Things that are hard ≠ things that are valuable
jasonleow • 15 Dec 2024 •
Do not confuse things that are hard with things that are valuable. Many things in life are hard. Just because you are giving a great effort does not mean you are working toward a great result. Make sure that mountain is worth climbing. – @JamesClear
Another great reminder from James Clear.
There’s something of an idol worship with hard work. But hard doesn’t mean it moves the needle on your goals. Often there’s busy work, work that gives you the illusion that you are productive and moving ahead, but you’re actually just running in circles. In a standstill.
I’m often prone to falling for this.
Because it’s not always clear when a task or project will bring impact the way you envision or hope it to be. When the data is clear, of course it will be easy to drop it or keep doing it. But oftentimes data just isn’t easily available, or causation or product-market fit is not clear, or it takes an unknown amount of time to unfold (like say SEO). Worse when hopes and desires get in the way, and the view gets all muddled.
That’s when it’s all too easy to get hooked up on unreliable and proxy indicators like hard work.
Hard things ≠ valuable things.
Very important reminder.
Comments
Always loved Tim Ferriss’s line, but personally I found it hard to visualize, especially if I’m already struggling with it!
I like Tim Ferriss’s twist on the idea, which is to ask the question: “What would this look like if it were easy?”