How to Get the Outcomes You Want — The Difference Between HARD vs CHALLENGING Actions to Achieve Success

We often assume that when we don’t get the results we want, it's because we’re not working hard enough—that we’re procrastinating or lacking discipline. But for many people, the truth is the exact opposite. They push themselves to the limit, grinding away at a goal that never seems to materialize.

Think about:

• The runner pounding the pavement at 5 AM every day for 2 hours but not losing any weight.

• The diligent worker who stays late every night yet never gets that promotion.

• The entrepreneur who invests everything into their business but still can’t get it off the ground.

These are all people putting in extreme effort. But effort alone doesn’t guarantee results. There’s a huge difference between effort and outcome.

The Hard Trap: When Effort Doesn’t Equal Success

Pushing yourself through relentless, punishing effort might feel productive, but it can be soul-destroying when the results don’t match the work.

For example, that 5 AM runner might believe that if they just push harder, they’ll finally lose weight and feel healthier. But what if they took a step back and looked at the bigger picture? They might realize:

• They’re constantly exhausted because of stress at work.

• They’re not eating enough to fuel their runs.

• They have low muscle mass and high cortisol levels from overtraining.

In reality, getting up at 5 AM and running for 2 hours every day might be the worst thing they could do. But because it's a habit, it feels easier to keep doing it than to stop and reassess.

The Power of Challenging Yourself the Right Way

Instead of pushing harder, the real solution is to step back and redirect energy wisely.

A smarter approach for the runner might be to:

• Prioritize recovery—eating nutrient-dense food to fuel their body.

• Reduce stress—practicing Tai Chi or other low-stress, energy-building exercises.

• Improve sleep hygiene—restoring their body’s natural balance.

As their energy starts to return, they’ll find themselves naturally able to run better, longer, and with better results. Now, instead of blindly pushing harder, they’re consciously challenging themselves in a way that supports growth.

The Key Difference Between HARD vs CHALLENGING Actions

Punishing yourself leads to:

❌ Frustration

❌ Burnout

❌ A lack of flow

❌ Limited or negative results

Challenging yourself leads to:

✅ Growth

✅ Confidence

✅ Flow state

✅ Positive, lasting results

The next time you find yourself stuck in effort without progress, ask:Am I making things harder, or am I making myself stronger?

Where in your life might you be falling into the HARD trap instead of the CHALLENGING growth zone?

Want to Break Free from the Hard Trap?

If you’re stuck in the cycle of punishing effort without progress, I can help. As a coach, I work with people to break free from self-defeating patterns and build success through smart, challenging action—without burnout.

Book a free chemistry session today at adrianrichardson.org and start making real progress toward your goals.

Let’s challenge smarter, not harder. 💡🚀