Hard work is a great philosophy, yes — but why devote so much energy to something you don’t have ownership in? I’m not talking about some stock options or performance-based compensation, I mean real ownership in what you’re working at. Who bears a majority of the fruit from your hard work? The people you work for or you?

Not everyone is cut out to be an owner in this sense, but those who work hard and can take the heat surely must be. I suppose in the long run, what really matters is what satifies you. If burning the midnight oil for a pittance of a pay is satisfaction, then that’s fine. But if it’s not, take ownership in something — it doesn’t have to be work per say, but something that matters in life or something that fuels your passion.