“I’d argue that working smarter is more important. I know plenty of people who work really hard but are not ‘successful’.”

I can’t disagree with you here. It’s taken me a long time to realize it, but hard work in and of itself doesn’t guarantee success nor does it entitle you to praise from others. Really, that’s the whole point of this piece — it’s a letter to myself of sorts, reminding me that I need to be strategic with my efforts and to focus my energy on what truly matters (rather than on what I perhaps wished would matter more). I’m trying hard these days to be less stubborn and more practical, but it’s certainly a work in progress.