The Failure of Hard Work

Number 4-seeded Andy Roddick was defeated in the first round of the US Open by the number 68-ranked Gilles Muller. It was an upset of epic proportions. Here is what Roddick said referring to his training:  "I put more work in mentally and physically in every which way. I never cared so much as I care now, which makes it tough."

However, the year before, he was way more successful. Why? Let's hear it from Andy himself: "Last year I didn't work hard. I didn't even step up. I wasn't training hardly and somehow sneaking out big points."

Hard work failed. Not working hard succeeded.

Now let's go to the other side of the court and hear from Gilles Muller. Asked how he managed to dismantle Roddick, Muller replied sheepishly, "I have no idea. I told myself to enjoy it -- and I did, every minute.''

Andy worked and failed. Gilles played and succeeded hugely.

When Maria Sharapova won Wimbledon two years ago, she was asked how she beat Serena Williams, the most dominant woman in tennis.  She also said, "I have no idea."

Funny how powerful "no idea" really is.

Roger Federer, the Number One tennis player in the world, is the master of playing with "no idea." He says that when he is in a point, he doesn't even like to think that he is in a point.

"Everything comes very automatic now," he said. "I don't need to think anymore where I'm going to hit the balls. They just go automatically. That's very important in my game, because I need to play with the flow."

If Andy Roddick wants to win, he needs to abandon his "work ethic" and adopt a "play ethic," one that embraces "no idea."

www.lazyway.net

Comments

[Brian Yamabe]

Please don't try to overlay your philosophy on excellence in sports. These athletes have spent thousands and thousands of hours of "hard work" practicing their sport. Success in sports does not come through cleverly avoiding work but still getting the job done. Michael Jordan and Jerry Rice, arguably the best ever at their sports worked incredibly hard. What do weight training, running hills, etc. have to do with playing their sports? Nothing if you follow the "play ethic." If you aspire to just get the job done then fine, but greatness isn't achieved with "no idea."

[Fred]

Dear Brian, I disagree with your criticism of this post. One "plays" sports. Athletes call it hard work because they feel the need to justify their success by calling it work. Michael Jordan, besides being blessed with fabulous physical attributes, was successful because he loved the sport. Athletes are driven to get stronger and faster so they can derive even greater joy from their "play."

As for having "no idea," consider what Bobby Jones, one of the greatest golfers ever, said: "When I was playing well, I thought of very little. When I was playing exceptionally well, I thought of nothing at all."

And again, I refer you to Roger Federer, who unlike Andy Roddick, plays in the most refined, effortless, and elegant way possible and, as a result, knocks the stuffing out of all those "hard workers." Why? Because he has found the mental secret of entertaining "no idea" while he dynamically plays in white hot competition.

I fully realize that I am introducing a new paradigm here and that there will be squawks from those indoctrinated by society's deluded infatuation with the work ethic but I will joyfully venture forth into the exhilaratingly successful world of the Lazy Way. Stay posted. It is only going to get better and easier and richer and fuller and more fun.

Bart Simpson was right on when he said, "I am through with working. Working is for chumps." Andy Roddick needs to take note.

[Peter Gibbons]

Excellent post Fred. The great philosopher Yogi Berra summed it up when he said, "You can't think and hit at the same time."

[Brian Yamabe]

You really don't get it. You are bastardizing the concept of "no idea." Bobby Jones was talking about not thinking while playing which every athlete knows it takes to be successful. And the way you get to that stage is to do the action until you can do it without thinking. Granted, you won't do that action if you don't love what your doing (what I guess you call the "play ethic").

Then you go on to say that getting stronger and faster helps great athletes "derive even greater joy from their 'play.'" Yes, but getting stronger and faster don't come by doing nothing. What do you and your "new paradigm" call it? "Play preparation" or what? Jerry Rice was doing more than anyone else interms of conditioning and preparation because he loved football and being the best that he could. Fine, you don't have to call it "hard work" but don't tell me he had "no idea" how he was successful. He had an idea of how to be successful, and that was to out prepare. And I like how you can say athletes just call it hard work to justify their success. Thanks for talking for them.

You seem to be saying that "no idea" is a means to success, when it is actually the ends. You don't become successful with "no idea". You are successful when you can do the action with "no idea".

I'm sorry for "squaking" and not understanding your "new paradigm." Classic arguments of snake-oil salesmen and liberals alike. And I love that you get your quote from that model of modern day success, Bart Simpson. If that's where your new paradigm leads, I'd rather be one of the lost souls stuck in the old "hard work" paradigm.

[Fred]

Dear Brian,
With all due respect, I think you need an enema.

Lighten up! Read some poetry. Smell a rose. Watch a Monty Python movie. Get a sense of humor. Something, anything, to kill the bug up your you-know-what.

By the way, you are not going to find the success you are looking for by working hard. You need to be a contrarian. I'll explain in my next post.

[Jack Thomas]

I would tend to agree with this, but put it down to the power of the unconcious mind, the fact that most people never realise that our minds are capable of doing 99% of things with out us having to think how.

[Arnie McKinnis]

To those that don't "get it" -- please do some research on how things really work. There is nothing about the "lazy" way that suggests that getting what you want won't require action -- it does. But that action does not have to be hard or feel like work. Great writers write and the physical action is not work, great musicians play music and although there is some effort in "becoming" great, most of them would tell you they loved every minute.

It applies in every instance of our lives. If you personnally view something as work - then you don't really have a passion for it - end of story. Hate your job right now (or business you created), then you don't have a passion for it. In our lives, if we can find the passion, the action is automatic.

Simple equation:
Passion + Action = Bliss (extreme happiness, ecstasy, or spirtual joy)
Action - Passion = Agony (suffering of intense physical or mental pain or A violent, intense struggle)

IMHO - Arnie.

[Juho Tunkelo]

I'm a little late to comment, but I have to say that tennis is an exceptionally good example to illustrate just how important it is to 'work less' when you perform.

The examples are endless: Andre Agassi sweating for years to win a major, then making a relaxed comeback to take Wimbledon. Goran Ivanisevic doing the same at the brink of retirement, with nothing to lose.

More than anything, players at all levels are outdone by trying too much. Hmm, sounds like a hot business idea right there... ;-)

[Caris]

Nice website!

[Randa]

I like your website.

[Mumei007]

Both the title and the contents of this site are very misleading.

Let's just say that "enjoying your work so that it feels like play" and "accomplishing everything while doing nothing" aren't the same. Surely you realise that.