The Forgotten and Maligned Value of Hard Work
The Timeless Principle of Hard Work
This is one in a series of essays that was originally conceived as a book for print publication. If you enjoy it and would like to read more from the collection, you can find a sort of Table of Contents here.
Few things are more highly praised, and more energetically avoided, than hard work.
Ask anyone if they’d like their son or daughter to grow up fat, lazy and spoiled. What do you think they’ll say?
Of course not! What a horrible thought!
And yet, ironically, that’s exactly what we seem to be encouraging them to do! Maybe not in word, per se, but in attitude and in example, absolutely!
Warning: Here comes the hypocritical advice!
Hypocritical Advice
I do this too, so don’t think I’m stepping up on a soapbox here. Consider it more of a common sense voice coming from behind you somewhere in the crowd:
Especially in the United States, we seem to have this inborn aversion to hard work. I’m sure it’s spreading all over the developed world, of course, because all the worst traits do.
For example, consider potential careers for a moment. Would you prefer to be (or to help…
