Working Harder Isn’t The Key to Success
Written by: Brad Bizjack, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
Hustle culture lied. Working harder isn’t the key to success. In fact, it might just be standing in the way of it.
This brand of non-stop pace work relies on push motivation, or rather, sheer willpower, to achieve your dreams. While push motivation can and will get you started, in the end, it will only take you so far before burnout and overwhelm kick in; before you start sacrificing all the things in life that bring you joy in the hopes of achieving greatness. Neither of which, in my opinion, sounds very appealing.
So then, if not a “work harder” and push motivation mentality, what is the key to success?
In short, it’s alignment. When you are in alignment with the best version of yourself every day, you don’t have to work hard for hard work to get done. And at the very least, hard work doesn’t actually feel like hard work at all.
Alignment is where the proverbial magic happens. No longer are you constantly pushing to achieve your dreams, exhausting yourself on repeat. Instead, you’re being pulled toward them. That difference is gold because you have more energy, can think more creatively, and take the action you need to go to the next level of success.
So, how do you know if you’re in alignment with the best version of yourself? And if you’re not, what can you do to fix it?
Take a moment to review the following list of symptoms on non-alignment.
There is a persistent, daily feeling that something is off, but you don’t know what it is
Your external reality doesn’t equal what you really desire
Physical pain—i.e., mystery symptoms you can’t explain, you’re getting sick more often
You’re tired, sluggish, and uninspired (and always pressing snooze)
Unable to attract what you really want in your life
If none apply, you’re living in alignment congratulations! All that may be missing from unlocking your success story is taking that pivotal leap of faith on yourself. As such, take this as your sign to invest in yourself; sign up for that seminar, hire that coach, or finally hit the launch button on your unique idea.
If you ticked off one or more from the list, here are a couple of tips to help you find your way back to alignment with yourself.
Value Reflection
Take some time to reflect on what you value. You can feel out of alignment with yourself when your values and beliefs are inconsistent with your actions. By doing work that honors your values, you’ll maintain alignment with more ease.
Appreciation
Rather than focus and spend your energy on what’s missing and not working, take a moment to intentionally remind yourself of what you’ve accomplished. Stop beating yourself up for not being where you want to be in life, because you are where you are meant to be right now and there’s a power to be had in that knowledge.
Remember, getting back into alignment with yourself doesn’t always feel easy, and that’s okay. Celebrate your progress, no matter how small, and that energy will snowball. Before you know it you’ll be making strides you once thought impossible.
If you continue to find yourself struggling to break out from mediocrity, then you’re in luck! I’m creating a brand-new program designed to cut the habits and mindsets holding you back and rewire your brain for maximum success. At this very moment, I’m working hard to put it all together, but I need your help. Take my survey and let me know what reoccurring challenges you face in your life so that I can customize this new program to serve you best: Rewire Your Mind Survey. It only takes 5-minutes and is completely anonymous, no name or email is required!
Brad Bizjack, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Brad Bizjack is a personal development expert, mindset strategist and coach, inspirational speaker, and podcast host with over 9 years of coaching experience. He's coached over 10,000 people in the area of personal development and human potential. His mission is to help people maximize their life, master their mindset, and elevate their relationships and career to the next level and beyond! Brad is happily married to his beautiful wife, Janiece. They reside in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago and have a little girl named Lillian and a dog named Oliver.
