Hard work pays off, or does it? A case study
Over the weekend, a friend of mine came to visit. She’s a career counselor and, while I wasn’t looking for free advice, the conversation naturally turned to my job hunt.
“How’s it going?” she asked.
“It’s bleak,” I complained.
“Oh, I know.” She told me about clients she’s worked with who went on second and third interviews. Those clients were sure they got the job. Then they found out they just…didn’t.
“Employers can choose from the cream of the crop right now,” she told me. “Some companies aren’t even actively hiring. They put out job ads just to see what else is out there.”
She’s gotta be kidding, right? I might be applying to companies that are, for all intents and purposes, keeping their options open?
“That’s like asking someone out when you’re married,” I joked.
I’ve always been a firm believer that hard work pays off — and in the past, it has. Last year, I was a testament to that cliché. I made six figures doing something I really love — writing. But now, on my third month of searching for steady work, I’m starting to second-guess myself.
“Hard work doesn’t matter,” a co-worker once told me, after he’d been fired. “It’s all how you play the game,” he said.
Back then, I rolled my eyes and chalked up his perspective to his being a negative person. But now, I can kind of relate to the cynicism. While I’m not into playing games, I can’t help but scoff, at least a little, at the whole “hard work pays off” cliché.
Yet something in me still believes it’s true. The past few months have been extremely stressful. Depressing, even. Sometimes, I want to give up just to spite Fate. But somehow, I’m persistent. Somehow, I do still think hard work pays off — here’s why.
I’ve Seen Hard Work Pay Off
On top of hunting for work, I’ve been reading a lot about wealth inequality. So, you know, that hasn’t done much for my cynicism. It may be true that the rich get richer and the poor and middle-class take two steps back for every step forward. Maybe hard work isn’t what it used to be, but I’ve seen it pay off for one persistent couple: my parents.
“We bought a new car,” my mom told me a couple of months ago.
“Huh?” I asked. “What about the Toyota?” I thought for sure she would drive that thing into the ground to really get the most out of it. This is a woman who can’t throw away takeout containers because “they’re still perfectly usable.”
When I asked her why they decided to buy a new car, my mom went through a series of justifications that weren’t necessary. Having both grown up in poverty, I can tell my parents still feel a bit guilty when it comes to spending. Perfectly good reasons aside, my parents simply wanted a new car and, for the first time in their lives, they can afford something they “simply want.”
My mom grew up third-world poor, and my dad spent part of his teen years living on the street. They met at the grocery store where they both worked. They continued to work there through the first half of my childhood.
My parents always felt bad for not being able to provide enough for their children. So now, I can’t help but feel proud of them when they tell me:
“If you need anything, just ask.”
To reach a place my mom calls “financially blessed,” my parents were resourceful and persistent. But they also worked their butts off through all the tough times.
Getting Rich Slowly Requires Hard Work
From having goals to living below your means to being OK with failure, getting rich slowly means working for your wealth.
Paying off debt isn’t easy. Neither is saving money when you can barely cover your bills. But many of you have done it or are doing it now.
So far, the idea behind getting rich slowly has worked for me. And it worked because, even when I felt like giving up, I kept going. No, I was never in hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of debt. And yes, I got lucky with a couple of great jobs. But there were plenty of times that I wanted to stop saving, live it up and forget about the future. While tempting, I worked through those thoughts — and I’m glad I did. I think if I work through this tough time, my future self will probably thank me.
Cynicism Doesn’t Help
Bouncing from disappointment to disappointment, it’s hard not to become cynical.
But there’s cynical, and there’s being realistic. I’m learning to tell the difference between the two. It helps to ask myself whether my attitude helps or hinders or me.
Knowing that I probably won’t get the high-profile job I’ve seen posted for the past three months is, basically, realistic. It helps to remind myself not to get excited about this job. Realistically, my chances are slim.
But the cynical side of that is, “It’s probably not going to happen anyway, so why even bother?” That doesn’t do me any good. It’s just not practical for me to wallow in cynicism and self-pity.
Ultimately, I Work Hard for Myself
Not that it’s anyone’s fault, but when I was laid off, I couldn’t help but feel angry. Even though they acknowledged my hard work, even though it was out of anyone’s control, I felt resentment for having given it my all.
But the thing is, ultimately, I work hard for myself. I don’t even really do it for my career. I like to work; I like to feel useful and skilled. I like knowing that I’ve earned my keep, no matter where it comes from.
There’s No Other Choice
Sometimes, you just don’t have the option of giving up. You can stop paying off your debt, but you’ll just be in even more debt. I can give up on looking for work, but struggling to pay the bills for the rest of my life doesn’t sound good. I don’t give up on “hard work pays off” because, well, I don’t have a choice.
Although it’s unfair to compare situations, and although it sounds remarkably futile, it could always be worse.
Somewhere, someone is working way harder for way less. And not just in third-world countries — in this one, too. Some people don’t battle with cynicism as much as they simply struggle to survive. My cynicism and doubt would be considered entitled and spoiled to many people in the world.
This isn’t to say you shouldn’t question the cards you’re dealt. It’s not to say that, when something isn’t right, you shouldn’t do something about it. But sometimes, there’s nothing else you can do. Sometimes, you just have to put your head down and keep going until it gets better.
Become A Money Boss And Join 15,000 Others
Subscribe to the GRS Insider (FREE) and we’ll give you a copy of the Money Boss Manifesto (also FREE)
There are 42 comments to "Hard work pays off, or does it? A case study".
“Somewhere, someone is working way harder for way less.” – that’s my way of looking at life. That, and “you just don’t have the option of giving up.” Not sometimes. Never. Giving up is not an option. Keep on saving. Working. Moving forward.
I was “downsized” so I can relate to what you’re feeling right now. You’re friend is right: hard work has nothing to do with it. A whole lot of us lost our jobs despite our loyalty and work ethic. Losing a job isn’t personal – “it’s business”. (How I hate those words…)
On the other hand, hard work has everything to do with it. I left with a strong portfolio and solid references — and some freelance work to tide me over. It’s hard to see when you’re in the middle of it, but hard work is what will get you your next job. It’s what helps you build a career, regardless of your current job status.
I firmly believe hard work pays off. It’s not going to protect you from bad stuff happening — but it’s going to get you through it in the long run.
Best wishes with the job hunt, Kristin!
Thanks, Beth! It’s gotten better, but it’s definitely been an ongoing lesson in “it’s business.”
Hard work is built into our nature. Granted, we may not always see the financial results from it, but the internal rewards it brings are far more valuable.
Internal rewards? Are you talking about the continuance of food consumption? Doing work is not rewarding. It is, by definition, something you would rather not do. No one is working hard who loves what they do.
There are no internal rewards for doing something you don’t want to do without gain.
I am not one of these people who believes that hard work is a virtue. Someone who loves to work hard has a mental condition called masochism. Hard work is a necessary and unfortunate fact of existence.
For the last year or so, I have not really been working hard. And it has been incredible. Truly incredible. And, sure, internally rewarding.
I’ve also worked hard and gotten nothing for it. And let me assure you that between the two, the former rewarded me so much more.
Hard work alone may not make you successful, but I’ve never met anyone who is successful (through their own merits) who didn’t work hard.
That doesn’t mean they are all workacholics (though some are), many work hard while at work. Many keep a good balance. They look for ways to keep moving both themselves and their organization or business forward. They exhibit focus and get jobs done. Even some of their “failures” lead to some success. To some extent, it’s not just working hard, it’s working hard on things that will get you ahead, get you noticed.
I like what you touched on towards the end. I think a lot of people justify their actions based on external forces (“I don’t work hard, because it is pointless” or “I’m not faithful to my spouse because he/she is a louse and doesn’t deserve it”) – I am much more focused on me and the type of person I want to be. If I let external forces derail me from being a good, hardworking person, then it hurts me more than it hurts the company, the significant other, etc.
Hard work, effort will get you noticed whether it’s in your current job or a future one. The right attitude typically does not go unnoticed. I do agree that the business game or politics can play a part in your career path some times good, sometimes bad and that truly unfortunate.
Very good points, I personally work from a company that has been losing money for several years in a row and we have had 2 waves of lay-offs last year alone. This year they announced that they would close 30% of our offices, thankfully I still work at one of the few that actually make money. I have also worked there for a while and I am in a position that I should be one of the last that get laid off if there is a new round of that.
You just have to keep working hard and making sure that you are a key person in the organization at all times.
When job losses were coming in my company, I did everything I could to work hard and make myself indispensable. Sad to say, that didn’t help me. There are often many factors beyond our control. I realized later that my feeling that “If just work hard enough…” was a little insulting to those who lost their jobs before me — as if they did something to deserve it.
Sometimes downsizing gives companies a chance to “clean house” of ineffective employees, but hard workers lose their jobs too.
I agree that hard work doesn’t always lead to financial pay-off, but I’d say that it certainly helps! Don’t give up!
I’m convinced working hard works best when you’re working for yourself. I think there are certain professions where there is a game, but there are still many that are performance-based; I hope anyway.
I agree though that just getting your foot in the door may not have as much to do with hard work as it does with making the right moves. For example, choosing an employer that is most likely to be impressed by your speficic experience (even if they pay less than others). Employers are people too and from my experience they like to feel commonality with prospective employees.
Of course sometimes this means you get stuck with terrible co-workers b/c the hiring manager liked the same band and they “clicked” during the interview. With the exception of a cashier job I applied for in college, I’ve been offered every job I’ve interviewed for (of course I didn’t accept all the offers as some of the offers came after I was hired somewhere else). But on the flip side, I never aimed high. So you can kind of look at it from that perspective…at least you have the courage and self-confidence to go for those competitive positions. I think that’s more impressive.
I have a higher than average aversion to rejection and I need to get over that as I will soon be applying for jobs in a field where every job posting yields at minimum, hundreds of applications, including international job seekers.
And to be truthful I’ve been on the other side of the perspective, where sometimes I wondered why I got the job and someone else didn’t. Especially when I did a side-by-side comparison of relative work experience. In one case I applied for a position I didn’t feel ready for (after being urged on by family and co-workers). I did not seriously think I would get the position but I was interested in any possible feedback I’d get during the interview. There were what I considered more qualified people applying, who had been with the employer longer, were revered by the hiring managers and co-workers, and even had taken on some of the roles of the position while it was waiting to be filled. Well I got it. I was surprised, and sadly (but rightfully) others were as well. Fortunately I was able to prove that I was up for it (that’s where the hard work played in) but I could never really understand why it is I was chosen. To be honest I think the hiring managers just “liked” me. Even though myself and other applicants were equally hard workers, they had more experience (I was a newbie to the company and the industry), and it’s a little disconcerting that likeability trumped experience. It never did sit well with me. When I left my position I vetted my heart out for the person I believed should have gotten it in the first place just based on what I would have wanted from an employee if I were a hiring manager, and I felt a weight lift when she got it. I’ve been lucky (so far), and hard-working on top of that, but yes luck, and I imagine things other than just my contributions have gotten me the jobs I’ve had.
ETA: This topic just reminded me of something a friend of mine told me just last week. She said her boss confessed that she doesn’t hire people who have the same name as someone already on staff because it makes scheduling a nightmare. When she asked about some of the staff who shared the same name the boss said “The other supervisor hired that one”. Dude.
Also, many hiring managers already know who they are going to hire…they only post the position as a formality for the person they want to get the position, and to comply with workforce regulations.
“I’m convinced working hard works best when you’re working for yourself.”
Couldn’t agree more. I find it more rewarding – things are on your own terms and there’s a real sense of accomplishment building your own dream rather than someone elses.
If you’re not building your own dream you’re building someone elses.
Why can’t you we both? I work in a not-for-profit sector, so my job involves helping people achieve their dreams. I enjoy my job, and the stability and income help me build my dreams.
I think on PF blogs there’s too much of the “if you aren’t working for yourself, you’re just a cubicle monkey” attitude. Different work environments make different people. Entrepreneurship is great, but it isn’t the road to happiness for everyone. (Almost half of new businesses don’t last five years, statistically speaking.)
Likeability is *really* important when you’re hiring someone you’ll have to work with every day. Experience will come, skills can be learned, but being able to get along is critical.
I may not be the best in the world at what I do, but I keep my attitude positive and I’m easy to get along with. I think that’s worth plenty.
Oh lordy. Wouldn’t hire someone who has the same name? That’s nuts.
I’m sure the more you apply to those competitive positions, the more your aversion to rejection will naturally develop. This whole experience has felt a lot like dating. You get along great, you’re a perfect match, you share a few laughs, and then you never hear from them again. I guess you just get used to that. And, yes, again, I think working hard for yourself helps with adapting to the rejection.
I think it’s natural for people to try and find meaning in things, i.e., “This happened for a reason.” But I don’t think that’s always a good thing, and it’s kind of self-important, when you think about it. We try and convince ourselves that bad things only happen so that something good can happen. It’s a nice perspective, I guess, until you start feeling entitled to all the good crap that hasn’t happened yet. In reality, bad stuff just happens. And good stuff just happens. Sometimes you don’t get your dream job just because they’ve already got someone in the office with your name. It doesn’t have to mean anything.
It might sound like a cynical perspective, but I actually feel a lot less cynical. It makes me appreciate what I already have. I continue to work hard and strive for better, but if better doesn’t come, there’s plenty to be grateful for in where I’m at now.
I have hired a lot of people in the past 20 years and I always try to find candidates who are efficient and get things done, rather than candidates who work very hard. Working hard in itself is fine obviously. But in my opinion it is more valuable for a company if somebody is able to get things done, for example by smart prioritising or efficient management of a project team.
When all else fails, that is when you MUST push through and keep treading forward. If you do not have a “job,” your actual job is to find that job. While people sometimes do get lucky and catch a break here or there; ultimately, many times those who have received “luck” have worked extremely hard at what they want everyday.
A view from the other side: Working hard can also backfire if you are not careful 🙂
I experienced that myself a couple of times and it creates ‘interesting ‘situations.
I used to work somewhere and as a new employee I ended up doing the work of two people. Not because I wanted to show off or anything but I just was more efficient etc.
When the CEO asked my boss what he thought of me, he had an interesting problem which raised the eyebrows of the CEO somewhat.
I go with the flow now which isn’t always ‘easy’ . Good luck with your search !
I think during hard times, everyone has wondered “why this has happened to me”. After my DH was laid off and took a job for almost half his income, we wondered why. But we found ways to cut back. Not that we have been able to save because the bills take up most of our income, we do try to put a little away each month. We haven’t given up even when we have been hit with emergencies like the new dryer we purchased last month and the alternator repair the month before that.
Just keep your chin up, and it will all work out. I grew up with parents who grew up poor and they are in a good financial state and offer help too. It is nice not to worry about my parents finances along with our own.
I read recently that someone received the following advice, “Look over the valleys.” Keep your focus on career improvements in the long term. I suspect we all forget that in the day to day grind at work.
Kristin, I know many posters here approach the “work hard” concept differently. But I’m sure you worked hard to write the article. Personally, I benefited from the dialogue, so thank you.!
Keep your eyes up, kid. There’s nothing down below.
Thanks for sharing this. “Look over the valleys” is going to be one of my new phrases now.
Maybe I’m defining hard work and pays off at different levels than you, but I feel that hard work rarely pays off. Seems like what pays off nowadays is responsibility and decisionmaking. Are you responsible for 20 employees in the branch, or are you responsible for 20,000 employees in the division, or are you responsible for the entire company? Can you make decisions that benefit the bottom line? Can you influence the decisionmakers to buy from you? Can you write things that 20 people will like, or 20,000 people will like?
After months of not earning any income and watching my hard earned savings go out, it is really hard to not be cynical.
I once heard that the employment and recruitment process is “thoroughly broken.” People are lost, clueless, to what is real talent and what is fake talent.
Your point that the poor and disenfranchised should not buy the “just work harder” message is a good one.
It is my work to help evolve consciousness and understanding that I give act tirelessly. It is an honor to live in the place where the really poor, as you describe, can raise themselves to feeling blessed in their lives. It took hard work, it took careful planning. It took being aware.
Their experience imbibed you with knowledge and talent for being frugal and for writing and understanding these complex times that need this knowledge.
Well done, I believe you be back to that six-figure income via your blog in no time.
The egonomics we see in the world today is not sustainable. Thriving without entitlement is the new, new thing.
True happiness doesn’t come from things. It comes from recognizing innate health, truth, and deep connections.
I think working hard will pay off in the long run. You might encounter some setback, but you’ll get back up and keep going. If you slack off, then it can become a habit and it will catch up to you.
Well laziness doesn’t pay off that’s for sure. I was very lazy in my 20’s, job hopped a lot and lived with my parents. Went to college and dropped out. I also grew up very spoiled and my parents gave me money until my late twenties.
Finally at 28, we all had enough and by we, I mean my parents and I. I was tired of wasting my potential and they were tired of me not knowing how to hold down a job and be an independent person. This was also during the great recession in 2009 so I had to wait a little bit before moving out.
In October 2009, I decided to move from the West coast to the mid-west where the job market is more stable. The first job I found was a seasonal retail job, it was during the Fall and Winter Holiday season, I *HATED* it.
I knew I didn’t want to work retail forever so I started looking for something else. Because of my limited job experience and limited education the best I could find was a call center job that paid $8.50/hour.
I stayed at that job for two years. My first year there I made $10,000. Second year there I made 12,045 because I worked extra hours and got a small raise.
I decided after two years that I wanted to go to college so I found a new call center job that paid better. I made 16,533 at the second company. Then I went to a third call center in 2013 that paid much better and I made $20,971.
So yes hard work does pay off, I will be graduating with an associate degree this summer. So in three years I went from 0 to 20,971. That’s not all, I’m going to a fourth call center in a week, I just went job hunting yet again, this company offers tuition reimbursement which I will need because a bachelor’s is more expensive than an associate degree.
I will be going for a bachelor’s degree in management information systems after my associate is done. I’m also learning web development on my own in addition to work and college classes. Once college is done I want to be a web developer, or programmer or software engineer.
So yes hard work does pay off and it’s amazing how much you can accomplish in a short amount of time when you’re actually motivated even in a stagnant economy.
I’ve learned so much these past three years. I learned how to stick to a job, how to manage my time, how to job hop when its to your benefit. I learned how to be frugal.
These call center jobs are my motivation to finish college and enter the IT field. Best of all I learned to stand on my own, pay my own bills and stop being a lazy bum!
I’m also learning about investing. My goal after college is done and I get my first professional job, is to max out my ROTH IRA and 401 (k). I also want to invest in dividend paying stocks and one of my goals is to become financially independent. I have no desire to work 9-5 til I’m 65.
I think I can do it too. 😀
Great article. It rings very true to my current situation as well. I worked very hard, so hard it intimated my boss to the point it made her feel threatened, ultimately costing me my job. I did not know about the balance of “playing the game” and working hard. With this new found knowledge I am back on the job market. Optimistic, but frequently feeling discouraged and angry at myself for being so naive. And more frustrated at employers who mislead with job postings, getting multiple interviews and feeling confident about getting a offer, only to receive no response at all, and now facing a reality that I may need to take a step back in order to move forward again.This is really a hard pill to swallow, but to your point I have no other choice but to push forward in the disparage and value that by working hard it has afforded me a solid resume, valuable experience, quality ethics, and the footprints to build a solid foundation for me to stand on. Don’t throw out “working hard” instead use this with the balance of “playing the game” which is just not being naive to the company’s ethics and culture, and knowing when and where you should highlight your hard work. Thank you so very much for this article, it really inspired me today and showed a bit of sunlight amoung the clouds.
My wife and I have been underachieving financially for several years. Last year I decided we had to make something happen. I sold my car and used the money for a downpayment on a rental property. We used credit cards and paid cash for another smaller rental.
I spent many, many hours learning as much as I could about landlording and owning rentals. Today, both properties have great tenants and are turning a nice profit each month. We’re about to acquire our 3rd. Also, our credit cards are close to being paid off. Only debt will be mortgages.
Shortly before starting this journey, I had the good fortune of stumbling across a Jim Rohn video on youtube. “Work harder on yourself than you do on your job. When you change, things will change for you.” “Wages make you a living, but profits make you a fortune.”
I just wanted to pass this along. It inspired me to alter the path we were on.
Like most good habits, working hard takes practice. You do it everyday, day after day, then you get good at it. Then, you can’t envision your days without it. And like most good habits, it pays off in the end. But not on its own.
Just as flossing wouldn’t be much help without brushing and mouthwash, working hard needs to be used in conjunction with other skills, such as expertise in your field; likability/niceness/getalongness (whatever you want to call it, still a skill); ability to recognize what needs to get done in the job, company, industry and the flexibility to address it; and initiative.
Hard work is essential. But not on its own.
When I try to explain what it’s like to be a professional actor it’s basically taking everything you’re feeling right now in your frustration to find work followed by the total elation you feel when you get a job- but in a cycle that moves too quickly. Rather than dealing with the cynicism, rejection, and hopelessness of job hunting once or twice in your lifetime, it’s constant, punctuated by periods of work (which if you’re lucky, makes it worthwhile).
Ow, Kristin, I read this much earlier today but didn’t know what to say about it– sure, being connected is good, being liked makes you less likely to get fired than being a good worker, etc., but all other things being equal, of course hard work pays off.
Reason I didn’t answer immediately though was because it seems you’re going through some tough times and need a little encouragement, and I didn’t know what to say that was useful. Because you know your resume better, you know your job market, and as you actively seek work you know what’s out there.
Having said that though, I know a bit about video, and I can see that you were doing video before, which tends (or tended) to pay more than writing (a lot more, seems to me). As it happens I also did some video *cough* work for your former employer *cough* some years ago, so I know they paid well, and I can see the 6-figure thing happening through that- but that’s not “writing” proper, although in this age of new media everything seems to blur, right?
Anyway, without video, seems to me, the six figures become more of a longer shot, though I may be mistaken. However, here’s the catch– video is also becoming cheaper every year, because of widespread tools, in the same way that we had a glut of graphic design some years ago when photoshop became so popular.
Video is the new literacy, everyone is doing it now, and amateur videos go viral, therefore employers wants to pay less for content, unless it’s the high level stuff which still pays well but has hefty costs.
On top of that, many large agencies get the bulk of contracts and then subcontract to hungry global freelancers required to work polo shirts and other nonsense– in our business we’d get those offers all the time. Even post is being outsourced now because newer digital formats + fast internet allow agencies to send your footage to India to be worked on for cheap.
I’m not saying this to be pessimistic, but rather to look at career prospects realistically, and to ask if you either want to a) pursue that level of income and adjust the kind of work you do to fit that income, even if it means a career change (e.g., going into advertising or TV or whatever), or b) sticking to a certain kind of writing and adjusting your income expectations to what’s out there in an ever-changing market, which means the possibility of relocating to a cheaper COL area, etc. (Full disclosure: we recently did something like the 2nd, moving “back to the farm” to make art. But it’s an experiment, and I know this can’t work for everyone even if it works for us.)
I know it’s not easy to think about big changes (career, location, whatever), but at least there’s something to consider as you continue your search. Of course keep up the hard work, but also take time to sit and ponder your larger strategy, and consider how to adapt your skills to large economic and market trends, but also small niches, hidden opportunities, etc.– you know, “the vision thing,” ha ha ha.
Interesting points about video! I was chatting with a creative director the other day and he thinks that video is the “in thing” right now, but many companies are just realizing they aren’t seeing much return on investment for the videos they produce.
His advice to me was to focus on content strategy and marketing rather than on production. With writing and video, people who are willing to do it for cheap or free (for a hobby, side gig or for the “exposure”) combined with companies not being able to recognize good quality or willing to pay for it is making it the market tough on freelancers.
True, some of that was video–but maybe about 20%. The rest was writing. I subcontracted a lot of the video stuff and most of my work was scripting and hosting.
Still, I think your point stands whether it’s writing or video. But I don’t want to resign myself to the belief that, as a writer, I’m doomed to a life of low pay. Even if it might be true, one sure-fire way to make the low pay thing a reality is to tell myself I should only be making X amount.
It sounds idealist, and I wrote about this when I read the book, ‘Secrets of Six Figure Women.’ But I don’t know, a couple of times now, thinking like a “high-earner” has worked in my favor, income-wise.
Actually, if not for the advice in that book, I would not have hit the six figure mark last year. At one point, the company I worked for had to seriously cut back on my rate. My old self wouldn’t have said anything. But, after thinking about the “high-earner” advice, I actually spoke up about it…and persisted…and negotiated! It was one of the most cringe-worthy things I’ve ever done in my career, but it paid off. I feel like that wouldn’t have happened with the attitude, “well, this is how much freelancers should be paid, so I should be lucky to even make X amount.”
I don’t know. I DO feel lucky to make X amount. And I AM thankful to be able to write and earn enough money to pay the bills and sock some away. But I still want to aim to do something I love and be paid well for it. Yes, that might mean adapting, but I hate to think my only options are: go into a different career altogether or move. And, so far, I haven’t had to choose either of those. But I think if I resigned myself to the notion that I should be getting paid beans, I would’ve handled this income loss much differently. I probably would have gone with one of those two options. But I’m trying to disprove that stereotype, dammit!
It happened once, but is it possible again? I don’t know, but I’ll try. If anything, it’ll be a good experiment!
(Here’s the post) https://www.getrichslowly.org/career-strategies-of-high-earners/
I’ve always thought that hard work pays off on a personal level: You know you earned that dollar honestly and you know you’ve given a project (or a job application) your all.
Sometimes life just stinks. You play the hand you’re dealt while always continuing to try and improve the luck of the draw.
I wish you success in your job search.
Hard work is a requirement, I feel. It is something I think people can’t afford to forget to do anymore. And it does pay off. At the very least, you know you tried.
Failing is a choice and if you want to succeed, you really need to work hard. Financial freedom can be attained with you having the right plan and execution and of course, hard work.
It is a game but you need to work hard at the game of staying ahead. This means reading trends and capitalizing when opportunities arise. What I’ve learnt is loyalty does not pay.
The reason that the cliche “Hard work pays off” is so tempting to use is because it gives us the perception that we have more control than we do in life (as well as the fact that the cliche has a very karma feel). There is a lot we have control over, but there is even more that we don’t–and that is a scary thought.
I personally have not seen much of a connection between the people I know who work hard as being rewarded more than people who don’t work hard. A lot of my friends from high school that are really wealthy became wealthy because they became a part of their family’s businesses. They manage the business, but they don’t put in the hours and sweat as the people that they pay to do the work. The people under them work harder and are paid less.
I waitress-ed my way through college, working just as hard at each job, but to make really good wages in that area, you need to focus on touristy-spots with high checks and high table turn-around (tourists generally want to enjoy a good meal and then back to vacationing, and they tip better). Working hard at Pizza Hut didn’t pay much, working just as hard at high-priced tourist restaurants paid great.
I am sure there is a correlation at some level of hard work and financial success, but only to a degree–that hard work will take you to a certain level or will ensure you keep trying. A lot of people work hard, but if they work hard in a low-paying industry (like teachers), they will be paid little. You have to work hard in the right industry with the right connections. I have a personality where I work hard and play hard, but I don’t play the game. It has caused me problems in the past, and I still feel its influence.
I’ve found the opposite to be true in my area. Tourist and one-off places, like restaurants in the airport, tend to bring in poor tips because people know they’re in once and gone. It’s the smaller places, with regulars who want to ensure consistent good service, that provide better server wages.
Kristin, I love this post. Thank you for sharing this struggle that we all face at times, but which is especially hard in these particular times. I feel fortunate to be able to read your work here at GRS.
I as looking for work in a saturated IT job market in Vancouver in the late 90s. Every single weekday I would get up early, wait for two hours for phone calls, put on a suit and tie, then go the employment resource centre where I would fire off 5-7 resumes–at least 2 with proper cover letters attached. It took 3 months to land something. By my reckoning I had close to 250 resumes floating around out there in the market.
My roommates (lazy and collecting welfare (I wasn’t)), would almost complain watching me–“How can you go out and do that *every* *single* day?!!” My answer was, “Looking for a job IS my job.”
I eventually landed two full-time temporary jobs. I busted my butt on only about 4 hours sleep a night to pay off the very small debt I’d accumulated, then saved enough to buy a plane ticket the hell out of that province, and when the contracts were up I put as much distance as I could between me and my slacker friends. (One of the places wanted to hire me permanently at that point, but I’d long ago decided I was miserable where I was.) Back in Ontario, I got a great job almost immediately.
Did you know that when he tried to convince restaurants to use his recipe for a share, financially strapped pensioner Colonel Sanders was rejected more than 1,000 times before someone agreed? He actually travelled around in his car and was rejected ONE THOUSAND times. Now that’s gumption, baby! “By the time of his death, there were an estimated 6,000 KFC outlets in 48 different countries worldwide, with $2 billion of sales annually.”
Best of luck in the hunt, Kristin! …But I know you don’t need it. You have brains and perseverance and that will always serve you better than luck.
I’ve re-started a career, and after many resumes and hours of job hunting, I’m slowly gaining traction. My advice is to everyone is keep going! Eventually there will be a break.