We have heard it for years. Work smarter. Work more efficiently. Work more creatively.

These philosophies are all valid and deserve respect and serious consideration, but whatever happened to old-fashioned, hard work? I am not advocating the 70 hour work week - sacrificing families, friends and personal interests - or joining W.A. (workaholics anonymous, if there is such a group. If not, I may start it! Just kidding friends.)

You can work smarter and more effectively, but I don't believe there is any substitute for sweat, effort and doing whatever it takes to achieve your goals, mission and purpose in life. I believe in balance in life. I believe there are other worthy elements in life besides work, careers and running your business. Few people on their deathbed will admit they should have worked harder during their life.

The key is to learn that if you hate your work, or you hate to work ? unless you are independently wealthy or can live on $500 a year in a cabin in Vermont ? you will live with a great deal of frustration, stress, anxiety and disappointment. There are many more reasons for working other than earning a living.

Some of them are it can:

1. Give your life sense of meaning.

2. Give you self?satisfaction.

3. Give you a creative outlet for your talent.

4. Build your self?esteem

5. Keep you from being bored.

6. Extend your range of influence.

7. Be your gift to society or the human purpose.

8. Broaden your contacts and the opportunity for friends.

9. Contribute to your person development.

10. Add to your ability to converse with the people in

your life.

11. Stretch your mind so that you don't atrophy with age.

12. Help you live longer.

So, learn to love your work. And if you can't love your current work, find work that you can learn to love. You will never be truly happy and successful doing what you hate. There is one exception to this rule and that is: knowing that which you may dislike in your work now is necessary so you can one day do what you love. This might seem a contradiction, given the preceding dialog