Ben works hard. His job at the quarry calls for long days of back-breaking labor operating heavy equipment and risking injury while lifting large rocks.
True or False: Ben possesses great work ethic.
Trick question. There isn’t enough information to determine whether or not Ben has a great work ethic. Even though Ben performs hard work, we don’t know if Ben is reliable, or whether he frequently calls in sick or arrives late. We don’t know if he does only what is required to keep his job, or whether he is consistently looking to add value by going above and beyond what is required of him. We don’t know if he’s honest with his boss or if he’s always complaining around the job site bringing down the morale of those around him.
It’s common to associate hard work with work ethic. However, while they are not mutually exclusive, they are two very different concepts.
Even in this recessionary economy of high unemployment, employers everywhere are searching for are people who possess a solid work ethic and who will work hard for them to provide value.
The formula for success is thus: Work Ethic + Hard Work = Indispensable Employee
