Letting go of the idea that it has to be so hard
I wanted to start today’s essay with a couple of inspirational quotes:
“Nothing worth having comes easy”
“It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up”
“Good things come to those who hustle”
“If it was easy, everyone would be doing it”
“Dreams don’t work unless you do”
I’m guessing that you’ve come across at least one of these quotes before. You might have even used some of them as motivation to help you power through your to do list, or to get started with a new project. I know I certainly have - in fact, each and every single one of these quotes was saved on a Pinterest board of mine titled “Inspiration”.
And for a long time, I didn’t see anything wrong with that. You see, these quotes and mantras chimed perfectly with everything I’ve ever been taught about success. Success requires sacrifice. Success requires never giving up. Success requires grit and graft and bloody hard work. Sound familiar?
It’s a message that’s been drummed into us from such an early age. We celebrate hard work above all else. We praise the kids at school who put in the most effort, teaching them that hard work equals reward. We idolise entrepreneurs who work around the clock, no matter the impact that has on their health or personal life. We hear more and more about the benefits of flexible working, and yet in so many companies, it’s the people who put the most hours in that end up with the promotion.
And all of this reaffirms the narrative that life is supposed to be tough. That success is supposed to be hard won. That promising careers are only for those willing to put in the time and effort. But can I let you in on a secret? That doesn’t have to be true.
Some of the most successful people I know (and I’m talking about success in terms of financial reward and prestige here) work a maximum of 25 hours a week. They take regular holidays and set boundaries and prioritise their lives above their work. They make great money and achieve incredible things, without sacrificing the other things that are important to them. And do you know how they do that? By letting go of the idea that it has to be so hard. By leaning into the stuff that comes easily.
When we reaffirm the idea that hard work and hustle equals worth and success, we don’t give the skills that come naturally to us enough focus. But often, the stuff that feels easy and joyful to us is where our real value lies. It’s that stuff that feels simple and obvious that can often have the biggest impact on the world around us.
Wanna know how I know this? Because being a coach doesn’t feel hard to me. Sure, there are stressful parts to being a business owner, and there are days when I struggle with admin or tech or invoicing. But the actual act of coaching? It feels like the most natural thing in the world to me. It feels easy and joyful, and it leaves me feeling energised instead of exhausted.
And yet, I know for certain that I’m having more of a positive impact in this job than I’ve ever had before. I know for sure that I’m adding more value to my clients than I ever added to the companies who used to employ me, even though I spend less time at my desk. And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that I will be more successful doing this than I would have been in sales or marketing or recruitment or retail.
I share all of this today, because this shift in mindset has been such a game changer for me. When I started to accept that work didn’t have to be hard, that I didn’t have to drive myself into the ground to be successful and create impact, a whole new world of opportunities opened up to me. And I wonder, if you too started to roll this idea around in your mind, what might come up for you? A job that’s more well suited? A business idea that makes use of your natural skills? A life that feels easy and joyful, instead of chaotic and stressful?
And if this sounds like something you’d like to explore a little more, with some support and a proven framework, you might be interested in my new programme, Find Your Thing. It’s for anyone who knows there’s something else out there for them, but doesn’t know how to figure out what that thing could be, and I can’t wait to get started.
