The common advice to “try harder” often feels incomplete and can be misleading. While effort is undoubtedly important for achieving goals, simply increasing exertion without a clear understanding of the underlying challenges is rarely the most effective approach.
Instead of blind effort, true progress comes from a more nuanced perspective. It involves first understanding the problem deeply. Are you facing a lack of knowledge, a poor strategy, insufficient resources, or perhaps an environmental barrier? Identifying the root cause is crucial.
Often, “try harder” needs to be reinterpreted as “try smarter” or “try differently.” This means exploring alternative methods, seeking new information, developing different skills, adjusting your mindset, or changing your approach entirely. It’s about adapting and innovating rather than just pushing through obstacles with brute force.
Ultimately, sustainable improvement and achieving significant results require more than just determination. They demand critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, strategic planning, and a willingness to learn and adapt. Focusing on these elements, rather than just the intensity of effort, is key to making meaningful headway.
Source: https://www.offsec.com/blog/what-it-means-to-try-harder/
