Effort ≠ Reward
When I was younger, I was focused on academics as doing well means having more options of schools/courses at the end of each national exam. The exams were predictable because of the preset syllabus and we just had to practice, practice and practice. Over time, I was conditioned to think that if I put in lots of time and energy into something, the reward is more or less guaranteed.
As more unstructured learning came along in university and at work, I started to struggle. In adulthood, money provides us with options in life. In the first few years of work, work was hard. There were days where I ended work at 2am, 4am and even 6am. I received above average grading during appraisals, but continued to earn half of what some of my peers in other industries were earning. I thought if I grind hard and long enough, I would be able to catch up with them. Regrettably, using long hours to compensate for poor career choice is not sustainable and I got burnt out.
Recognising this early helped me to reprioritise my life. I’m more willing to stop myself in my tracks when I overwork for little recognition / miminal learning / slow pay increment / when conditions are not in my favour / luck matters more than skills / etc. I’m also less likely to face disappointments as I actively choose to enjoy the process more than the outcome.
It’s difficult to let go of being overly hardworking / diligent / responsible / perfectionist because who doesn’t want to give their best shot? However, if you do not get the outcome that you wanted, would you still have put in that effort?
Many of us grow up believing that if we work hard enough, the rewards will naturally follow. This mindset often serves well during structured learning phases, like preparing for national exams where the syllabus is clear and effort directly correlates with outcomes. However, as I transitioned into university and then the professional world, I realized this formula doesn’t always hold true. The real world, especially career growth, involves many unpredictable factors such as industry trends, luck, networking, and sometimes the wrong career choice. For example, I faced long hours at work—sometimes until 2am or even later—yet my financial progress lagged behind peers in other industries. Overworking without strategic direction led to burnout and disappointment. Recognizing that effort alone wasn’t my path to success forced me to reprioritize. I started evaluating if the time and energy I invested yielded meaningful learning, fair compensation, or a positive work environment. If not, I allowed myself to slow down or pivot, reducing stress and lesser frustrations. This shift also meant embracing imperfections and focusing on enjoying the journey rather than obsessing about outcomes. It's tough to let go of being a perfectionist or feeling the need to prove oneself by sheer hard work. But learning when to step back and reassess has helped me maintain balance and sustained motivation. I encourage others to reflect on whether their effort is effectively aligned with rewards and long-term fulfillment. Sometimes, smarter work—not just harder—is the real key. And, importantly, valuing the process itself can provide satisfaction beyond measurable achievements.
