Why Hard Work Isn#8217;t Enough to Succeed

Why Hard Work Isn#8217;t Enough to Succeed Why Hard Work Isn#8217;t Enough to Succeed One of the most common messages I received as a child was, Work hard, and you will be rewarded. This sentiment was echoed by loved ones, teachers, and mentors. Theres a good chance you, too, heard the same rumor about life being fair and equitable. Dont get me wrong: Hard work is a critical component of success. However, the fact is  that theres more to it than just hard work. This can be a tough lesson to learn, especially for young professionals. Even the Best  Workers Dont Always Get Rewarded Its not uncommon for a newly minted graduate to work harder than their colleagues do. They may even be smarter and contribute more new ideas. In some cases, they also save the company more money or generate more in sales. On the surface, it seems obvious: Im smarter. I work longer hours. I produce more revenue. I should be paid more. Right? Not necessarily. At least, not yet. After working for one to two years at a job,  many  young professionals begin to feel  frustrated. They have proven themselves. Theyve worked long hours. And theyve figured out just how much more their lazy coworker makes than they do. So, the young graduate  does what seems natural: They ask their boss for a raise. Theyre shocked to learn that its not in the cards for them â€" at least, not in the way they were hoping. Sadly, companies generally only give 2-4  percent raises annually. This is often  the case even if youre a great employee. Your future pay at  a company is almost always based on your current pay. Companies also want to ensure that employees have room to grow each year. If you receive the top pay available today, how will they incentivize you over the next five years? (Thats their reasoning, anyway.) Perception Counts Just as Much as Reality Often, your value is tied as much to  perception as it is to  reality. You may work hard at your desk for hours on end, but if no one knows about it, they wont know your true value. This perceived form of value is created through building relationships â€" with your boss, upper management, and your colleagues. Your value may also be tied to how rare your skills are. How difficult is it to replace you? How many people are available who can also do the same work? The more unique your skills are, the better. If those unique skills also generate a lot of  revenue for the company, youre even more likely to be perceived as irreplaceable. Just remember: Putting in your dues is where its at. Keep in mind the valuable experience youre gaining. When you were in college, you would have gladly worked for free. After youve put in your time and are ready to move up, consider moving on. Even the best employees are lucky to receive small raises. An external move can sometimes increase your overall pay by more than 30 percent at one time. And when you do receive your next offer, use your negotiation skills to get the best start possible. A version of this article originally appeared on  The Memphis Daily News.   Angela Copeland is a career coach and CEO at her firm, Copeland Coaching.