The Myth of Hard Work: Lessons from Life Experience

I grew up to hear this popular saying that says “If you work hard, you will surely succeed.” I believed so strongly that success in life depended only on hard work. That was what my elders and teachers told me. I carried this belief in my heart like a treasure. I would wake up early, push myself in school, and even take on extra chores at home because I thought my effort alone would bring all the good things I wanted in life.

Surprisingly, as I grew older and began to see the world differently, this belief started to shake without basis. The first crack came when I saw people who worked much harder than I do struggling to make ends meet. My Nephew, for example, was a farmer. He woke up very early in the morning to till the land, plant seeds, and tend to his crops with so much care and zeal. But when the rains failed or market prices dropped, all his hard work turned into disappointment. It’s as if he hasn’t achieved anything before because of the frustration. I began to ask myself, "If truly hard work guarantees success, why is he suffering?"

Then, I entered the city for university, there, I saw another side of life. Some people who didn’t seem to work hard at all were living comfortably. For example, one of my classmates who doesn’t know how to read and write very well, becoming first class student because his father was a well to do person in the society. His father manipulated things by bribing lecturers in favour of his son. Throughout the university period, the boy was not consistent in the class. To my greatest surprise, one of the lecturers (a female) refused to collect bribe from his father, and that exposed everything. Other lecturers were forced to bring his scripts which he failed woefully. Now, tell me, how did he manage to have first class? Such students had connections - friends, family, or mentors who opened doors for them to succeed. I realized that opportunities are not spread evenly. Someone born into a wealthy family starts life with a head start, while another person, no matter how hard they work, may never reach the same level. Well, it’s an opportunity.

What really changed my mind was a personal experience. After finishing school, I worked tirelessly to apply for jobs. I sent out countless applications, but no responses came. Meanwhile, one of my friends got a good job just because her father knew someone in the company. That was when I fully understood: success is not only about hard work. It’s also about access to opportunities, the environment you are in, and sometimes, pure luck from God.

There was a very sad experience that I had before I entered university. Even, it was the experience that spurred me to further my education. It happened that where I was working, I was very hard working, I did the work of three people alone because I was not a graduate then. Those graduates were less busy, some brought their personal jobs to the office and I was busy alone. I had to put in for West African Examination, they refused to pay me for the period of the examination. When I returned I decided to resign, they were begging me that they would add some money to my salary, I refused. When I left, they employed three people in my position. That is life for you.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I still believe hard work is important. It teaches discipline and builds character. But I’ve learned that it is not the only component for success. If the system is unfair or if opportunities are scarce, hard work alone won’t take you far. That is why I now believe in helping others when I can, because not everyone has the same chances in life.

This shift in thinking has made me more compassionate. It taught me not to judge others too quickly. When I see someone struggling, I don’t assume they are lazy. I ask myself what barriers they might be facing. This is how my heart softened, and my mind opened to new truths.

In the end, life taught me that success is like cooking a pot of soup. Hard work is like the gas cooker - you need it to keep the pot boiling. But if the pot is empty or the ingredients are missing, no matter how much you increase the volume of the gas, the soup won’t be ready. However, it is not the way you work hard, that will make you succeed.”

Thanks for Reading.

Attached is the picture of myself.