Written By: Onyiyechi Roseline Agwu
Since I was young, I have heard many times that to achieve success, you have to work hard.
Then at some point, the new slogan was education is the key to being successful but in this century, is it okay to say that these slogans are consistent with recent developments in the world?
Does hardwork really pay?
There are many people who work hard but the outcome they get is not equivalent to the efforts they put in.
Let me make it more personal: Has your hardwork all these years paid off?
The recent slogan or rather, phrase I have come across is: Work smart not hard.
What does that even mean?
What does it mean to work smart?
Does it mean that those who attend educational institutions yet are unable to attain certain heights in their career compared to certain individuals who are relevant in their field of interest without necessarily going to an educational institutions are less smart?
Did you get the question?
Or what of hardworkers like bricklayers, trench builders, burden bearers and the likes? Do they not work hard?
Azaro’s father in The Famished Road by Ben Okri was an example and the book described his strenous work well.
To a large extent, based on my observation, there is a general belief in most African Countries that to be sucessful in life, you need to know an influential person.
Long legs. You can call it having Long legs. Can you remember the novel Daddy Long Legs? I did not read it though.
It has permeated most sectors; that to get to certain positions or recieve certain benefits, you need to have a relevant place in the society whether you are a hardworker or not.
Because of this factor, many talented individuals become hopeless in their pursuit of attaining relevant positions in their fields of interests or some end up participating on different platforms in order to get some light thrown at them.
For example, a show like Big Brother Nigeria has become a way for youths to show their relevance disregarding whatever they do in the process of the show. For most of them it is a way to get the public to notice them and further participate in their fields of interest.
You can call it the opportunity gate
So while others clamour for the show to be stopped because of its issue with decency, the youths view as an opportunity to become relevant.
I will still use Nigeria as an example. Most of the adult population that are University graduates have more than more one formal certificates and others include informal certificates as well yet sometimes, the percentage that benefit from these efforts are few.
While some have turn to social media especially comedy to boost their platform and have the opportunity to become relevant.
So does hardwork pay?
I would say this, hardwork pays when the environment favours it and as a Christian, I will add when God favours your process of hardwork.
So while we work hard, we pray that God favours it and at the same time we pursue our goals consistently, believing that some day we will enjoy the fruits.
Cheers to every hardworking youth or adult.
Your comments are welcomed.
