#39 The Working Hard Pattern

What 1000 animals and -16°C taught us about the belief that keeps you overworking.

Stefan at the keyboard. In 2025 I went to West Mongolia with Monica. We were among the only 40 westerners who ever migrated with the local tribes and their animals for the winter.

We herded about 1000 sheep and goats, 100 yaks, 15 horses, and 2 camels for about 100 kilometers. The area was so remote that we didn’t have phone reception for almost 10 days.

And… it was cold.

-16 Celsius / 3.2 Fahrenheit in the night and we were sleeping in tents (almost outside). It was an amazing experience in one of the most beautiful and most “unwelcoming” places on earth.

We took a lot of pictures and when we came back to civilization, I shared some of them with my family.

My mother’s reaction was memorable:

“Do you know what I’m thinking as I look at the photos?

These poor people have to do their migration, with hundreds of animals and countless tasks involved in this process, but on top of it all, they also have to take care of your group of tourists. Provide them with everything: transport, food, rest… entertain them too…

Ohhh! How hard it must have been for them!”

It was the perfect reflection of a Working Hard pattern.

This is what she saw from our extraordinary 10 days, reflected in about 50 pictures and videos.

She couldn’t think that our group hired 3 teams to take care of us. The number of people helping were more than the number of “tourists” actually.

She couldn’t think that the local people loved to help us and they were well compensated (in a place where there are not many opportunities).

She couldn’t think that those people loved to be seen and appreciated for who they are. A group of wealthy people from all around the world came to their home and brought them gifts, and looked up to them for their connection with nature and their resilience to cold and harsh conditions. What an experience!

Why couldn’t she see it?

My mother raised 6 children by herself with very little or no help. She had the Working Hard pattern all of her life. And, as a good son, I inherited this pattern from her.

It took me years of working with myself to finally let other people do even the simplest things for me.

It took me years of inner work to let my money work for me.

It took me years to stop doing things I was mediocre at, and focus on things that I’m really great at doing.

Most probably you are not an exception. And you have the Working Hard pattern to some degree.

That means, you will not be able to see many opportunities. Like my mother, you will be consumed by effort. And you slow your growth because for your subconscious mind, growth just means “more hard work”. Of course you don’t want that.

That’s why it is sooo worth it to work on the Working Hard Pattern.

Do whatever it takes to transform it because it’s possible.

Love and Wisdom,

Monica and Stefan