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This Is Why Hard Work Is Not Essential to Achieving Success

By Karima MariamaArthur

Everyone thinks that hard work is the secret to success. But is it? What does it mean to work hard anyway?
People really struggle with ways to define it. Plus there seem to be more compelling factors at play. And if you
neglect those fundamental factors that contribute to your overall success, youll end up sabotaging it. Sometimes
we forget the things that shape our journey the most are largely overlooked.
Consider the following factors, which demonstrate why hard work alone is not essential to success:

1. Because working smarter is more useful that working harder

Working hard may be a waste of time, especially if youre not getting results. In fact, real estate mogul, Chris
Leavitt, says that working smarter is a proactive strategy that sets pros apart. Very early in his career, he realized
that time is a non-negotiable, non-renewable resource and people waste a lot of it. By working smarter, he
discovered creative ways to achieve greater results without wasting time, compromising his integrity, or sacrificing
the bottom-line.
Work smarter; not harder.
Chris Leavitt, Star of Bravos Million Dollar Listing Miami

2. Because you need support

Cultivating strong relationships is vital. No man is an island to himself, even when he wants to be. Serial
entrepreneur, Richard Branson, says that success in business is all about making connections. And he would
know. Hes made a lot of great ones. Without the support of others who can help you to successfully pull projects
forward, it can be very difficult to reach deadlines, relieve stress and expand your reach.
To be successful in business, you need to connect and collaborate and delegate.
Richard Branson

3. Because you have to overcome fear

Fear can be a serious blockage to your success. How do you get around it? Learn to manage and overcome it.
Real estate mogul and business expert, Barbara Corcoran, was not always the confident public speaker that she
is today. When she was younger, she was terrified to speak publiclyshe stutteredand suffered extreme
embarrassment. But she knew that the best way to overcome her fear was to confront it. She forced herself to
accept numerous speaking engagements so that she could become better. And guess what? She did.
Embrace your fears by confronting them.
Barbara Corcoran

4. Because your appearance matters

Despite the established acceptance of casual attire at many companies, there has never been a business casual
dress code, dress-down days, or casual Friday option at Black Enterprise, says Earl G. Graves, Sr., American
entrepreneur, publisher, philanthropist, and founder of the Black Enterprise Magazine. While people dont like to
admit it, your physical appearance is a reflection of your commitment to excellence and definitely influences the
way that others perceive you and thus impacts your trajectory for success.

Your appearance is still the first and most impactful way that you communicate who you are and determine how
you are treated.
Earl G. Graves, Sr.

5. Because you need a compelling vision

American life coach and self-help author, Tony Robbins, famously teaches that creating and executing the ultimate
vision for your life matters: These concepts are critical to how you navigate the path to success. And he would
know. Despite humble beginnings and from a young age, Tony was very clear on how he wanted to live his life and
created a compelling vision for how he could achieve it. It got him up early and kept him up late. His vision has
translated into enormous career and financial success, as Tony has helped individuals all around the world to
achieve peak performance and realize their wildest dreams. He was also named in Forbes magazines 2007
Celebrity 100 list, among other enviable accolades.
To create an extraordinary quality of life, you must create a vision thats not only obtainable, but that is
sustainable.
Anthony Robbins

6. Because happiness matters

Without happiness, its pretty difficult to develop the desire to achieve anything. Success, then, rests on your
capacity to embrace happiness on a visceral level. Jim Rohn, considered Americas foremost business
philosopher, taught strategies for improving our lives based on the principles of gratitude and happiness. He drew
on guiding principles from the reality of his own life, which inspired others to embrace his insight on actuating
personal development. He will always be remembered for his larger than life contributions to the industry.
Happiness and success in life are not the result of what we have, but rather of how we live. What we do with the
things we have makes the biggest difference in the quality of life.
Jim Rohn
1930-2009

7. Because you need to be consistent

Doing something once or twiceeven when putting forth enormous effortis usually not enough to yield results.
But when youre consistent, more often than not, youll see the fruits of your labor come to fruition. The Rock has
mastered this principle. He knows that eating one healthy meal or doing one killer workout wont lead to the
physique of your dreams. No matter what your goals may be, being consistent is the key to achieving them.
Theres simply no way around it.
Succccess isnt always about greatness. Its about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success.
Greatness will come.
Dwayne The Rock Johnson

8. Because you have to ignore the cynics

Its unfortunate, but the road to success is filled with cynics and cynicism. If you want to maintain focus and
achieve a higher purpose, you cannot afford to be distracted by the muck and mire of other peoples belief
systems. Most important is what you believe to be true for yourself. Barack Obama, the first Black President of the
United States of America, demonstrated through winning two controversial elections that ignoring the cynics was
quite a powerful vehicle for success. If he hadnt, it would have been difficult to inspire the country to believe in his
leadership and cast their beliefs at the ballot.
Cynicism is a sorry kind of wisdom.
President Barack Obama

9. Because failure is part of success

No matter how committed you are to achieving success, there will setbacks, roadblocks, and challenges of varying
proportion. But failures, however they show up, are not indicators of your inability to achieve. They are, however,
par for the course when achievement is on the horizon. Better to embrace and learn from them than be crushed
by their inescapable existence. Author, economist, and Financial Times columnist, Tim Hartford, teaches that by
acknowledging and confronting our failures, we get the chance to overcome our egos and create opportunities for
learning and greater success. Hes lived by these principles and his success bears witness to the credibility of his
journey.
Few of our own failures are fatal.
Tim Hartford

10. Because success requires sacrifice

Everyone wants to achieve success, but few are willing to sacrifice what it takes to get it. American Olympian,
Gabrielle Douglas, knows a lot about sacrifice. After all, shes spent most of her life preparing for competitive
gymnastics, a feat difficult for even the best of athletes. To be at her best, she needed to follow rigorous training
regimens and an equally strict diet. She also spent a significant amount of time away from her family to train before
participating in the 2012 Summer Olympics. Of course shes had plenty of good days, but shes also sacrificed a
lot. Are you willing to sacrifice to get to the top?
I had to face a lot coming through this journey, a lot of sacrifices, difficulties, challenges, and injuries.
Gabrielle Douglas
While hard work may be the default measurement for achieving success, there are clearly more compelling
factors at play. And they shouldnt be overlooked. What other factors have you found relevant along the path to
your success?