How to Start Enjoying Hard Work And Accomplishing Your Goals

Let’s begin with the radical assumption that you aren’t going to get the things that you want via birthright or some other means that makes hard work optional. We’ll also assume that you get that achievement requires a hard word. Instead, let’s get to the meat of things. How do you learn to embrace, even love the daily grind? How do you teach yourself to take pleasure in:

• Getting up Early
• Accomplishing Things Without Expecting Immediate Rewards
• Making Personal Sacrifices Without Payoffs
• Not Taking Days Off
• Working Hard When it Isn’t Easy And Nobody is There to Praise or Even Cajole You

Listen to rap music for an hour, and you will hear all sorts of references to the grind and the hustle. What does that mean? Basically, it’s a reference to the daily hard work that people must commit to in order to achieve great things. However, it’s not a mere acknowledgment. It’s an embracement.

The likelihood that you will accomplish your goals is dependent upon the work you are willing to put in everyday, even under tough circumstances. The likelihood that you are going to succeed at that depends largely on your ability to love the grind. That last part takes hard work, but it is definitely doable.

Make Sure Your Goals Reflect Your True Talents

The single best way to ensure that you are miserable as your work is to set goals for yourself that are counter to your real talents. Unfortunately, this is something that too many people do. They enter industries and career paths that require talents that they simply don’t have, because they are trendy or because they see them as a quick path to personal enrichment. In other cases, cultural or family pressure plays a big role.

Don’t follow your dreams. Instead, know your talents and pick goals that allow you to spend your days doing things that use your gifts. It’s much more rewarding to spend 12 hours doing something you are good at than it is to spend 12 hours fumbling along and getting frustrated.

Reward Real Accomplishments Along The Way

Keep your eyes on the prize is difficult when the prize is far off, and you are toiling in the meantime. The truth is, people need rewards and encouragement as they are working towards their goals. This makes the effort worthwhile and provides needed motivation.

Instead of saving everything for the moment that you land the big fish, find ways to reward yourself along the way. In fact, if you don’t do this, not only do you risk burning out, you may find that the ‘big prize’ at the end hardly feels worth it.

Form a Great Support Group

Once you have a goal in mind and you have a plan, you need a team. The people on your team should form one of three functions.

• They are a Source of Encouragement
• They are a Source of Help
• Or They are a Source of Frequent Reality Checks

Naysayers not allowed.

The power of having people in your corner who understand what you are trying to accomplish, and who are there to provide meaningful help and encouragement cannot be overstated. The people you surround yourself with absolutely will make a difference in your ability to embrace the hard work it takes to accomplish your goals. They should encourage you to work hard, try new things, and go outside of your comfort zone to reach your goals.

Unfortunately, for many people, this is going to mean cutting some loved ones out, at least from certain areas of your life. The sad truth is, the people who are closest to us can be the most discouraging. Before you decide who belongs in your inner circle, just be sure that you can discern the difference between someone who is damagingly negative and someone who is encouraging you, to be honest with yourself.

Be a Member of a Great Support Group

Now, let’s take this one step further. Successful people tend to spend time with successful people. An old saying is, ‘A rising tide raises all ships’. This is why being a source of support and encouragement for friends and family members who are trying to accomplish their own goals is just as important as receiving that support from others.

Reach out to loved ones. Know what they are working towards. Then, find ways that you can help them in real ways. Give out meaningful praise and encouragement. Be giving of your resources. Point out when the people you care about aren’t being realistic or could be headed towards a mistake, but follow that up with something constructive that they can use. Your supportive encouragement will be rewarded.

Remember That Comfort Counts

Hard work does not have to be tantamount to suffering and misery. In fact, the hardest working people in the world are able to put in the hours and efforts that they do because they take steps to ensure that they are as comfortable as possible.

Think about it. The contractor putting in 12 hour days to finish his first home building project is undoubtedly working extremely hard. However, unless he has made an effort to ensure that he has the right clothing and other items that he needs to stay safe and comfortable, he won’t be able to sustain his efforts.

So, wear comfortable shoes. Pay attention to ergonomics. Take an ibuprofen if you get sore or uncomfortable. Change the lighting in your office if it’s too harsh. Wear warmer clothing if you are too cold and cooler clothing if you are too hot.

The point is this, the more comfortable you are (whatever that means in your situation) the easier it will be for you to focus on the task at hand. This will help you stay on track and meet your goals.

Break Your Big Picture Goals Down Into Micro Goals

Think about your big picture goal. Maybe you’d like to accomplish one of the following things:

• Open Your Own Business
• Move Into Management
• Retire Early And Travel
• Turn Your Hobby Into Your Job

Whatever your goal is, there’s no doubt that it is big and likely complex. That’s pretty overwhelming when you are trying to get through the tasks of the day or week. One thing that can help is to break that big goal down into multiple elements. As you are working hard, you will see yourself getting closer and closer to accomplishing each micro goal.

Keep Yourself Physically Well

It’s nearly impossible to feel good about working hard if you are constantly drained or struggling to find even a little bit of energy. So, follow the advice of Grandmothers everywhere. Eat healthy food. Get enough sleep. Balance time at the office with a little bit of time at the gym.

Don’t worry. You can still put in your 10 to 12 hour days. You just have to set realistic priorities and make some sacrifices. Ultimately, keeping up your strength will be worth it.

Time For Action

If you want to accomplish big things, you have to be willing to sacrifice and put in long hard hours. Follow the advice above, and not only will you be able to do that, you might even enjoy the journey as well as the rewards that come when you accomplish your goals.

About the Author:

Janet Anthony is a blogger from Kansas City and content writer at All Top Reviews who has been writing professionally for five years now. Her motto is “What you do today can improve all your tomorrows”.