you need to make it big and live a comfortable life...

Let me finish my thoughts with a quote:
"If you burn the candle at both ends, you are not as bright as you think..."

[honestbizpro]

Originally Posted by Angela Kambarian

Dear fellow marketers and copywriters:



Here is what I think: What you should do is work on a few things or projects that are truly important and disregard the rest.
I also think that each one of us should channel our energy into areas that offer a bigger chance for big payoffs. If you invest only 3 or 4 or 5 hours a day in creative endeavors that offer immense payoffs, 3 or 4 or 5 hours (not 125!!) may be all you need to make it big and live a comfortable life

Hi my friend... yep for me I confess that being in front of the computer can also be hard on my eyes but It's really what I love to do!

But that concept is so right on the money I had to put it in bold!

.

[Angela Kambarian]

Originally Posted by honestbizpro

Hi my friend... yep for me I confess that being in front of the computer can also be hard on my eyes but It's really what I love to do!

I guess your situation is different...You love what you do...
Some people (actually, most people) end up busting their chops for
money. Their hard work does not get them anywhere and they
ruin their health. Find your passion, find your niche and pursue it
with vigor!

One more thing...Some people have a lot of different skills, interests
and talents. Don't stretch yourself too thin. Initially, you may focus on
just 2 or 3 business endeavors, turn them into success and then
start new ventures. Keep on building your businesses, your ventures
or your companies one step at a time (as long as you have the
energy and the drive). Don't do it all at once...

[Angela Kambarian]

Originally Posted by Paul McQuillan

If hard work kills, I have about 100 years to live

More power to you, Grandpa!
I hope you spend the next 100 years doing what you love
and pursuing your passions...You are never too old for this.

[dorothydot]

Hold on!

I firmly believe in Peter Bowermans's (I think) statement that "If you don't quit, you can't fail."

That said, I never quit. But I never (okay, seldom) work my brains out - that's not fair to me or the client. When your brains turn to mush, that's what comes out.

That said, I work every day on something. Every single day. And I do something I enjoy every single day - knitting, fiddling, harping, walking dog, watch our Bullfrog, whatever.

Then the work comes out much fresher and better.
Hope this helps,
Dot

[Angela Kambarian]

Originally Posted by dorothydot

I firmly believe in Peter Bowermans's (I think) statement that "If you don't quit, you can't fail."

I firmly believe that if you don't quit doing the RIGHT thing
you won't fail and eventually prevail. Some people keep doing
the WRONG thing and keep banging their heads against the wall.
Nothing comes out of it...Doing something for the sake of
doing it is one thing. Doing a lot, working hard, just for the sake
of working hard, might prove to be detrimental not only to your
biz, but also your health.

[QUOTE=dorothydot;1574218
I work every day on something. Every single day. And I do something I enjoy every single day - knitting, fiddling, harping, walking dog, watch our Bullfrog, whatever.
[/QUOTE]

Good for you, Dorothy. That's the right attitude!
You may do "something" every single day and accomplish a lot,
and even have some fun in the process. Or you may do a lot
and end up with an egg on your face.
I brought it up simply because some people brag about being
too busy, swamped with projects and exhausted...It might
seem like an ideal situation, especially in this economy.
Who doesn't want to be busy?!
But it could also be a double-edge sword, if you ask me...

[JamesM]

Sounds like the best argument for applying the 80:20 principle to your work - focus your attention on the 20% of endeavours that bring in 80% of your revenue and take the rest of the time for you and your family.

[RebeccaLongster]

Yeah, I only recently heard about the 80:20 rule (I was raised on the "hard work ethic"), and it makes a lot of sense. The trick is figuring out what your most effective 20% is ~ and then trusting yourself to stick to just those things! How hard it is to delegate sometimes, you know? Especially if you're used to doing everything yourself.

But I heard another piece of wisdom recently that went along the lines of "you can be really busy all the time without accomplishing anything" ~ or something like that :-)

[knowwow]

Originally Posted by Angela Kambarian

Let me finish my thoughts with a quote:
"If you burn the candle at both ends, you are not as bright as you think..."

A horizontal candle on a stick with two ends burning sounds like a brighter room to me.

Just kidding... I am under immense stress and my father and uncles all died under the age of 50 due to heart failure... I work 16 hours a day until the laptop falls from my laps (that'd typicall be 8 AM in the morning - It is 10 AM now and haven't slept yet.)

I don't know if I am dying but I certainly lost half my hair in the last 12 months (although I appreciate the distinguished look the grays on the sides give).
I am 27 damn it!

[josephkerr]

Outstanding post. This is an insight that is as precious as any wealth that could ever be dreamed of.

[writeright]

If you think of work as a job then it definitely kills. Nobody died in account of pleasure... I ain't talking about black market potency drugs though

[dorothydot]

Originally Posted by writeright

Nobody died in account of pleasure... I ain't talking about black market potency drugs though

Well, I remember one park I worked in, had a nice big fishing lake. Five men rented a rowboat for a day of fishing = pleasure. They took along a whole lot of beer and spent hours drinking.

Then one man hooked a fish. He stood up - yanked the line... and Swoomp! The boat overturned and all went in the drink.

Only 4 came out. The fifth man drowned.

So yes, it is possible to die on account of pleasure, sadly enough.

Just saying....

Dot