Growing up, almost everyone around me had one piece of advice: “Hard work pays.”
Our parents said it. Our teachers preached it. Even pastors would say it like it’s the only secret to success. And as a young boy, I never questioned it. But one day, I asked myself,
“Why must it be hard? Why not smart?”
I watched people hustle from morning till night, sweating under the sun, carrying the weight of the world, and yet, year after year, their lives didn’t change. They were hardworking, but they were not working smart.
I remember having a heart-to-heart conversation with my son recently. I told him that my parents taught me hard work, and I am grateful. But now I know better, and I am going to teach him smart leverage.
Because smart leverage is what separates struggle from strategy.
I explained further that smart leverage means using systems, people, capital, and technology to multiply your results.
Now, imagine trying to lift a heavy stone with your bare hands—that’s hard work.
Now imagine using a lever or a jack to lift it—simple, right? That’s smart leverage.
Same goal. Less stress. Better results.
So why are we still encouraging our children to hustle till they break down when we should be teaching them how to build systems that work even when they sleep?
Why are we still shouting and advising “hard work” when we should be saying, “build people, capital, and technology that can multiply and scale your impact”?
Please, don’t misunderstand me ooh—hard work can take you far, but smart leverage will take you even higher.
A New Approach to Success
My dear parents, please, don’t just raise hardworking children, let’s raise leveraged thinkers.
Let’s raise children who will build businesses with systems and not just sweat.
The ones who won’t just count their efforts but will multiply their results.
I am The Billionaire Mechanic, and I am asking you today:
Are you hustling too hard, or are you building smart?