People can work very hard and be spinning their wheels in the same spot.

No one would stop me right now from going to the local Taco Bell, applying, and starting to work the following day at their lowest paying wage.

The work I’d be doing there would be more physically demanding than what is required of me at my current job. However, it would be a lot less rewarding, beneficial for my long term goals, and overall enjoyable.

My dad, who has a PhD in physics, could analogously do the same thing.

My point: you need to be aware of your value, and fight for it in the marketplace.

Be cognizant of what you’re worth and really consider working smarter not hard.