1 . With a hybrid（混合的）approach to work, the importance of being physically present in a centralized office is greatly reduced, allowing for far more flexible work schedules among employees. In most cases, this means some employees working on-site in the office, some employees working off-site—either from ___________ or remotely from another location—and some employees who have the flexibility to switch between the office and working remotely, ___________tasks, deadlines, and personal needs.

When businesses adopt hybrid work models, which rely heavily on a remote-first approach, the entire concept of location is ___________. By connecting to the workplace using cloud solutions, video conferencing technology, and similar tools, employees do not need to be ___________ present in the workplace in order to do their job—although they can be if they prefer to be, or for situations where ___________ communication is better suited.

This can offer a number of benefits for both employees and employers. ___________, on days when bad weather might prevent people from getting into the office, they are still able to work from home. Similarly, if major events make it necessary to ___________ the workplace—as was the case with the COVID-19 pandemic—there will be ___________ disturbance to operations.

Moreover, the removal of geographical barriers can be extremely advantageous in terms of ___________, allowing employers to gain access to a wider talent pool, making it easier to find qualified candidates and build a more diverse and inclusive workforce. With ____________ work arrangements now among the top benefits sought after by job seekers, companies employing the hybrid model are better positioned to ____________ top candidates.

Another major benefit associated with flexible work schedules and the hybrid work model is the ability to make a business more ____________. This is important because research suggests that employees are more likely to take a job and stay in a job with companies that have a strong environmental agenda. ____________, 64 percent of young people say they would not take a job with a company that did not have a promise of social responsibility.

The most significant environmental impact made by the hybrid work model is the largely reduced amount of ____________ among employees. The effects of this are especially significant when there's a long distance between home and work, which requires employees to use their own cars. Fewer people coming into the office is also likely to reduce the carbon footprint associated with the office itself. All of this can combine to help improve a company's green certificate and aid in positioning the organization as a ____________ company in the eyes of job seekers and customers.

2 . Hard work is often the only competitive advantage many people possess. We may not be as experienced or as _________ as other people.

But we can always work harder, smarter and longer.

As Kara Lawson-the Duke women's basketball team head coach-says, generally speaking, there's a huge _________ between working hard and competing.

Plenty of people work hard. But what is the best praise you can receive or give?

You competed.

_________ Lawson, most people mistake hard work for competitiveness:

“Hard work is I give you a task. I give you limitations on some task. I say, ‘You have to do this, in this amount of time, with this much weight.’ And then I force you to do it. I can force you to work hard just by what I ask you to do. You can't force someone to _________.”

The difference might seem amazing. Hard work requires effort and so does competing.

But working hard doesn't automatically mean _________ improvement. I can put in countless hours of effort without ever trying to “win.”

As Lawson says to her players:

“At the end of every session, that's the question you're asking yourself: Did I compete today?

That's different than working hard. Working hard is something some people do. Many people work hard in whatever job they do. Before you start, and then when you're done, be _________ with yourself: ‘Did I compete today?”

When you think you're _________, when you think you've done all you can, remember: You always find a little more inside you. You are capable of more than you think. Dig deep. Work a little harder.

When you're on the downside（劣势）of _________ and reaching a goal feels impossible, don't just work hard.

Compete: Make the extra phone call. Do the extra preparation. And remember to offer to not just tell _________ what to do but show them and then work beside them.

Every day, compete: to be the best boss you can be, the most empathetic（同理心的） listener you can be... Whatever it is, compete.

Competing will make you an even __________ “you” than you are today.

And that's the only competition that really matters.