What Is Smart Work?

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So What is Smart Work Exactly?

We've all heard the old phrase "work smarter, not harder." It's one of those things people say all the time in business, even in schools. But many people don't know what this actually means.

Another one you've probably heard a lot in recent years is "hustle." Everyone talks about hustling

But what is working smarter? How is it different from working harder? Should you do a bit of both? What actually is hustling? Is hustle the same as working smart? Is smart work the future of work in general? And what does smart working look like in reality?

I'm here to answer your questions and tell you what you should be doing to be the most productive, efficient, motivated, and successful version of yourself.

Work Smart Meaning

Working hard is not the same as working smart. Working harder means putting in long hours, staying on a task until it's done, and spending all your energy to get things sorted. It is draining and exhausting, and it's never conducive to work-life balance.

Working smarter means using your brain to find better ways to get the job done. Sometimes, this means using a new ideology to develop new ideas. Sometimes this means taking a break so you can reset and refocus. Working smarter can also mean knowing what to focus on, spend time on, and what to do quickly or delegate to others.

To sum it up simply: Working hard is about being reactive to a job that needs to be done. The job is there, so you do it. Working smarter is about being proactive. Smart working means finding the best way to achieve your goal and changing how you work to make it happen.

Tip: There is actually more than one definition of smart work. Don't confuse working smarter with Smart Working technologies. Smart Working tech means using the latest technology, apps, and ideologies to complete tasks and connect ideas.

Is Working Smarter Better Than Working Harder?

Your colleagues are smart workers, but you're not...at least according to your boss. You have to work smarter, but you don't know what that means.

All this time, you've been working as hard as you can on repetitive tasks. You rarely take a lunch break. Your to-do list is the biggest in the company. You are among the first to solve problems for other people. So, why in h**l are you getting a bo*****ing from your boss?

When it comes down to it, there's nothing quite like hard work. Putting in the effort day after day is the only way to see results. There is no substitute for putting in the work, and a smart worker prepared to work hard will see results.

So, don't become too disheartened if you're being told to work smart. And you lack the confidence to challenge your boss, your peers, or yourself!

But that doesn't mean that all this smart work stuff is nonsense.

Working smarter can help you to work harder. At some point, particularly over the past year, everyone has felt burnt out or exhausted. When you aren't at your best, you can't work at your best. Finding ways to make your work easier, more manageable, or faster can be a huge help. Not only will you see results, but you won't be so tired. Being on top form means you can put 100% effort into your work.

Working smarter and finding better ways to get things done can motivate you to do the hard work. A task that used to be challenging but is now straightforward suddenly feels effortless, and you get it done first thing in the morning rather than procrastinating.

So really, you should work hard and work smart.

And to be able to do hard work without getting burnt out, you need to work smart. That's why working smarter is so essential; it's the key to working harder for longer. It makes hard work easier.

What's Hustling Got to Do with It?

You're constantly being told to hustle by your boss and colleagues, but you have no idea what they're talking about. Hustling and working smart are like cousins.

What is Hustle?

Many people have heard the word hustle in recent years, but few know the term emerged in African American culture in the 19th century. The original meaning to undermine, trick, or steal has transformed into something more honest.

Nowadays, to say that you hustle means you work hard and put in the extra effort at work. And it's a term you may hear a lot from smart workers.

To hustle is to say that you are working both hard and smart. The rise and grind of hustle culture imply that someone goes above and beyond to get the job done.

Why is Hustle Important?

For a long time, overworking and becoming a workaholic were frowned upon. Family values were as important as your career, so men and women wouldn't work too much. Working hard was for the lower classes.

But the rise of the term hustle has given a new positive spin on working hard. Suddenly it's become an attractive, positive quality. Nowadays, working hard is seen as going after what you want, and being determined and motivated to succeed.

To hustle is going out and getting what you want by working hard and doing what needs to be done. But thanks to the new term, this isn't seen as overworking; it's what we should all be doing.

How to Be a Smart Worker and How to Hustle

When it comes down to it, smart working and hustling are all about being the most productive you can be over a long period. They're about working effectively, staying motivated, and keeping productivity high. Smart work is like a good habit; you can learn how to make it part of your life to make hard work easier.

Here are 15 top tips for hustling effectively and ensuring you're smart working every day.

1. Have a Big Goal

There is no point in hard work if you don't know what you are working for. Even if you're working hard to, one day, secure the perfect work-life balance, at least you have a vision to work towards.

Make sure you dream big and have a great overall vision that excites you. Working hard and smart working to achieve small goals is much less satisfying. Having a dream will help motivate you to put in your best effort and force you to continually work hard to achieve it.

Smart workers who hustle effectively aren't afraid of having big goals. Dream big and expand your mind. Set high expectations for yourself. Remember; if it was easy, everyone would do it

2. Be Prepared for New Ideas

Effectively hustling and being productive means accepting new, better ways of doing things. Don't get stuck in tradition. Sure, you always did something a certain way. But if there is a better way to do the same thing, don't be afraid of change.

Always be on the lookout for new ideas, methodologies, and approaches. From project management to technology to investment and new skills, there will always be new ways to do things—people who hustle and work smart know when to embrace the future. Smart workers are smart people.

3. Have a Side Hustle

Having a side project to make money can be a great way to help your Hustle and succeed. A side hustle shouldn't take up too much of your time or energy, but it should be an excellent way to get a little extra cash to support you financially while you work.

A side hustle is also a helpful distraction because it supports your main goals and gives your brain a break to focus on something else. Having multiple income sources is also a smart way to ensure you always have income, even if something fails. Your side hustle should be hard work.

4. Get Rid of Distractions

Although a side hustle can be a good distraction, you should limit your distractions to keep your mind clear and focused. People who practice smarter working don't waste their time and procrastinate, they get on with the hard work.

Find a way to eliminate distractions or set aside time to do these things at once. Make sure your mind is clear and free to concentrate on the tasks you need to complete without half-thing about something else. This might mean you need a dedicated workspace or to put your phone away; it might even mean hiring a cleaner so you don't do housework when you should be working!

And remember: You can't solve problems for other people without it affecting your results and productivity. Smart workers always know when to say "no" without feeling guilty.

5. Learn How to Manage Your Time

Time management is one of the most important things to learn if you want to smart work. Some things take a long time and might not add value. You need to know what is worth your time and attention, what can be done quickly, and what should be delegated.

There are only so many hours in a day, so you should learn to prioritize tasks that require your full attention to make the most of each day.

When you work smarter, you know the value of the tasks you're prioritising. Which jobs and responsibilities will deliver the greatest returns? An effective smart worker will know when to discard even the most urgent tasks in favour of tasks with more value. There's nothing to be gained from being a hard worker if you're not on course to achieve your vision or get the rewards you deserve.

6. Take Time Off

Just because you want to be productive and get a lot done doesn't mean you have to work all the time. If you never take a break, you'll find yourself burnt out.

A lazy evening watching Netflix might just give your brain enough time to reset and relax so that you can be extra productive tomorrow. Sure, you could work until 9pm every day, but you'll soon find yourself overtired, unable to concentrate, and not able to give your best.

Smart work sometimes means not working at all. Have an evening off, take a long weekend, and go on holiday. Smart working is about knowing when to stop so you can be more productive tomorrow.

If you know you'll feel better if you waste time at home, then it's probably a good long-term vision. However, there's a fine line between taking productive time off and wasting precious time.

Some people take sick days only to find that they have more on their to-do list the next day—and less time to do it! This can cause stress and anxiety, which means important tasks have to wait. The whole thing can quickly become a vicious circle for a few people who aren't designed to procrastinate.

7. Learn from Mistakes

Smart working doesn't mean you won't make mistakes. But people who really work smart don't let their mistakes get them down. When you get something wrong, learn from your mistake and turn it into a lesson.

If you learn from your mistakes, you are learning what not to do in the future and how to succeed next time. That's the aim of working smarter, finding a better way to do something. It's hard work, but you'll get better.

Smart workers NEVER avoid disappointment. Maybe you know someone who doesn't compete because the fear of failure is too much to take. Maybe you're that person.

An effective smart worker seeks out difficult challenges—even if failing might lead to short-term distress. Why? Because there is ALWAYS something to learn from failure. If you fail at work, work out where you went wrong and alter your work process accordingly. If your to-do lists never seem to end, work out why. If you don't accomplish your primary goal for the week, look for different approaches.

Never feel sorry for yourself. Never look for others to blame. Be accountable. Learn from your mistakes and work smarter the next time around.

8. Don't Be Afraid to Say No

You don't always have to do everything. One of the fundamental principles of being productive is knowing when to say no. You should focus your attention on what will really drive you forward. This can mean saying no to side projects, distractions, and work that won't help you achieve your goal.

Saying no can feel scary, particularly for paid work, but you should need to reserve your energy and focus on more important projects. Smart work means knowing to not do something that you might want to do but really, won't help you.

An effective smart worker doesn't care what others think of them—unless it's a relative or friend, of course. That's because perpetual smart workers know that most people are in it for themselves. They're too busy listening to Wii-FM—what's in it for me?

You won't be able to earn more money than your peers until you've learned how to be more ruthless and selfish.

9. Accept Help from Others

Just because you are willing to work to meet your goals doesn't mean you have to do it alone. Some of the most innovative workers know when to accept help from experts and colleagues. The aim is to succeed, so don't let pride get in the way of you achieving your goals.

We all need a bit of help sometimes, and we can learn from others, although it can be hard work. Accepting help isn't defeat; it's just one more person working towards your goal.

For example, more and more people are now turning to business coaching for help with their careers. Others are turning to life coaching in order to find true happiness or fulfilment. Do you think that Richard Branson or Jeff Bezos got to where they are today without asking for help and advice?

The moment you stop learning is the moment you stop growing. Don't be shy. Admit that you don't know everything. Accept that you will be learning until the day you die. And think of help in terms of bettering yourself and moving closer to achieving your vision in life. That's what all successful smart workers have been doing for years.

10. Work Hard

This is where working smarter and hustling come together. You need to actually do the hard work. Putting in the time and energy will pay off if you are consistent. You can't expect to get results immediately just because you are working intelligently.

For smart work, consistency is key and successful people know that real success isn't achieved in a week, a month, or even a year. You need to ensure you are working smarter every single day and keep practising those principles day in and day out.

Here's a saying for you: "Practice makes perfect." Here's another: "Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work."

Smart workers are also hard workers. You need to put at least 10,000 hours into a skill before you can consider yourself an expert. So, no matter how talented or bright you might be, nothing can take the place of hard work.

Of course, you can work harder and work smarter at the same time. You can, for example, give everything to complete your important tasks but delegate or delay responsibilities that don't deliver sufficient value.

11. Smart Working Requires Practice and Refinement

You can't switch to working smarter overnight. For some people, it's not natural to put off certain tasks in favour of more important ones. It's not natural to say 'no', create effective time management strategies, and stick to one high-value, specific task at a time.

You can, of course, turn to a career coach if working smarter not harder doesn't come naturally to you. A good coach will examine every aspect of your life to determine why you're struggling to prioritise tasks and manage your time more effectively.

Once you have a plan in place for working smarter not harder, implement it in your daily life. When certain approaches don't work, change them. Or if they're not delivering the results you expected, modify and refine them over time.

Eventually, you'll devise an approach to smart working to increase efficiency in just about every area of your life.

12. Start Your Day Earlier

Have you ever heard of the 5am Club? More and more celebrities and influencers are sharing their experiences of starting their day at 5am every day, and the results have been extraordinary.

Imagine what you can achieve by getting out of bed a little earlier every day. Fresh from a good night's sleep, the hours between 5am and 9am could be your most productive of the day. And if you get into that routine, just think what you'll be able to achieve by the time most people are switching on their computers at work.

Whether you use your extra time to get personal tasks out of the way, hit the gym, or take on other important things related to your overall success, you'll always be a few steps ahead of your competitors and peers.

13. Productivity Apps

Some people are natural when it comes to working smarter not harder, and some aren't. It's that simple! If you're someone who struggles to focus, prioritise, or work out what are important tasks and what constitutes inconsequential tasks, turning to technology could help.

For example, if you struggle with prioritising contacts and leads, a CRM platform may help. If you struggle with personal finances and making the right financial decisions at the right times, a financial planning app could be just what you need.

More generally, some productivity apps can help you schedule, streamline your to-do lists, and remove all of your ideas and thoughts from your head and put them on a screen.

14. Learn to Value Results More Than Time Served

Be honest. Do you ever sit back at the end of a long day and give yourself a pat on the back for completing a 14-hour day? If so, why? Unless there's a specific reason for working those hours, you're simply congratulating yourself for sacrificing your personal life and your relationship with your loved ones. To what end? If that level of commitment puts you one step closer to achieving your vision, fair enough. But if all you can say is that you worked harder than anyone else, what's the point?

15. Become a Better Communicator

You can't make your millions without help. You can't become a captain of industry without delegating. You can't become a great leader if you struggle to convey your wishes and expectations. In short, you can't become a smart worker unless you're a smart communicator.

Moreover, you need to alter your communication style depending on the situation, the circumstances, and the people you're communicating with.

It's also important to remember that communication is a two-way process. In order to react to changing circumstances and use the people around you effectively, you need the ability to listen and react.

Hustle Your Way to Success and Work Smarter

Working smarter, not harder, is a trend that's likely to stick around. So is hustling. Why? Because they work.

Consider a good coaching session with a professional coach to discover the work smart meaning and what it means in your life.

Gone are the days of putting in long hours and working hard for no real reward. If you know how to work and what to do, you, too, can achieve success. To work smart, you need to embrace change, find a better way to achieve success, and then hustle until you achieve your dreams.

Yes, it all sounds pretty easy when it's written down on a web page, doesn't it? But if you're not naturally suited to prioritising tasks and time management, you may struggle to work smart without the help of a life coach who has been smart working for close to two decades.

Productivity and efficiency are crucial to the idea of working smarter. If you are determined to succeed and want to avoid burnout and exhaustion, now is the time to embrace the hustle trend and get down to business.

To begin your personal smart working journey, contact me—Jake Smolarek—for an initial, completely free discovery session. Together, we'll change your way of working to ensure every second you devote to work delivers a tangible return.