Why Hard Work is Overrated, and what really matters if you want to get to the top

If you’re like most people — myself included — you were probably raised on the idea that what matters most in your career is hard work. It’s not.

Be good and make others feel good

What really matters is your social capital. What matters is not what you do, but who you know. Have you ever wondered why there seems to be many likable simpletons in management, who earn more than the technically skilled people who are doing all the work? This is why.

Essentially, the more people you know, the better your chances are at climbing the ladder.

The more people like you, the better your chances of increasing your network. People are going to like you, when you make them feel good. You can make people feel good by being friendly, ask about their lives and make them feel valued.

Remember, the most important person in anyone’s life is themselves.

This means that if you want to make people like you, you need to get them talking about themselves. Ask them questions about their life, without probing, and watch as they talk your ear off, and walk away with the feeling that they’ve just made a new friend.