It Is a Sin to Apologize for Hard Work

The first time I heard someone say I work too hard I examined my procedures believing I must be doing something wrong.

The second time someone told me I work too hard; they added an accusation that my work makes them look bad. I apologized.

The next time someone delivered that accusation, my response turned confrontational as I attempted to justify my behavior.

Now, when someone makes this proclamation about my energy, drive, and dedication I respond with pride, “Thank you.” I interpret a complaint about my hard work as a compliment

Hard work should produce pride not shame. Do not apologize.

Do, however, couple hard work with effective business practices.

Learn to Work Smart

Working smart can supplement working hard and produce time-saving strategies that prove beneficial.

I am old enough to remember the days when the task of alphabetizing would make me begin singing the ABC’s in my head. Then technology provided an icon on the computer in Word that allowed me to alphabetize with a simple click. I would be crazy not to use it.

Henry Ford’s assembly line reduced the time required to build a car from 12 hours to 2.5 hours. It soon became the system efficacious businesses replicated.

Even before modern technology, Archimedes experimented and invented the block and tackle (pulley) that allowed 20 pounds to be lifted with only 5 pounds of pressure.

During the experience of getting the job done, a worker who remains vigilant and willing to explore strategies to increase productivity may work harder but has the potential to improve the process short-term as well as far into the future.

Learn to Work Simple

Steve Jobs stated, “That’s been one of my mantras — focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But it’s worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains.”

Notices the conflicting terms in his statement, “Simple can be harder than complex.” By combining determination, persistence, intelligence, and hard work a difficult task can be made simple. Through observation of successful practices and careful monitoring of the procedures, simple procedures can be replicated to make hard work simple.

Learn to Prioritize Work

No matter how hard I worked some tasks often spilled into the next day or I found myself sitting at my desk in an empty office after the sunset. Learning to prioritize became a priority. Remember time is on your side and focus on the important issues first, big rocks. This video from Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits Workshop provides a visual explanation of how to accomplish this.

FranklinCovey’s The 7 Habits Video Preview: Big Rocks

Learn to Give Your Best — the first time

“I can accept anything, except what seems to be the easiest for most people: the half-way, the almost, the just-about, the in between.” Ayn Rand

Too often society praises work done instead of work well done. Shortcuts often produce a product with brief shelf life or one in need of modification. People who find enduring achievement are recognized because of quality, not quantity. This guiding principle builds a respectful, admired reputation.

Learn to Appreciate Mistakes

What do Albert Einstein, Katy Perry, Michael Jordan, Walt Disney, and Jerry Seinfeld have in common? They all failed. However, not one of them ever gave up.

When Einstein graduated, he wondered for some time until he became an insurance salesman. Only years later did he introduce the theory of relativity. Katy Perry grew up in poverty, dropped out of school at 15, and recorded under several labels that either went out of business or dropped her. As a sophomore in high school, Jordan did not make the varsity basketball team. Walt Disney had numerous business failures including bankruptcy. Seinfeld graduated and started as a stand-up comedian at the age of 22 with limited success and didn’t create what is now considered the second greatest show of all time until 12 years later.

We can learn from each of these people because they have two other things in common. They learned from failures and mistakes to work diligently to find success.

Learn to Enjoy Hard Work

Simone Biles lives by the belief as seen in this quote.

“Always work hard and have fun in what you do because I think that’s when you’re more successful. You have to choose to do it.”

People have a way of starting and continuing paths in life that leave them unhappy or at least unsatisfied. Never be afraid to step off the road you are following and explore other options. Make each day’s decisions meet one criterion, does it make you happy? Change may be hard, but it is possible. Few people die unhappy thinking they wouldn’t have changed a thing.

The greatest contributors to the evolution of ideas and events achieved success through the application of dedication, intelligence, creativity, and perseverance. All of which cannot be attained without hard work. So, push yourself, but do not denigrate your spirit with questions of what might have been, what-ifs, and perhaps.

Work hard and if anyone turns your actions into an accusation saying, “Thank you” and accept the compliment.

____________________________________________________

During the most stressful life events, learned to control the outcome We’ve all experienced the negative effects of tension and anxiety. Major trauma and simple daily events require patience. I became empowered once I discovered patience allows me the ability to manipulate my mood, others’ responses, and my physical wellbeing.

Did you know that patient people are happier? It's true!

Happy, Productive People are Patient