[castlecrasher2]

I recently read Stealing the Corner Office which gives great insight into this. The premise is that incompetent high-level executives exist, so the answer isn't simply hard work.

The author doesn't specifically state it but the problem, at least in my case, is one's definition of work; I don't think I'm alone when I used to think my code spoke for itself and that's that. There are a few problems with that but essentially the issue is many of us myopically ignore other seemingly unimportant work-related tasks such as building relationships, personal marketing (I know that sounds like a buzzword phrase but it's true), among other examples.

Basically, at its core I believe that hard work does lead to success but our definition of work gets in the way.

[andrei_says_]

I would also like to question the definition of “hard”. What does that mean?

Is it like the hard work of someone driven by enthusiasm and intrinsic motivation, in the state of flow? IN my experience that’s the most productive I can ever be. But it doesn’t feel hard at all.

Who and what defines the line where work becomes “hard work” and what is that extra unit worth?

I think it has a lot with the worker pushing beyond what is reasonable and sacrificing other important life aspects and needs they have in order to produce more units of work.

I find this immoral in any structure based on exploitation, which is most structures.