Hard work is definitely a myth for most. I learned that a little later than I should have. If you are on a fixed salary and employed. Minimize to the floor of productivity. Use that extra time to figure out how to get to the place where more effort means more money. It almost certainly comes down to working for yourself in that regard. In my country, governments and employers are scratching their heads why productivity is dead while salaries have remained stagnant for a decade. Most people I know just mull through the week and try to get to Friday, the employer is saying "It's a team" and "We are all the product" apart from when it comes to the fruit. That part isn't for the team.