Transcript for accessibility purposes:
“You're more likely to unlock a big leap in performance by trying differently than by trying harder. You might be able to work 10% harder, but a different approach might work 10x better. Remain focused on the core problem, but explore a new line of attack. Persistence is not just about effort, but also strategy. Don't merely try harder, try differently.”
James Clear
This is a nice twist on the old adage that states "Work smarter, not harder".
Working harder has diminishing returns because even if you are at peak productivity, there is only so much you can do. If you are limited by a system, process or whatever, even if you run said process at 100% efficiency, your outcome will only be as good as your system allows it to be.
That can be enough or even more than enough, sure. But in some cases, you may realize that you are giving everything you got and still falling short in terms of productivity. In those cases, working hard simply won't cut it. You need a new approach - a new system if you will - that will leverage your work and multiply your outcome by 10.
If you find yourself in that type of situation, take a step back and start thinking what you could be doing differently.