by Andre Sanchez

The term ‘work ethic’ is not an easy one to define, and while most people believe that a work ethic is the road to wealth, they would find it a difficult term define were they asked. In fact the term is often abused by being applied to hard workers, even though the two terms are completely different in meaning.

When taken separately, the words do not appear to be suited to be used together, other than that ‘work’ is the pre-requisite of a specific outcome and ‘ethic’ is the right or wrong associated with either the work itself or of its outcome. However, we all associate a good work ethic as being not so much the desire to work in order to make money, but a way of life that looks upon work as being an end in itself, rather than a means to an end. The fact  possessing such an ethic can help to make one wealthy is almost irrelevant, since a person possessing it would work almost regardless of pay.

However, to have such an outlook on work is most definitely a road to wealth since work generally has a positive outcome for the individual carrying it out. The longer one works for an employer, then the more one gets paid.  The more one gets paid, then the wealthier one can become.  Wealth is not a definite outcome of hard work since the income can be spent.  In fact, in the West at least, it appears that the more one earns, the more one tends to spend.  If you get used to a certain lifestyle, then you desire more.  As you earn more, you spend more to attain what you desire.

In order for wealth to be accrued by working for an employer, then, you will have to save irrespective of your work ethic.  However, where the term becomes really significant is where an employer is not involved.  Many people who own their own businesses have what is generally called the ‘work ethic’, and work long hours.  Long hours might or might not mean more money, but rarely result in less wealth than working shorter hours.

If you work for yourself you can become wealthier the longer hours you work, since rather than employ others to do what you can do yourself, you simply do it yourself.  Many people with home businesses can work between 12 and 16 hours daily. Many wealthy people are wealthy because they enjoy working these hours.  Others often look at wealthy entrepreneurs and wonder why they do not retire and enjoy their money.  That fact is that many cannot. They have got where they are through having the desire to work, and cannot change their way of life, or change their character. 

The work ethic is not simply a desire to work to earn money, or getting up every morning without complaint and going off to your place of employment, perhaps working an extra hour or two each day. It is almost a need to work, but more than that.  It is practically a belief in the morality of work, and a set of values based on work and diligence in whatever you do.  Entrepreneurs and others who have got wealthy through hard work have done so not because they had to work hard to achieve success, but more the other way around.  They achieved success because of their belief in work and therefore cannot just ‘stop working’ to enjoy that success.  It is like asking a gourmet to stop eating because he has enough food already.  

However, the term has also become used to signify people that work hard to achieve success, and who can stop when that success has been achieved. Those who work longer hours than most in order to impress the boss are also said to have the work ethic, but the term is being used wrongly in that sense.

However, what is true to say, is that if you have a good work ethic in whatever sense the term is being used, then you will be more likely to be on the road to wealth than the next person who does not have it.  Whether or not it is something to be desired is open to debate, but it can make you very wealthy.

Also check out Save 10%, Grow Wealthy

Work Ethic: The Road to Wealth was originally published at http://www.businessmannow.com