To answer this question one must get some basics out of the way. First, your question seems rooted in labor, when capital cares less. Labor works for capital. Most of us come from a world where you show up for work and get paid. “Hard work” is a cultural value that has merit for those without capital and keep a country competitive. It is not a path to riches for most. You can work your butt off at a regular job but simply trading your life’s hours for a wage. Capital is about risk - not work. You could think that “hard work” in trading is a lot of thinking, studying, chart reading, and it *might be* for you, but not perhaps someone else. Some people would love to scalp 2 points on an /es at the open and be done. Some want to pretend they are smart snd take on all market risk all the time. Some have built algos and become billionaires. Capital doesnt give a shit. It wants to grow no matter if you trade from the seat of your pants in a zen garden while getting a naked massage, or you are holed up in a mad scientist underground trading bunker. Capital will never thank you or ask you if it was hard or easy. What are people doing? What have they done? Everything.
Having said that, solid risk adjusted returns are not easy for most but some just seem to have money falling from trees while others struggle to make a few ticks. Some fight the algos while others take positions overnight. Its a mixed bag, although the crowd does tend to huddle around similar strategies. Although “the crowd” is probabaly not where you should be.
What you see is what you see, how much work it takes is what it will take. It literally is like that, with 95% of people never able to crack it. Most everyone will get what they want out of the experience though. Whether that is a boring strategy for 30 minutes a day or 24/5 strategy that gives them the most excitement, to think they are smart, to make their father proud. Capital could really care less about any of that.
You can go your own way.