What If Work Could Be Easy?

We’ve all grown up hearing phrases like?“No pain, no gain”?and?“Nothing worth having comes easy.”?These expressions instill the idea that success and achievement can only come through hard work and struggle. There’s an implicit belief that things must get worse before they can get better.

Some leaders adopt this as their life motto. They bring a seriousness to their work, leaving little room for spontaneity, fun, or relaxation. Anything unrelated to work is deemed irrelevant. This forced way of living, where nothing matters but achieving results, often leads to frustration when outcomes fall short despite their immense effort.

But what if it didn’t have to be this way? What if work could be easy?

Yesterday, I attended the opening of an art exhibition in Dubai, where I had an enlightening conversation with one of the featured artists. His artwork was stunning, and his schedule was nothing short of extraordinary—exhibiting in Dubai for a few days before heading to Germany, and fresh off an art event in New York commemorating 400 years of the city. He was juggling over 20 projects worldwide involving photography, food, music, and storytelling.

Yet, he didn’t see himself as busy. He saw himself as privileged to spend his time immersed in the aspects of life he loved most—art, music, food, and sharing incredible stories. It was not because he was successful that he enjoyed himself; it was because he enjoyed himself that he was successful.

Many of us find work ‘hard’ for a few key reasons:

1. Lack of Alignment

We’re in the wrong line of work—jobs that neither fulfill us nor make us feel alive.

2. The Wrong Environment

Sometimes, we start with passion but end up in environments where it’s all about money, status, or reputation. In such cases, maintaining the image takes precedence over joy. A lack of trust, collaboration, or appreciation can further drain our energy.

3. Unclear Goals

We haven’t discovered what truly makes us thrive—our unique talents and gifts—and how to use them in ways that bring fulfillment and make an impact.

4. Mindset and Perception

Often, it’s not the work itself but how we think about it. Focusing only on the negatives or comparing ourselves to others magnifies challenges and blinds us to our achievements.

So, what if it could be easy?

If you feel work is ‘hard,’ you’re not alone. The key to shifting this lies in uncovering what’s beneath it:

• What beliefs about work do you hold? Are these assumptions serving or limiting you?
• What makes you feel alive, and how can you integrate that into your work? Imagine work becoming something that energizes rather than depletes you.
• Do you feel supported in your growth? If not, what’s stopping you from seeking an environment that nurtures you?
• What are you really trying to achieve? Understanding the emotions driving your efforts can help you align with more fulfilling goals.

Ultimately, how we perceive work and choose to show up shapes our experience. Work doesn’t define us—our mindset about it does.

As Martin Luther King Jr. beautifully said:

"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'”

The career you want and the joy you derive from work are often entirely within your control. The question is: how will you choose to show up?

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Let’s Lead!