We are always conditioned in our lives to work hard and get a good job, but does hard work really pay off? Have you ever thought about the real reasons why we work hard?

Is it for success? Is it by design because someone wants us to work like a cog in a machine? Is it just to make money?

Well, YES we absolutely need money, but a hard work ethic is probably one of the most important values to have because it is really just the vehicle for success.

Hard work pays off in MULTIPLE WAYS on deeper levels and its impact compounds with time.

Success is really just the one of the results of hard work, so let’s dive into all the reasons why hard work really pays off, and HOW it leads to success.

 

Work Ethic Needs Direction

Conventional wisdom tells us that hard work makes you successful, but is that all there is to it?

Working hard generally correlates to money and success, but it is not automatic.

You can work really hard with no direction and end up wasting your time.

For instance, if you labored really hard mopping floors and washing dishes at McDonalds but never talked with anyone or pushed yourself to advance, the manager may just think they have the perfect dish washer and never want to lose you, so you just stay where you’re at.

To really progress and build on the value of your hard work, it has to be coupled with good decisions and the right attitude. This article says it pretty well: “Make sure you put your ladder on the right wall.”

If you orient yourself in the right direction by setting goals, finding your passion, and keeping an open mind, you’ll have everything you need in place to launch your career toward success rather than just working away with no plan.

 

Greater Productivity and Good Work Habits

I would define work ethic as the standard level of performance that you consistently hold yourself to.

It’s a mentality that acts as an engine for our advancement and also influences how we think, conduct ourselves, and approach problems in life.

By constantly striving for a high standard of work ethic, you will condition yourself and raise your threshold for productivity.

It’s like when you work out consistently at the gym, you get in shape, things get easier, and you can do harder and harder workouts, pushing you to the next level.

Once your productivity barometer is set higher, you’ll soon find a bigger appetite for work, allowing you to work LONGER and accomplish MORE. You may even begin to enjoy a day of good, hard work.

Be sure to always look for more efficient ways of doing things or life hacks to really accelerate your progress.

With time, you’ll begin to outperform others and get noticed.

 

Hard Work Creates Personal Growth

When you push yourself to the limits, it’s inevitable that personal growth will happen as a result from your experiences.

More Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

If you adopt a willingness to learn in any situation, a good work ethic will easily help you acquire more skills and expand your knowledge and expertise along the way.

You’ll also cultivate valuable relationships and contacts naturally because of your exposure and growing reputation. You will even inspire others to perform at a high level.

See a pattern? When a strong work ethic is combined with the right attitude, progress happens. Hard work is a vehicle for growth.

Creation of Meaning and Purpose

When we push ourselves, and especially when we take on new challenges, we can get out of our comfort zones.

When we get out of our comfort zones, we are actually growing, even though it might not feel good at the time.

Sometimes this is even the territory where your goals are realized, or you may have an epiphany.

It’s in these uncomfortable moments that we can realize the true meaning of what we are doing (or not doing).

And when you have meaning in something, you can realize a purpose, giving you a reason to work hard, which motivates you to work even harder, building a positive feedback loop.

Are You On the Right Path?

It’s such a useful exercise to examine the purpose of what you’re doing each day and see if it matches your goals and where you want to go. If not, it’s time for a change.

One way to find out if you’re on course is to simply ask yourself “What is the reason that you get up for work each day?”

Is it just because of a job, or to go to work?

Or is it For Your Career? Or is this YOUR MISSION?

Notice how your perspective and emotion change based on the language you use. How you answer this question can help you move in the correct direction.

 

Fulfillment and Improved Quality of Life

We all have experienced that amazing feeling of accomplishment, especially when we put our sweat and tears into something and it’s finally complete.

Celebrating the achievements of hard work, no matter how small, is an essential in step in helping the brain acquire new skills, and for developing a success mindset.

Building on your successes encourages pride in your work and pushes you to achieve a higher standard of work quality.

Value

But if we take this a step further and recognize the actual value we are providing, we can really dive deep into feeling satisfaction and even live a better quality of life as a result.

After all, the real reason we want to do well is for others. Isn’t it?

How is it that you are providing value?

Are you supporting your family, building your career or a business, or helping someone you respect build a business? Most likely you’re helping someone in need.

Contribution

When you put forth your maximum effort, you’re giving something to the world, to others, and you’ve helped humanity improve and move forward.

By viewing your hard work as a CONTRIBUTION, you tap into a deeper connection in the collective human spirit.

We are all connected, and it’s common that people will do more for others than themselves when they feel unity and appreciation.

When you approach work this way, you start to see a bigger picture, leading to more feelings of grace and gratitude toward others and toward yourself.

These emotions really create a higher quality of life and a true feeling of fulfillment.

The art of fulfillment is one of the most important things to seek in life because it is one of the few things that sustains true happiness.

When you begin to view things through contribution and gratitude, I promise you, you will begin to feel more positive, rewarded, and satisfied.

With time, others will notice you’re glowing, and you’ll naturally attract more opportunities, more success, and more fulfillment.

 

Recognition and Compounded Success

When you put together all of these outcomes and perspectives, you can see that working hard and applying yourself unlocks several positive upward spirals and feedback loops.

As a result, you can align all of your energy and talents toward your goals, maximizing your potential for the best possible career.

For example, as you push yourself and gain capacity to work harder and harder, you’ll grow and be more productive, gaining more skills. More work will be completed with complexity and efficiency. Others will notice the results, your reputation will grow and more opportunities will be presented.

With some refining over time, you will streamline your approach and begin to create your best product. When you’re achieving peak performance and feeling good about it, it’s inevitable that your work will stand out, and others can’t help but notice.

These feedback loops and upward spirals all converge into success and ultimately fulfillment.

Maintaining a positive mindset and viewing your work as a contribution will create more purpose and satisfaction in your life, ultimately leading to what we all deeply are seeking: fulfillment.

When you’re conducting yourself at a high level and feeling fulfilled, others can’t help but notice and you’ll attract opportunity.

 

Conclusion

We’ve demonstrated that hard work is really just the basis, or the vehicle for success and personal growth.

Pushing yourself to work harder and longer will give you more capacity for production and thus increase your skillset along the way.

Knowing you put your best foot forward in any situation can bring you satisfaction as you know you’re operating at terminal velocity and aiming toward what you were born to achieve.

When your efforts are examined for meaning and function, you can realize a higher purpose in your work, seeing it as really a contribution to others and to society.

Humans will do more for others than they will for themselves when they are motivated by compassion.

Having these emotions in your work and your life can really help you achieve the ultimate goal of happiness and fulfillment.

Once you align all of your energy toward your goals, you’ll unlock positive feedback loops that converge on success. When anyone is in their peak performance mode, they will do nothing but shine.