Appreciation Marketing – Work Smarter, Not Harder

In one of my past lives, I worked with someone who was a finish carpenter.  He was masterful at working with wood and creating beautiful results.  He was one of those people who believed that if you were going to “do” anything, you should “do” it right.  If it wasn’t right, you should fix it so that it was right.  In other words, do the right thing, no matter what you are doing.

One of the other things that he believed was “working smarter, not harder”.  No matter what you are doing, there may be more than one way to complete the task.  There is the one where you work hard, and there may be the way where you work smart.  Working harder may involve not using the correct tools, working harder may mean exerting more physical effort, or working harder may result in taking longer to complete the task at hand.

When you work harder, you may require more people to engage in the project than if you work smarter.  You may also place yourself, and others involved in the project, in dangerous situations when you persist in working harder than you need to do so.  Anytime that we can take advantage of a smarter method of completing any task we should do so.  This may not only be for our own benefit, but perhaps may be for the benefit of others.

It is always better to work smarter, not harder.  Why should you work “hard” when you can work “smart”, exerting less effort and perhaps saving time?  Are there tools that you can use to work smarter?  These may include power tools, computers, the internet, or just the additional assistance of others.  Working “smart” may include using safer methods of work, placing ourselves in safer environments in our work, or just verifying that the necessary preparation steps have been taken prior to the task at hand.

Working smarter has another benefit; it shows others that you have the necessary intelligence to look at a situation and analyze it to determine if there is a better way to accomplish the desired result.  We lead by example, showing others that there may be “smarter” means to accomplish our work.  If we keep doing what we do the “hard” way, we really do not set the best example to others.  Then we look somewhat stupid by banging our head against a wall over and over.

I have another friend who asks, “If you keep doing whatever you have always done, why are you amazed that you keep getting whatever you have always gotten?”  Last week we discussed doing something new and different in order to change the results from the marketing of your business.  We also discussed that changes can, and should, apply to both our business as well as personal lives.  Don’t be the person that says, “We have always done it this way.”  Be the person who thinks outside the box and is creative.

As we make resolutions, we should make one to work smarter, not harder.  Building relationships, or partnerships, will bring you, and your business, to a point of success.  Have an opinion on this subject?  Please leave me your comments, or you can also email me at Jim@SOC4Now.com, or call me at 360-314-8691.  I look forward to hearing from you and sharing your thoughts with others.  Let’s all start the year on the right foot and work smarter, together, for the success of everyone.