"ليس من الكافي أن تكون مجتهدا؛ فالنمل أيضا كذلك. ما الذي تجتهد فيه؟"

This quote is all about the focus of your efforts. Sure, you can work hard—just like ants do—but the real question is, what are you pouring all that effort into? It's a gentle nudge to reflect on the importance of purpose. Working tirelessly without a clear goal or meaningful direction isn't very different from the ants' ceaseless activity.

Think back to when this was said. It comes from Henry David Thoreau, a guy who really thought deeply about life and its true essence. Thoreau lived in the 19th century, a time when industrialization was kicking off, and many people were getting swept up in the hustle and bustle of productivity for productivity's sake. Thoreau, on the other hand, retreated to Walden Pond to strip life down to its essentials and ask what genuinely mattered. He wasn't saying that hard work was bad—just that it needed to be channeled into something truly meaningful.

Let’s bring this idea into the modern world. Picture this: you're at your office, and there’s this one colleague who is always the first to arrive and the last to leave. They’re always busy, always on the go. But when you really look at what they’re doing, it’s a lot of busywork—endless emails, meetings about meetings, tasks that don’t really push the needle forward. They're industrious, no doubt. But are they making a significant impact on the projects that matter? Not really.

Now, how do you apply this wisdom to your own life? Start by taking a step back. Think about your long-term goals. What are your passions? What drives you? Once you have that clarity, align your daily tasks with those bigger goals. It's like steering a ship—if you don’t know your destination, you’ll just drift. But once you have a destination, every small course correction has a purpose.

Imagine you’re an artist. You could spend countless hours perfecting the smallest details. But if you’re not working on pieces that resonate with you, that tell a story you’re passionate about, all that effort might feel hollow. Instead, focus on projects that excite you, that make you lose track of time. That’s where the magic happens.

Here's a little story to illustrate. There was this guy, let’s call him Mark. Mark worked in a tech firm. He was a real go-getter, always busy. But he felt something was missing. He was working hard but not on things that felt meaningful to him. One day, he decided to take a weekend to just reflect. He realized he was passionate about sustainable energy. So, he started volunteering at a local nonprofit on weekends, helping them with tech solutions. Over time, he shifted his career toward this field. Now, he’s still as industrious as ever, but his work feels fulfilling and aligned with his values.

So next time you find yourself buried in tasks, pause and ask yourself, "What am I industrious about?" Make sure your hard work is driving you toward something that truly matters to you. That’s where you’ll find not just productivity, but genuine satisfaction.