Sure, success doesn't work overnight, there is more to success than what people think. Just like they Said " a journey of a thousand miles begins with a step" that's how it is. Life is a step by step process, no good thing come so easily. Life it's full of ups and down, so for one to achieve your goals you must work hard and be smart and consistent and making sure you are working hard in the right direction, because most times the lack of success in what we do, is the failure or inability of realizing that we are working hard in the wrong direction. First and foremost there are three type of things that happens which are time, speed and direction, to succeed you need (1)Time, There nothing we do without timing as time is money so we need to use time wisely. (2) Speed is essential because you also need speed to succeed and lastly you need the right (3)direction for the speed to work in accordance. Most people lacks success because they running speed but in the wrong direction. So know your direction then apply wisdom and speed and success will be achieved.
It is easy for people to see success at end and they not realize how much hard work it took to get there. That old saying about long trip starting with just one step is exactly right it shows that you make progress little by little.
Life is not easy and there will be good and bad times always come. You are right that we need to not only work hard but also keep doing it regularly. And you made really good point about knowing about direction. It is sad to think about people working really hard but not getting anywhere because they are going in wrong direction.
You are right when you do things is very important and using your time well is good. Doing things quickly also helps you keep moving forward. But if you are not going in right direction all that hard work and speed can not help. It is good that you need to make sure you know where you want to go before you start working hard to get there means you have a right direction.