June 24, 2026, Issue #47
There are certain business phrases that make me cringe, and “Work Smarter, Not Harder” is near the top of the list.
Maybe it’s because I’ve heard it used in situations where people were already working as hard as they possibly could.
You know the scenario. Your workload is overflowing, deadlines are piling up, and instead of getting support, someone cheerfully tells you to “work smarter, not harder.”
Thanks. Problem solved.
As an employee, there often isn’t much choice. The work still has to get done, and somehow you find a way.
As a business owner, though, the phrase can take on a different meaning.
When you’re running your own business, there comes a point where you simply can’t do everything yourself. You can answer emails, manage your calendar, create content, handle invoices, update your website, post on social media, and still try to serve your clients. But eventually, something has to give.
That is where working smarter actually makes sense.
Sometimes working smarter means creating a process.
Sometimes it means using technology to automate repetitive tasks.
And sometimes it means delegating work to someone else so you can focus on the things that only you can do.
Many business owners wear every hat in the beginning. It’s understandable. But there comes a time when holding onto every task isn’t saving money or increasing productivity. It’s creating a bottleneck.
Working smarter isn’t about magically finding more hours in the day.
It’s about recognizing that your time and energy are limited resources and using them wisely.
So, while I still don’t love the phrase, I can appreciate the idea behind it.
Maybe the real message should be:
“Don’t try to do everything yourself.”
Now that’s advice I can get behind.
Quote
“Working smart is harder than working hard. It’s just less visible, and we care too much about what others see.”
Shane Snow