"Working very hard"

I came across a story this evening. It goes something like this:

"A martial arts student went to his teacher and said earnestly, 'I am devoted to studying your martial system. How long will it take me to master it?' The teacher's reply was casual, 'Ten years.' Impatiently, the student answered, 'But I want to master it faster than that. I will work very hard. I will practice everyday, ten or more hours a day if I have to. How long will it take then?' The teacher thought for a moment, '20 years.'"

Stories like these are meant to be interpreted individually; what you think about it matters, because getting you to think is one reason for their existence.

Personally, I think it captures the essence of what happens when people try too hard at something, and thereby suffer set-backs and frustration. Whether you're working to improve a skill, complete a project, or finish the tasks you've set for yourself on a given day, it's my experience that there is both the possibility of trying too little and too much. In either case, the result is sub-maximal.

To draw upon experience again, it is far more often that people will tell you that your sub-maximal result is a consequence of simply not working hard enough.

I believe this story--which is entitled, "Working very hard,"--is designed to suggest that what people tell you on this issue might be inaccurate; you might actually be working too hard, and that is the reason for your set-backs and poor results. It's ultimately up to you to consider whether you're working too easy, too hard, or just enough to achieve your goals. The task isn't an easy one, and often a good coach can help.

The point is, like working too easily, working too hard can be counter-productive. Finding balance between the two isn't a bad start.

Happy Friday, friends :).