‘Hard work is the key to success.’
How many times have we heard that one before?
Our parents, teachers, and motivational speakers love to tell us that hard work is key to success, but is it really true, or are some people just lucky?
Motivational speaker and marketing mastermind Gary Vee is constantly preaching about the importance of hard work, and he isn’t alone – every successful female entrepreneur will tell you that hard work is everything.
Hard work and success are inextricably linked, but why? Why is hard work so important?
In this blog post, we’ll dive into some of the reasons why hard work is key to success, as well as uncovering the real reason why most people will never become successful.
Are you ready?
Then let’s get into it.
7 Reasons Why Hard Work is Key to Success
What is hard work?
What exactly do we mean when we say hard work?
Hard work is not the same as ‘work.’
Oftentimes, ‘working’ just involves doing the bare minimum to keep your job, or pass that exam, or stay in shape.
Hard work is about doing what it takes to excel in all of these things. Hard work is the stuff that leads to promotions, glowing report cards, and the kind of physical endurance usually only seen in the best athletes.
Hard work involves determination, discipline, sacrifice, and a strong commitment to achieving your goals.
It isn’t just trundling away and wondering why things never change – it is actively striving to be better every single second, and doing so even when you don’t feel like it.
Hard work is usually what’s standing between people and their biggest dreams.
Hard work is crucial for achieving your goals. Continue reading to find out exactly why hard work is key to success.
7 Reasons Why Hard Work is Key to Success
1. Hard work shows commitment
When you are working hard to achieve something, you are committed to achieving whatever that thing is.
This involves saying no to those after work drinks or extra slice of cake, no matter how much you may want to say yes.
Being committed to your goals means you avoid procrastination, distractions, and bad habits that have previously held you back.
It also gets you noticed by other people, who value how dependable you are. This may lead to you being asked to take on a leadership role in your company, or a new client turning into repeat business.
2. Hard work fosters self-discipline
If you’re working hard, you’re probably having to exercise a lot of self-discipline on the path to success.
Not only does being disciplined help you in achieving your specific goals, but it’s also a great life skill to have as it can increase your overall productivity, patience, and time management.
Self-discipline ensures that you always get up and face the music, even if it seems impossible at times.
Once you’ve mastered self-discipline, achieving your financial and physical goals will become so much easier.
3. Hard work makes you create your own luck
We’ve all known that person who is just always complaining about how unlucky they are and how nothing good ever comes their way.
Nine times out of ten, the person saying all of this is the same person who sits idly at their desk, never shows up with the right attitude, and can’t wait for the day to be over so they can go home and watch Netflix.
When you’re a hard worker, you’re constantly seeing and creating new opportunities that can help you achieve your goals.
Perhaps you’re constantly monitoring the stock market to see when the best time is to invest, maybe you’re analysing your business competitors to see what they’re doing that you’re not, or maybe you’re studying your customers to identify their pain points and how you can make them go away.
When you’re dedicated to achieving your goals, you will create the opportunities you need.
4. Hard work delivers better results
It should go without saying, but if you work harder, you will see better results!
By focusing on your work, you will find that the quality of your work increases, as well as your efficiency, ability to problem-solve, and your natural curiosity will mean that you’re constantly learning and improving.
For example, a few years into my blogging journey, I was stuck on 1000 pageviews (people reading my blog) per month.
Not satisfied, I took the time to learn SEO, and now I have 3 websites and receive over a million pageviews a year, as well as a steady income and tonnes of incredible opportunities.
5. Hard work is great for self-development
When you begin to see the value in hard work, you will find that laziness becomes a thing of the past!
You will also see an increase in confidence and belief in your own abilities, find yourself becoming more resilient to setbacks, and learn new skills that can lead to even greater success.
Once you’ve achieved the self-development you have worked so hard for, you can reach out to firms that specialise in executive search services to help you connect with businesses looking for talented professionals like you.
6. Hard work rewards and motivates
When we work hard, we will begin to be rewarded, and these rewards act as a huge motivation to continue on the path to success!
For example, every month that I make more ad revenue through this blog, I feel more motivated to continue writing articles and growing my audience!
Not only that, but you truly reap what you sow when it comes to hard work.
If your goal is to create a steady passive income, you’d better put in the hard work now so that you can enjoy the fruits of your labours later!
Working hard means that you are investing in your success.
7. Hard work teaches you to embrace failure
In life, you’re going to fail.
You’re going to fail a bunch.
And that’s fine!
The further you get in life, the more you’ll fail, and with each failure comes experience.
Treat every setback as a learning opportunity that you can grow from rather than something to shy away from and avoid at all costs.
After all, if you fail, it means you tried, and it’s better to try and fail than to never try at all!
How to embrace hard work
Sometimes, it can be tough to find the motivation to work hard – I’ve been there, trust me!
Self-doubt, fear of the unknown, and imposter syndrome are all things that stand in the way of us achieving our goals, but they don’t have to.
Here are some tips for embracing hard work, because after all, hard work is key to success!
Set SMART goals
One of the key things behind achieving your biggest goals is by making sure that they are SMART goals.
A SMART goal is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Timed (has a deadline).
You can read my post about SMART goals for more info!
Set a schedule
One of the biggest acts of self-discipline is by creating a schedule and sticking to it.
Time management is your friend!
Map out your day in blocks (known as time blocking) to ensure that every important task gets the attention it deserves, and don’t deviate from the schedule.
Get clear on your WHY
Knowing the WHY behind what you’re doing is a powerful motivator.
Sometimes I really don’t feel like doing article research or working on my blog, but when I remember why I set out to do this (I want to enjoy a large residual income for years to come), it gets me motivated and back on track.
Here’s how to get clear on your WHY.
Eliminate your money blocks
Money blocks are core beliefs about wealth that may be holding you back.
Perhaps you believe that you will never be rich, or that money is the root of all evil, and therefore you subconsciously don’t work in a way that will cause you to amass great wealth.
Overcoming your money blocks is a great way to ensure you’re working as hard as you can on becoming as successful as you can.
Keep a record of your accomplishments
It can be difficult to stay motivated when we feel like we’re constantly facing an uphill battle.
Keeping a record of our accomplishments, however small, reminds us of how far we’ve come and gives us a welcome boost.
For example, I sometimes go to travel blogging conferences and get disheartened by how successful other people are, but then I remind myself of things I’ve achieved thanks to my travel blog (international press trips, people recognising me from my blog, media interviews, and position #1 on Google for so many articles) and I feel so much better.
Reward yourself for your hard work
Treat yourself to a well-deserved glass of wine or a takeaway at the end of a long week to reward yourself for your hard work.
If you know you could have done better, you’ll have to go without, and just focus on working harder next week in order to earn your rewards.
Why most people will never be successful
If all it takes to become successful is hard work, then why aren’t more people thriving?
Hard work and success go hand in hand, but let’s face it, hard work isn’t a walk in the park – it’s more like a marathon that demands persistence and unwavering dedication.
To reach the pinnacle of success, we can’t escape the truth: we have to roll up our sleeves and dive into the grind.
However, the vast majority of people shy away from this. They prefer the allure of convenience, the comfort of familiarity, and the safety of stability. This is especially true when they find themselves stuck in unfulfilling jobs or stagnant career paths.
As time goes by, most people gradually lose their passion and settle for doing the bare minimum.
However, for you – and anyone else willing to put in the effort – it presents an opportunity to rise above the rest through sheer determination and grit.
A word of caution…
Although hard work is key to success, success should never come at the price of your physical or mental health, or the loss of what truly matters in life (your friends and family).
Cultivating a healthy balance between striving towards your goals while taking time out to focus on yourself and your loved ones is crucial in achieving true happiness.
Make sure that as well as working hard, you’re also making time for hobbies, prioritising self-care, and allowing yourself plenty of time for rest and relaxation at the end of a busy week.
Hard Work is Key to Success | Final Thoughts
I hope that by now, you can see that not only is hard work key to success, but it’s also the key to personal development, motivation, and overall satisfaction with life.
It isn’t always going to be easy, but embrace the challenge!
Embrace the sweat, the late nights, and the sacrifices, and know that with every ounce of effort you pour into your work, you’re edging closer to your goals.
Remember that success doesn’t come gift-wrapped with a pretty bow. It’s earned through hard work, determination, and unwavering commitment.
So, what’s stopping you?
Your journey to success awaits!
Until next time,
XOXO
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