If Hard Work Was Enough, Donkeys Would Run the Farm

Someone said this to me the other day:

“If all it took was hard work, the donkeys would be running the farm.”

It made me laugh. Then it made me stop.

Because I’ve known a lot of hard workers and I’d like to think I’ve been one of them. Long days, full-on weeks, always pushing to get things done. But sometimes, no matter how much effort you put in, things don’t move. Or worse, you don’t even realise you’ve been stuck in the same loop for years.

A few days after hearing that line, I picked up Mindset by Carol Dweck. I’d been to workshops about her work but had never read the book from start to finish. This time, something clicked.

She talks about the difference between thinking your abilities are fixed — and believing they can grow, if you’re willing to stay open and put in the work.

But here’s the bit that really struck me:

Hard work alone doesn’t guarantee growth.
Sometimes it just means you’re digging the same hole, only deeper.

If you’re not asking questions — about yourself, your habits, the way you lead — then all that effort can just turn into motion. You’re busy, yes. But are you moving forward?

That’s where curiosity comes in. And it’s the part I think gets overlooked.

Sometimes the real work is stopping long enough to ask, why this? and why now?

It opens up space to shift direction, challenge old patterns, and learn what might be hiding in plain sight.

“Becoming is better than being.” – Carol Dweck

That line hits differently when you’ve had your head down for too long. Growth isn’t about proving anything. It’s about staying open — even when that means letting go of what used to work.

So let me leave you with a question I’ve started asking myself — and sometimes my clients too:

Where are you working hard, but not actually moving forward?

Because effort matters. But it’s not the whole story.

Sometimes the smartest thing you can do is pause — and get curious.

Hard work is everywhere. Curiosity is rarer.
I’m working with leaders and teams who are trying to shift from effort to real progress — and asking some hard questions along the way.

If this struck a chord with you, let’s talk anhony.omara@aramoglobal.com

Still pulling the plough? Might be time to lift your head