Hard Work vs Smart Work

‘Rinku, I heard people talk about ‘smart’ work and ‘hard’ work,’ said Rahul. ‘Does working smart mean there are shortcuts to success?’

‘Don’t think so,’ said Rinku. ‘Let’s ask Rakesh bhaiyya’. They walked to the Dreams Unlimited canteen that was bustling with activity. Rakesh was sitting in his favourite corner, reading a book.

‘Rakesh bhaiyya,’ asked Rahul. ‘What’s ‘smart’ work and ‘hard’ work? Does smart work mean there are short cuts? Are we being foolish by working hard?’

Rakesh smiled. ‘What short cuts were you thinking of Rahul?’

‘I don’t know bhaiyya,’ said Rahul. ‘But the sense I get is that ‘smart’ workers outsmart hard workers. That smart workers do anything - cheat, manipulate, hustle,– win, at any cost. Is that smart?’

‘Not at all,’ said Rakesh. ‘Smart work is not cheating, taking unethical short cuts etc. it is intelligent work. For example, take two people who are engaged in breaking stones. The one who is not using intelligent thought will simply break stones forever. But the ‘smart’ person will look for ways to learn the craft and make useful products with the same stones. He might produce fine sculptures or find a better way to break stones. Smart workers improve on what Is existing, use less resources and add value. That is ‘smart’ work.’

‘Wow,’ said Rinku. ‘How can we do that bhaiyya?’

‘Be fully involved in whatever you are doing,’ said Rakesh. ‘Look for ways to improve the process and achieve better results with the same effort and resources. Everyone has intelligence. Do you want to use it or not is the question. Most people don’t use their intelligence. That’s why they take unethical shortcuts and try to gain at others cost when in fact they could use the same intelligence to get better results in ways that everyone benefits.’

‘It needs some special intelligence no, bhaiyya?’ asked Rahul.

‘You need nothing but a desire to improve,’ said Rakesh. ‘Be aware, be present, think. Keep at it until you find the result you want. If you decide to top the test and you badly want to find a way to do it efficiently, you will find the way won’t you? But if you close your mind to thinking, then you will end up working very hard - for little value.’

‘Tell us how to start bhaiyya,’ asked Rinku.

‘Train your mind to think, make improvements in everyday things. As Henry Ford once said – Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is why so few engage in it.’

‘So ‘smart’ is not about fooling people?’ asked Rinku.

‘When you fool people, you fool yourself first. On the contrary, ‘smart’ is about helping people by solving their problem. Smart is tackling the ‘hard’ things and making them easier for everyone. That’s’ really smart.  Clear?’

‘Yes bhaiyya,’ said Rahul. ‘Let me use my intelligence and find the ‘smart’ way now.’

Pro tip: In everything you do, look to improve the process and get better results using less resources. It adds mental muscle.

 

Exercise:  Figure out an area where you are not faring well despite hard work. Analyse the process and find ways to get better results with less resources. Smart work is about improving efficiency, not taking short cuts.

Share stories about how students view ‘hard work’ and ‘smart work’ and discuss what ‘smart work’ really means (using more efficient ways to reach goals, not taking short cuts).

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