Smart Or Hard

Smart Or Hard

Easy Street

Ever seen it?

How about the Tough Road. You ever seen the Tough Road? That one seems to be traveled a little more than Easy Street. You always hear people talking about it. They say, “Well, we’ve got a Tough Road ahead of us.”

The Tough Road seems to be a fact and Easy Street almost seems mythical. People don’t believe Easy Street really exists. But if you ask them about the Tough Road, they’ll gladly start giving you example after example. It’s almost like a badge of honor to live on the Tough Road.

Well, maybe I weird or something, but I’d much rather live on Easy Street. In fact, that’s what my energy is spent on – living on Easy Street.

No matter where you are:
- your office
- your home
- your car
- your church
- your ________________

Easy Street exists.

People, seemingly naturally, seem to gravitate toward the difficult and impossible when it comes to achieving certain things in their life. If it’s a job, a large percentage of people seem to want to do things the hard way instead of doing things the smart way.

If they are at home, arguments are daily over lack of communication, when it would be much smarter to just share what your thoughts are – mutually. That’s working smarter. I’m not sure if you’ve ever tried to read someone else’s mind, but it’s fairly difficult.

The examples of working harder instead of working smarter are endless. But I think you get the point.

So how do you work smarter instead of harder?

Here are three simple steps that will help you:

1. Think It Through
Don’t just jump into something because you’re impatient. Most of the time, there are at least two ways to do something. Stop and think about it for a minute or two. What is the best way to leverage what you can to do it in less time with at least the same results (better results if possible)?

2. Never Assume
Never assume the job or task you have to finish is a job just for job-sake. Never assume you are unimportant and what you are doing is anything less than vital to your organization. On the flip side, always work with the best intention and effort. This is the epitome of working smart!

3. Don’t Procrastinate
Procrastination is the heart of disrespect. When you procrastinate you are ultimately saying that you really don’t respect yourself, your co-workers, your boss, your salespeople, your company, your church. Working smart means getting it done – and getting it done efficiently, affordably and respectfully.

When you’re working through something, do not think activity is the same thing as achievement. There are thousands of people who move a lot but all they accomplish is warmth from the friction they create.

Take these three steps and start working smart. Those around you will thank you for it!