Maya Angelou once said, “Nothing will work unless you do.”

If you want to achieve goals in life, work, relationships, etc., work is required. Nothing will go the way you want unless you put in the work. There’s no substitute for hard work—no sustainable way around it. If you don’t put in the work, things likely won’t go your way.

Instead of viewing hard work as an obstacle to my getting what I want, I look at it as a requirement for me to get what I want. It’s part of the journey. I don’t always like it, but I accept that it’s a package deal. No hard work, no good outcome. It’s a small mental shift that’s been helpful to me over the years.