Work Hard Play Hard
A weekly dose of motivation, inspiration and education.
Ahoy Sailors!
It’s yours truly again ;) Have you ever wondered who’s taken over as the “second teacher” since Masha stepped back from co-editing? Spoiler alert: it’s YOU. That’s right! You’ve got the power to motivate, inspire, and teach yourself—probably more than any teacher ever could.
This week, we’re diving into the idea of hard work. It’s one of those things we talk about all the time, but when you stop to think about it, it’s tricky to define. We often picture miners or factory workers when we think of hard work. But what about my job? Your job? Or even your efforts as a learner?
I’ll never forget the day of my knee surgery. I was wheeled into the operating room, surrounded by a team of doctors and nurses prepping everything. They numbed my left leg, and then the lead surgeon showed up. His part? Maybe 10 or 12 minutes of work. Then he was gone, promising to check on me later that evening.
Was that hard work?
I’ve been so busy renovating my house for the past 7 days, that I haven’t had much time to sit and refllect on this fascinating idea. But thankfully, our amazing crew has stepped up with some great stories this week. Maciek has a somewhat sweet piece about hard work (and myself!). Agata takes us back to her days teaching at a vocational school. Ania Malczewska brings us a word that popped into her head one morning, along with a funny story about hard work from her office. Ela takes us on another stroll through Warsaw, while Ania Wojdas went to a concert and started wondering: do musicians work hard? And, of course, Mateusz drops a perfect summer song for our playlist.
There’s more to enjoy too — an invite to the ToL podcast, our question of the week, a podcast recommendation, a snapshot from my France, and a meme to make you smile.
Let’s row!
HARD WORK – my way
By Maciek Skulski
Late evenings with grammar books, flashcards all over the table, long lists of irregular verbs, and those lovely Present Perfect rules that made no sense at first.
I worked hard. Not because someone told me to — but because I knew I needed this.
Back then, learning English felt like pushing a heavy rock uphill.
It was slow, frustrating, sometimes boring.
But I kept going. One word, one rule, one podcast episode at a time.
At some point in my learning journey, I discovered Jędrek and the Thinking Out Loud approach. That really helped me grow — and more than anything, I just enjoyed those weekly explorations of random topics. There was something fresh and real about it. I still like it a lot.
Over time, something changed.
English stopped being just “a subject to learn” and became something I genuinely enjoy.
Today, I want to listen to podcasts in English. I choose business content in English.
It makes me happy when I catch a smart phrase or finally understand a metaphor I used to miss.
It’s still work — but no longer the exhausting kind.
Now it feeds me.
And yes, I’m still learning. But it doesn’t feel like I’m chasing a goal anymore.
It’s just part of my life now.
A good habit. And honestly? A rewarding one.
THE BEST OF ToL:
Thinking Out Loud 082: Hard Work with Masha
In this episode we explore the concept of hard work. Is it linked with high salary? Does it lead to a job well done? How does it differ from difficult work? Masha is kicking this concept down the road sparking a lot of reflections.
Spotify:
Apple:
ANECDOTE FROM MY OFFICE
By Anna Malczewska
“You know, the boss said hard work has never killed anyone.”
Zbyszek: “Maybe not, but I’m not planning to be the first test case.”
THE BRIGHT SIDE OF LIFE?
By Agata Kasperczak
MAY YOU HAVE TO TEACH
Instead of "carving a wonderful clown who could dance, fence, and perform daring jumps so I could travel the world with him and earn a slice of bread," I went to teach at a vocational school (also full of clowns).
At that time, I was young, beautiful, and full of faith in the torch of education, which I was ready to carry on my small shoulders—even to a vocational school.
The students, however, didn’t care much about the torch. The clever ones at least pretended to learn, and I pretended to believe them. That created a sort of balance, allowing us to coexist.
Still, I had one student who was both likeable and utterly exasperating. And so, twice a week for several months, we had this exchange:
"Professor, can I go now?" he asked the moment I finished calling the roll.
"You can," I answered, as always.
"And will I be marked present?"
"You won’t," I replied, truthfully. He knew it well.
What followed was his attempt to change my mind—whining, playing on his so-called charm, emotional blackmail, pretending to faint, pulling his hair out, and other antics that failed to convince me in any way.
Then, one day, everything changed. As usual, the student started our well-rehearsed dialogue. By now, it was more of a habit than a genuine attempt. Confident in his charms, he stretched across the bench like Adonis on a bed, looked deeply into my eyes, and asked the question he had repeated countless times before:
"Sooooo whaaaaat, Mrs. Professor, can I go now?"—he reinforced his words by raising and lowering his eyebrows several times.
"You can. You know," I said, adding a touch of variety to my usual response.
"And will I be marked present?"—he tilted his head flirtatiously. If he had long hair, I bet he would have twisted a curl around his finger, like some kind of Lolita.
"You won’t." To emphasize my response, I nodded and spread my hands helplessly.
"And what if I just leave?"—he tried a more provocative approach, lowering his voice conspiratorially, waiting for my reaction.
"Then leave," I whispered back, subtly, so only he could hear.
That was the end of our game. The student finally understood that I wasn’t one to be swayed, as unyielding as Roman Bratny himself. He stopped trying to escape from my classroom.
In fact, defeated by my refusal to budge, he even started pretending to study. Good.
I WOKE UP WITH THIS WORD…
By Anna Malczewska
THE QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
By Jedrek Stepien
More data = better choices?
I started thinking about this question while choosing a paint color. How can information or any kind of data help you pick the right color for a wooden door?
On the other hand, machines—like driverless cars—depend on data. The more they collect and process, the better their decisions.
Solange told me, however, that humans have a limit to how much data they can absorb. At some point, you have to stop, take a step back, and make a decision with what you’ve got.
What do you think? Leave your answer in the comments!
And if you haven’t signed up yet for the best conversation classes on the internet, now’s your chance! Just click the link below.
ELA’S SUNDAY STROLL:
By Ela Podsiadła
Exploring the charms of Old Mokotów in Warsaw, I discovered the Różana Garden – a small, cozy green space. It is a community garden created thanks to the initiative of local residents and the participatory budget. The place is small but very inviting and surrounded by roses, making it perfect for a moment of relaxation before continuing your walk around the neighborhood.
WHAT ELSE TO DO IN ENGLISH?
PODCAST: The Hidden Forces Shaping Your Choices
TED Radio Hour
I had a very good conversation with Vitaliy (as always) about manipulation and persuasion. A few minutes after he left my office, Vitaliy sent me an sms with the link to this episode of the TED Radio Hour podcast 👇
Spotify:
Apple:
THE SONG OF THE WEEK
By Mateusz Borowik
MARINA - Butterfly
Marina (once known as Marina And The Diamonds) returned on Friday, June 6, with her new album Princess of Power. It’s too early to say if the whole album is worth listening to. But one single is definitely going on my summer playlist! If you’re looking for a song that mixes a dreamy vibe with strong emotions, Marina’s Butterfly is a must-listen. The song’s rhythm is gentle but pulsing, like it lifts you on the delicate wings of a butterfly. Synths and soft electronic beats create an almost magical background. Marina sings lightly, sometimes almost whispering, which makes the song feel very personal. Her voice moves between nostalgia and hope, adding depth to every line. The lyrics talk about freedom, change, and escaping what weighs you down—like the main character is being reborn. This connects to our newsletter’s theme: sometimes, you need to break free from hard work and let yourself soar on the wings of the unknown.
Do Musicians Work Hard?
By Anna Wojdas
Recently, while attending a concert, I began to wonder—do musicians work hard? Watching a band perform, it may seem like their work is easy and enjoyable, as it brings us, the audience, so much joy and positive energy. But is that really the case?
Consider the long hours spent learning instruments, composing songs, struggling to gain recognition in the music industry, dealing with irregular working hours, frequent time away from home, and intense competition. Of course, this job cannot be compared to that of, say, a miner, but is it truly as easy as it seems?
Judge for yourself.
MY FRANCE
By Jedrek Stepien
Last Monday, I twisted my ankle during a game of basketball. My wife told me I should get an X-ray, but I insisted it was nothing and that I’d be as good as new by morning.
It was only the next day, when I tried to walk, that I suddenly felt weak and nauseous.
I finally agreed with my wife, and she took me to the hospital.
We have a fairly large and modern hospital in our small town.
Because of that - I recon - it’s in constant financial difficulties (because it’s too big and too modern for a town like ours)
Anyway, on Tuesday morning, the emergency room was empty. I checked in and was soon taken on a tour through various rooms.
The X-ray showed no fracture, and as soon as I found out, I stopped hopping on one leg.
When my wife came back for me, I proudly limped to the car.
Of course, I expect to be back on the basketball court in two weeks!
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT…
Dear reader!
Thanks for being part of this publication! 😉 If you think it deserves a virtual coffee, consider a small donation (link below). Also, don’t hesitate to tell your friends about this newsletter, it’s a small gesture that can help me grow it faster :)
NEXT WEEK:
Next Sunday (June 15th), we’re going to talk about WASTE OF TIME
What does it mean to waste time? Is watching TV a waste of time? Can going to university be a waste of time?
Please send me your thoughts, ideas, and stories about wasting time to tolpodcast@hotmail.com!
See you next week—same time, same place!