"I would consider myself both smart and hardworking, but I see a difference between them. Being smart is a result of going through school, learning new things, and meeting expectations for grades and other requirements. It's showing that you can check off the boxes and complete tasks. Being hardworking, on the other hand, is an internal characteristic that I'm not sure can be taught. It is the way that a person approaches life. That's not to say that it guarantees success or that someone who is not hardworking will not achieve the same things that you do, but if you are hardworking, you are easily motivated from within and do not need much external encouragement. Interestingly, I believe that a hardworking person can become smart, but a smart person is not necessarily hardworking."