The Hard Work Fallacy

Most of us were told that if we weren't succeeding, we needed to work harder.

If our practice isn't working out, we need to try harder.

If our lives aren't working out, we need to work harder.

More hours. More sacrifice. More suffering. That's how the successful people make big things happen.

What a lie.

Welcome to the "Hard Work Fallacy."

How long do you think olympic athletes train each day? Would you be surprised to learn they generally train for 3-4 hours a day? 

So, if we wanted to be better than that, why not train for 7-8 hours per day?

Heck, why not just learn to live on four hours of sleep and train for 20 hours per day?

Would that level of hard work bring us to that level?

Obviously not.

And maybe the example is a little on the extreme side. But the same principles hold true for everything else. 

Working harder doesn't accomplish things. Being process-oriented does.

High-level athletes operate with periods of high intensity and periods of deep rest. They've developed their focus to levels we can only imagine. Because each time they practice, they refine the process.

And just like athletes, there are those who can work or practice and get more done in 2 hours than others can get done in a week.

It doesn't come down to working harder. It comes down to refining the process. Experimenting. Even playing.

And having fun with it along the way.