Do your best work without worrying about rewards.

"Forty-hour work weeks are a relic of the Industrial Age. Knowledge workers function like athletes — train and sprint, then rest and reassess.” — Naval Ravikant

If you grew up in India, read the Bhagawad Gita, or heard the song "Yeh Hai Geeta Ka Gyan” from the 1975 hit film Sanyasi, you know the philosophy:

Karm kiyeja, phal ki icha maht kar.

In English: Put in your best work today, without worrying about results.

As the quote from writer Naval Ravikant suggests, it is unlikely you need a full forty hours to do some of your best work. You probably need a sprint, then a rest, reassess, and restart.

Or, as Krishna advises Arjuna, do not think about the consequences. Arjuna was thinking there is no reason to fight in the war, and even if he wins, ultimately he will lose, because winning the war means killing his family.

But fighting is a soldier’s duty. A soldier who runs from the war will only lose his respect.

You can deal with the results after you do your best.

THE TAKEAWAY: Do your best work without worrying about rewards.