A lot of kids these days attach extreme hard work to success. However one must bear in mind, that hardwork can lead only to a few notches up in the success ladder. After all, a successful and joyous person is easily distinguished by his ability to work well and not hard.

Here’s a zen story which emphasizes the same :

A martial arts student went to his teacher and said earnestly, “I am devoted to studying your martial system. How long will it take me to master it.“The teacher’s reply was casual, “Ten years.“Impatiently, the student answered, “But I want to master it faster than that. I will work very hard. I will practice everyday, ten or more hours a day if I have to. How long will it take then?” The teacher thought fora moment, “20 years.”