Whatever you want, you have to work for it. To work hard doesn’t mean to suffer, but to assiduously channel your physical and mental effort at doing or achieving something worthwhile. So, hard work doesn’t kill anybody but idleness can. Working hard to increase productivity within a limited period of time is working smart.
There is no substitute for hard work in the school of achievement. Luck cannot replace diligence, and God does not favour laziness. You must be doing something before you can ask God to bless the work of your hands. The norm in our society, especially among the youths is the ‘get rich quick syndrome’ without putting in commensurate effort. We hear of ritual killings, occultism and bestial activities. No society can grow, of which the far greater part of the members are willing to get rich without working for it. People have refused to discover their purpose in life because they are not willing to work hard, but rather are looking for shortcuts.
Hard work is the shortcut to success.
Stop waiting for that highfalutin government offer or miracle job without doing something in the interim. Get something doing, until you get the kind of job you are looking for. It’s better to work than to beg. Even the Bible teaches… ‘That if any would not work, neither should he eat’ (2 Thessalonians 3:10). This scripture passage has been translated to mean ‘No food for lazy man.’
There is a story about a beautiful bird that was known for its singing as told by John Mason in his book ‘An Enemy Called Average.’ The bird would sit at the top of a tree and make lovely melodies. One day a man with a box of juicy earthworms passed by the tree and heard the beautiful bird singing. He made a deal with the bird and said, “I will sell you a worm for one of your beautiful feathers.
The bird pulled out a feather and exchanged it for a worm. He reflected to himself, why should I work hard to get worms when it is so easy to get them this way?
The bird and the man repeated this process over the course of many days, and soon the bird no longer had any more beautiful feathers with which to pay for the worms. Furthermore, it could no longer fly, nor was it still pretty. The bird became so unhappy and didn’t feel like singing beautiful songs anymore.
If you think you can get by just like that beautiful bird, without having to work for your daily bread, you are simply mortgaging your future. If you don’t work today, you will suffer tomorrow!
Below are some quotes from notable persons that have achieved much by working hard.
Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard- kevin Durant
Talent without working hard is nothing- Cristiano Ronaldo
I hated every minute of training, but I said ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life a champion.’ –Muhammed Ali
Living without working is dying without knowing—David Oyedepo
Work hard until your idols become your rivals- Drake
Work hard! Work smart! Produce enough sweat, for nobody ever gets drowned in his sweat.
Excerpts
John L. Mason- An Enemy Called Average.