How Working Hard Can Keep You Poor…

September 11, 2012 3 Comments


You won’t achieve your goals by simply working harder.

I have tried to muscle my way across the finishing line several times in my life; on occasions I have got very close, BUT when failure and major setbacks came I was too exhausted to get back up and keep on going.

I grew up believing that success was all about hard work; how about you?

There is another way, it’s called working smarter, working less, working more strategically.

In truth, I often work hard, applying myself to menial tasks to avoid doing the one or two things that would really make a significant difference.

This is usually a phone call or some other form of human contact that could result in rejection.

Perhaps it’s time to stop working harder and to start working smarter? 

2012 Copyright – Seven Sentences – The Working Smarter Blog

About GeoffTalbot: Geoff Talbot is the founder of this Creative Blog. He loves writing words that encourage creative people.

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  • Phil Rood

    I don’t know if I’m all in on this philosophy Geoff… I’m all for working smarter, and for streamlining and not doing a bunch of unnecessary work, but I DO work incredibly hard on my art. I’m constantly working(with varying degrees of success) to improve and get better. If I make illustrations that I cut corners on, or that I just simply phoned in, I know it, and I think everyone who looks at it knows it too. I have cut steps out of my process, I have found smarter ways to work, and quicker ways to work, and I’ve done that all in the name of getting more done with the time I have available. That being said, I still believe that if you don’t work hard and put the effort in, your craft will not improve, you will not grow as an artist and you will go nowhere.

    • http://sevensentences.com/ Geoff Talbot

      Have you done the one or two things recently that could hasten your success… a phone call? Is there anything you are avoiding doing by working hard on your art?

      • Phil Rood

        haha, yes! I’ve actually been crafting a seven sentence guest blog submission for you, but have not finished putting it all together! I understand now that you’re talking about things like promotion and business, not in slacking on the craft. I am very well aware of the fact that the business end is where I’m lacking a lot of skills and knowledge.