Work hard and you'll get ahead Let's even assume you are doing that for a Great American Corporation, are nice to people you work with, and don't sabotage your career in any obvious way. Even adding those extras to working hard does anyone believe it is a passport to career success? I'm reasonably successful, and I've been told by many I work harder than average, am more efficient, and implement high standards in my work. Blah blah blah. That's not why I've achieved the success I have. I spent the first few years of my careers watching why people get promoted in Corporate America, and how each story contrasted strongly with the ethical “lesson” of Work hard and you'll get ahead People get ahead because they work hard AND – more importantly – they know how to work the system, politically. Many get ahead by simply working the system, and they don't find that working hard is even a prerequisite. Anyone agree about my observations?
The management euphenism for this is called "working smarter".What folks need to learn is the "working smarter" has a double meaning. It often means, "find others to do the grunt work for you".
