Work Hard or Work Smart?

Everyone knows this sentence when you're doing a project or assignment, even me when I'm doing my uni work: DON'T WORK HARD, WORK SMART

But what exactly does it mean?

The idea that you should work smarter, not only harder isnt anything new. When talking about the difference between smart and hard work its pretty simple to explain what working hard means. If you want to be successful in the long run, you have to put long hours into work. You have to start early, before all other people, and you have to stay up late, when everyone else is already enjoying their afternoons and evenings.

On the other hand, its really hard to find very clear guidelines on what working smart really means and how its different from hard work. Its very obvious that even if youre determined that nobody will outwork you, you still have maximum limits regarding working hours that you reach pretty fast; and theres always someone whos willing to sleep less than you. On top of that, many people work hard, but only a few become really successful. Thats because smart work is what makes the difference.

Most people who are working smart didnt learn it. They do it intuitively, its part of their character, of who they are and how they were raised. Lucky them. But we can learn it from them, starting now if you haven't already.

Below, you can find the elements of smart work. No smart worker has all of them, but the more elements you manage to implement into your working strategy and style, the smarter worker you will become.

From physical to creative work | Life management skills and Time management skills | Understanding the system and the territory you operate on | Knowing what you want | Being in the right industry | Providing scarce resources to markets with a high demand | Looking on the bright side of life | Carefully selecting the right opportunities | Thinking before acting | Exploiting the halo effect | Focusing on creating, delivering and capturing value | Innovating and being bold | Having control | Leveraging other peoples time and/or money | Creating intellectual property or products, and unfair advantages | Standing on the shoulders of giants | Being proactive and having emotion control | Networking and asking for help | Putting yourself first | Considering limits | Hanging out with the best people possible | Building on your strengths | Keeping short-term and long-term perspective | Search, execution and politics | The right timing | Know when to cut your losses | Being agile and adaptable | Prestige: Giving back to the community

Now Questions time!

What do you think after reading this? Do you work hard or work smart?

What elements do you have in smart work now? And where do you want to add on?

Card Game Or Board Game?

Do what you love to do, not what you're supposed to do ~Tea