Just because you work hard doesn’t mean you’ll be successful

mechanic hard working

Remember: Just because you work hard doesn’t mean you’ll be successful.

“But she works 60 hours a week among three jobs, and she’s barely making ends meet. She deserves more. The system is not fair.”

Despite what politicians, Nike, and Disney promises you…

Hard work ≠ Success

This is a very difficult lesson. It’s something most adults don’t grasp, even up until their death bed.

Yes “hard work” is important, if not vital, but there are a lot of other factors.

Among many factors that lead to success, there are:

  • construction hard work does not equal successRaw skill/talent
  • Demand/how rare that skill is
  • Experience
  • Consistency/dependability
  • Teachability (my personal favorite)
  • Creativity, ingenuity, & innovativeness
  • Integrity
  • Communication skills
  • Passion
  • Initiative & drive
  • Autonomy & independence
  • Standards (quality of results)
  • Connections
  • Ease-of-replacement
  • Temper
  • Patience, grace, & adaptability
  • Love (both for his work and people)
  • Good hygiene
  • Geographic placement
  • And sometimes just dumb luck. (“Providence” for us Jesus-followers ?)

But ultimately one thing mattersGod himself. Is He opening up doors for you to be “successful” by our culture’s standards?

“So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
– 1 Corinthians 10:31