Just work hard • Hacker News Board

Re: Just work hard

#11

Post by SergeyHack » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 9:29 AM UTC

mmccomb wrote: post #4

Hard work alone is often not sufficient. The real solution is to work hard but also to work smart. You need to find a balance between slogging just to get things done and innovating to reduce the slog required in the future. This applies not apply to physical tasks but also to learning. When learning a new skill/subject it's easy to expend a lot of effort reading whole books and articles without taking the leap of ge…

Also I would say "hard work" is a bad metaphor. More important parts are:

1) (as you said) "work smart"

2) "enjoy your work"

and only then 3) "work hard"

Re: Just work hard

#12

Post by flocial » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 9:38 AM UTC

Sometimes it feels like HN is descending into a self-help group for intelligent but certified procrastinators. Does the consumption of such articles and other forms of self-help literature actually inspire you to create and do? Is the discussion of doing a form of action or the prelude to it?

Just follow my patented 3-D treatment program for hardcore procrastinators. Decide, declare, and do. Just stay clear of the 3 Es: explanations, extensions and excuses.

Re: Just work hard

#13

Post by jmitcheson » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 10:29 AM UTC

hippich wrote: post #2

At some point in my life I was into NLP (neuro-lingustic programming - just few bits of practical psychology. What I've found - many dreamers do not need to achieve it - they already experienced what they are dreaming about and it is the same as to achieve it for them. It's like watch a trailer for a movie and then get bored in the movie theater.. There is opposite side - people who never dream and find any excuse to…

Poster may be talking about something similar to this

http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_keep_your_goals_to_you...

"After hitting on a brilliant new life plan, our first instinct is to tell someone, but Derek Sivers says it's better to keep goals secret. He presents research stretching as far back as the 1920s to show why people who talk about their ambitions may be less likely to achieve them."

Re: Just work hard

#14

Post by coryl » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 10:33 AM UTC

I wonder if his observations about "millennials" is actually true. I'm always skeptical when people refer to (especially) younger generations and their flaws, it reminds me of a grumpy old man. "Kids were tougher back in my days! Knew the value of hard work and a dollar! Nowadays they got their MTV and their eyePhones, I'm telling ya this country's falling apart!".

However, we live in a different world now. Means of production have opened up to virtually anyone; whether your writing software for computers, producing films, music, t-shirts, etc. It can pretty much all be done with a laptop and your basement. Channels of distribution have also opened up too, so anyone's work can easily be accessed, purchased, and collaborated by anyone else in the world. By these factors alone, we'd expect to see a higher volume of low and high quality work. I don't think its necessarily true the younger generations don't understand hard work, but that we see much more success and failure together.

Re: Just work hard

#15

Post by 4J7z0Fgt63dTZbs » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 11:38 AM UTC

Ok, then, working hard in Nike factory would be a good start for many people. Work hard. Seek advice from right people. Outperform coworkers. Three years later you would be the CEO.

...No, I strongly disagree with this. Effort without significance to what you want in long term is waste of everything. If you're not sure what you want, the only effort you should be making is trying to come up with what you want to do. Effort chosen to be, designed to be, MUST be, beneficial to what you ultimately want to achieve is the only effort worth making.

Re: Just work hard

#16

Post by keyle » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 12:47 PM UTC

flocial wrote: post #12

Sometimes it feels like HN is descending into a self-help group for intelligent but certified procrastinators. Does the consumption of such articles and other forms of self-help literature actually inspire you to create and do? Is the discussion of doing a form of action or the prelude to it? Just follow my patented 3-D treatment program for hardcore procrastinators. Decide, declare, and do. Just stay clear of the 3…

The press always make it look so easy. This post was actually refreshing for the ones of us slaving away hours of their weekends working while others play.

So yes this helps.

Re: Just work hard

#17

Post by troels » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 1:05 PM UTC

drats wrote: post #7

I just realised my generation is now old enough to be complaining about younger generations. I think the only "generational" debate worth having these days will be the funding of the pensions (promised to people but not always saved for) and medical procedures of the long-lived baby boomers whilst simultaneously dealing with the debt mountains in the West. The debt in the West is approaching, I think may have exceede…

Yes, it's funny how that makes you feel old, isn't it? Every friggin generation has people who complain about the younger ones lack of direction. I'm not worried though - They too will grow up.

Re: Just work hard

#18

Post by relef » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 1:59 PM UTC

keyle wrote: post #16

flocial wrote: post #12

Sometimes it feels like HN is descending into a self-help group for intelligent but certified procrastinators. Does the consumption of such articles and other forms of self-help literature actually inspire you to create and do? Is the discussion of doing a form of action or the prelude to it? Just follow my patented 3-D treatment program for hardcore procrastinators. Decide, declare, and do. Just stay clear of the 3…

The press always make it look so easy. This post was actually refreshing for the ones of us slaving away hours of their weekends working while others play. So yes this helps.

Hey, wait a minute, you are procrastinating on HN just like the rest of us. Pfffft, working ....

Re: Just work hard

#19

Post by nochiel » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 2:33 PM UTC

relef wrote: post #18

keyle wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The press always make it look so easy. This post was actually refreshing for the ones of us slaving away hours of their weekends working while others play. So yes this helps.

Hey, wait a minute, you are procrastinating on HN just like the rest of us. Pfffft, working ....

Just because an individual is browsing HN does not mean the individual is procrastinating. Please consult a dictionary for an accurate definition of the term.

Re: Just work hard

#20

Post by hippich » Sun, Jul 17, 2011, 2:37 PM UTC

chadp wrote: post #8

hippich wrote: post #2

At some point in my life I was into NLP (neuro-lingustic programming - just few bits of practical psychology. What I've found - many dreamers do not need to achieve it - they already experienced what they are dreaming about and it is the same as to achieve it for them. It's like watch a trailer for a movie and then get bored in the movie theater.. There is opposite side - people who never dream and find any excuse to…

I disagree. Dream and want it "so bad you can taste it". Then work hard to achieve it.

Brain do not have real distinction for dreams and real stuff. If you "live through" your dream - this is the same for your brain as to actually get all inputs from the outside world - that's what I am talking about.

What you are talking about - to dream enough to want it "so bad you can taste it", but not actually "taste" it. That's where you get hooked into going through A, B, C .... to get finally to Z.

I.e. there is fine balance. The question - how to find this balance and how to teach kidos to master it.

PS: IMHO =)