"Hard work always pays off, whatever you do".
In other words, putting forth 100% effort will lead you to success in one form or another.
But the work itself isn't necessarily the difficult part for most people… it's more so the sacrifice that's often comes along with it.
If you're interested in unlocking your secret and bettering yourself as an individual, then you need to come to terms with the fact that there are some things you have to let go of in order to grow.
First, it's important to understand that there's little difference between hard work and sacrifice. The two simply go hand-in-hand.
Learning how to work hard and sacrifice the now is the key to gaining benefits later.
Clinical psychologist and author, Jordan Peterson, describes this as the "delay of gratification".
It's essentially what earned us a top spot on the food chain.
Unlike other animals who function based on basic instincts and demand immediate satisfaction, humans evolved intellectually by discovering that sometimes it works out better in the long-run to refrain from indulging.
Peterson explains this as the difference between wolves hungrily feasting on prey in the wild, sometimes consuming as much as 20 pounds of meat in one sitting, versus early humans who set aside extra food and resources from a kill for future purposes.
By planning ahead and holding off on those gluttonous tendencies, people were able to gain the upper hand.
At the time, I'm sure these folks envied the wolf with a full belly, but once winter rolled around and fresh food become more scarce the tables would've turned as the wolf went hungry and the humans resorted to their leftovers.
You can compare it to saving money for retirement instead of immediately blowing it on a shopping spree or even choosing to study for an exam over a night out with friends.
Both involve sacrificing the now for a handoff in the future and at the end of the day, it's an investment in yourself.
It's not always easy to turn down instant gratification, but delaying it is known to be a gateway for personal growth.
If you're living a life that you're not proud of or unsatisfied with, it may be time to examine your values and prioritize your day-to-day activities, instead of remaining content.
Make sacrifices now so that you can change into a new and improved version of yourself in the future.