Ever noticed, your colleague who comes late to office leaves early usually gets promotion before you. Your friend who studies just for a few hours gets more marks than you who spent sleepless nights studying. Ever wondered why did they achieve what they wanted faster and quicker than you? Well, it’s all about hard work vs smart work. You only worked hard, but they worked smartly.
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What does hard work mean?
Hard work means, doing work or a task in a way that you end up spending your entire energy, time, and focus on it. Hard workers are extremely dedicated and work till their last breath. Hard workers mostly make the most of their physical strengths and abilities. They will get the work done as per dictated procedure, not drifting away from it. The end outcome will be as expected.
What does smart work mean?
Smart work means, getting work done without the need of spending all the energy, time rather than getting it done much better way and faster. Smart workers are extremely intelligent and make the most use of their mental abilities to get the work done easily without much effort. They believe in finding the easiest way to get the work completed while ensuring the best outcome possible. The end outcome will be far more than expected.
Hard work vs Smart work
Smart workers are always a step ahead of hard workers. This in no sense means that one should not be a hard worker, rather hard work is vital to survive and become successful. It’s just that smart workers find their way to success much easier and faster. Let us discuss more Hard work vs smart work.
Differences between Hard work vs Smart work
Below are the differences between hard work and smart work.
|
Hard Work |
Smart Work |
|
Mostly use their physical abilities |
Mostly use their mental abilities |
| Focus only on work or task |
Focus on work, surrounding environment, people, and lots more. |
|
Loyal workers |
Not loyal workers |
|
Have a sense of contentment |
Not contented, still in search of more |
| Stable |
Unstable, may switch between multiple jobs |
|
Prefer routine job |
Prefer process changes and innovations |
| Dislike challenges in work |
Like challenging work |
|
Stagnant learning curve |
Upward learning curve |
| Consume huge time to get the work done |
Finds shortcut to get the work done |
|
Limited exposure |
Unlimited exposure |
| Single tasker |
Multi-tasker |
|
Risk-averse |
Risk-taker |
| Individual player |
Team player |
|
Exhaust themselves in the process |
Save their energy, but work is done |
| Sticks to the stated procedure |
Follows its own way |
|
Not ambitious |
Highly ambitious |
| The focus is on quantity |
The focus is on quality |
Which one is better – Hard work vs Smart work?
Whether you work Hard or Smart, the end result is that you are working to get paid for your services. You want to improve your standard of living through the job at hand. Working Hard or Smart depends upon the individual and the phase of life that he is in. Just because a person has been a hard worker does not mean that he has not lived a peaceful or happy life.
Benefits of being a hard worker?
Worked hard throughout your life. Cheers for you as you have earned everything the hard way. Working day and night to earn a living comes from within. Your mind has been accustomed to believing that working hard will fetch you all the comforts along with money. Thus you make the most of your physical abilities to complete the work. Below are the benefits of being a hard worker:
- Contentment
There is a sense of contentment amongst hard workers. They believe that working hard is their duty and at the end of every day they feel contented. A sense of fulfillment exists which so many people long for.
- Loyal worker
Those who work hard are loyal towards their job or duty. They worship their work. It is very rare that a hard worker may leave his job as they are very loyal. Thus, they enjoy longer work relationships with their employers are happy with it. This loyalty fetches them rewards, experience, and stability.
- Stability
They know their job, expected salary as it’s going to be same for the years to come. This gives them stability in life. They do not switch random jobs. A stable career, stable job ensure a stable future.
- Less risk
Since a hard worker is focused on work, is stable thus is less exposed to risk. Any day he is a risk-averse person. Thus, taking risks is out of his purview. Lesser risk means, average rewards or average standard of living. However lesser risk also means, no scope of falling over the edge.
- Simple life
Hard workers prefer routine, monotonous jobs. Do not like challenging work with changing demands. Thus, they lead a very simple, and average life devoid of any luxurious needs.
Benefits of being a smart worker?
Everyone wants to work smart and win the rat race. Well, smart workers of course are great at work, but not necessarily be happy and contented with whatever they achieve. Let us discuss some of the benefits of being a smart worker:
- Higher rewards
Since smart workers know how to get the work done in a smart way, they tend to be rewarded generously. They are the ones to get promotions, bonuses, hikes before time. Their contribution is recognized everywhere. They are highly remunerated for their services.
- Innovations
Smart workers are always curious to find innovative ways of getting the task done. Innovations come naturally to them. They are masters of innovations.
- Monetize knowledge
The exactly know how to monetize their knowledge and skills. They are very well aware of their surroundings. They keep their eyes and ears open. Thus, they are able to encash opportunities that come their way.
- The sky is the limit
Since smart workers are highly ambitious, they never stop learning or thinking. This helps them to climb up the ladders of success. In fact at times the sky is the limit for their abilities. They think big and dream big.
- Financial stability
Smart work leaves them with the legacy of financial stability. As told before they are highly paid for their smart working techniques, thus they achieve financial freedom at a very early stage. They surely live an above-average lifestyle.
Hard work vs smart work comes with its own benefits and demerits. Hard work vs smart work is 2 sides of the same coin. Where one’s advantage becomes the disadvantage of the other and vice-versa.
Hard work vs Smart work -What to choose?
Each one of us has unique abilities and constraints. Introspect what suits you as a person, and then take a call of choosing between hard work or smart work. Just make sure that choosing any one of them means accepting the good and the flaws in it. A combination of hard work and smart work may work wonders for some, while may doom everything for some. Choose wisely.
FunFact:
A survey conducted found that those who were categorized as smart workers were 50% happier than hard workers because of their ambitious nature.
Hard work vs Smart work which type of worker are you?