I’ve been publishing, coaching, and writing about The Master Key System and Charles F. Haanel’s philosophy of success for a long time.

I’ve been reading and researching it much, much longer.

One thing I’ve noticed is that when the words “hard work” are uttered, many people go nuts. People fight me (and those words) as if I had spoken the most unspeakable of words.

Hard work. It causes conniptions.

Whenever I mention hard work in connection with The Master Key System and the Law of Attraction, some people invariably say or write to me the same bromides.

“If you’re doing it right,” they say, “then you won’t need to work hard.”

In the meantime, this rocket scientist doesn’t have two nickels to rub together. I guess he’s not “doing it right”, whatever “it” is.

“The only thing hard work ever got for my father was a sore back!”

And his pension.

And the money for your college education.

It probably got you and your family an annual vacation and a new car every few years.

It put clothes on your back and an allowance into your pocket.

In other words, if YOU would work just as hard as him, then maybe you’ll become half as successful as your father.

“I don’t work hard … I work smart!”

So says the people who generally don’t work hard ever.

And they really aren’t all that smart either.

Hard work is not necessarily digging ditches. (Although, if you need a ditch dug, then I guess it would apply.) It’s the work and effort needed when accomplishing anything worth getting, such as …

… starting a business …

… attaining a high degree of education …

… raising a family …

… learning a new skill …

… and doing anything that is worthwhile.

In The Master Key System, Charles F. Haanel asked a successful business man of his generation named James J. Hill what the “secret” to his success was. Hill responded:

Work. Hard work. And more work.

He meant all of the time, effort, thought, and skill he used to create his empire. (Not to mention the physical aspect as well.)

Even today, when you research the successful of whatever field, you will find that every one of them credits their success to hard work.

Why do so many who read Haanel and other personal development books recoil from those words?

Haanel’s philosophy is that all things come from first a thought of an individual, which, when imbued with feeling, compels the individual to action that manifests that thought (idea) into reality.

In Haanel’s philosophy, there is a call to action — to take the plunge and perform hard work. In Week 23, Haanel asks

What is the first law of success?

His answer is

Service.

Service is an action and usually entails hard work, whether that be mental or physical. Haanel makes the point that it’s the man who thinks the most and biggest and grandest thoughts and who takes the biggest and most onerous responsibilities who will reap the biggest rewards.

You can read into that that the business of thinking is indeed hard work.

So now I ask you …

If you are one who recoils from those words “hard work,” then why is that?

What leads you to believe that you can get what you desire by doing nothing other than reciting affirmations or something of the kind?

Having a positive mental attitude and a good mindset are important to have. What is more important, though, is your ability — your motivation — to get up and get the job done.

I don’t know if we’re heading into tough economic times. I don’t pay much mind to things like that. What I do know is that whether the times are tough or the living is easy, three things have never failed to make fortunes:

1. Hard work done intelligently.
2. Getting the job done well.
3. Serving the greatest number in whatever you do.

By living those three basic tenets every day, you will recession-proof your life.

The world always has room for people who aren’t afraid of rolling up their shirt sleeves and getting a little bit dirty.

And in every economy, good or bad, those people not only survive …

They thrive.

And you will, too.

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You will like these books because you like reading.