In praise of hard work - and bursting a few falsely inflated balloons. Quoted from Bob Bly, whose words I have now been reading since the '70s.

Business gurus are fond of saying, "Work smarter - not harder."


But I don't know ... I think there is something to be said for hard work.


Assuming you and I work equally smart, I'd think whichever one of us worked the hardest would come out ahead. Hard work is good for what ails you.


When your business or job isn't going the way you want it to, buckle down and redouble your efforts. You'll be more productive, and at least some of your extra efforts will be rewarded - and hard work will have saved the day.


Goethe wrote, "Whoever strenuously endeavors, him we can rescue". Combine hard work with persistence - never giving up - and the odds of you getting the result you want increase geometrically.


Ironically, a lot of people who work hard like to pretend that they don't. A famous Internet marketer, in promoting his programs, boasts about how you can make a six figure income in Internet marketing with hardly any work. But I happen to know that this guy works at least 12 hours a day, 6 days a week - and often late into the night.


A famous copywriter is pictured lounging in his pool in a magazine profile of him. Yet he seems to be continually at his PC banging out successful ad after successful ad for his clients.


Most things that are worth having or achieving require hard work. If they were easy, everyone would have them.


 Hard work alone does not guarantee success. You also have to work smart, of course. But if you are not willing to put your nose to the grindstone, your chances of failure are large indeed.


Business or career floundering? Not where you want it to be? Work twice as hard. You may get twice the results.