Neat idea. I don't like to think about hard work or work ethic, the word work has so much flabshmab attached to it. I think of it as a feeling of confusion or a signal that tells me 'hey, this is new, and this is good' rather than the feeling people describe as 'discomfort' or fatigue from working or thinking or doing something they're not used to.
Like when exercising, people keep working until they feel a burn or feel sore. The same principals can be applied to anything, except instead of a burn you might feel confusion or another discomfort. It's just an indicator!
