Step aside

Work hard, have a good attitude, and deliver top-notch results. Do this consistently and the world will move out of your way. You can do your job as you wish. Standard practices, policies, and “the way we have always done it” are fine guidelines. However, they will melt away when a consistent, top performer enters with a different style. Progress always overrules policies. Performance is king!

this is my place!

Go into work each day and act as if you own the company. Develop a genuine concern for the quality of the products and services delivered by your organization. The well-being of your coworkers, customer relationships, and future business prospects should also be at the top of your list. Once you start acting as if you own the company, many things will begin to change. Morale will increase, your work life will improve, and product quality will increase. Eventually, customers will notice the improvement. Increased revenues and profits are likely to follow.

mother may i?

Know when not to ask for permission. Often, you need to do something very appropriate and important, but the chain-of-command approach will not work. Managers may not be available, a colleague might be opposing your action, or you may have overwhelming time constraints. Now is the time to take action autonomously. Do what you believe is correct. Then, when convenient, notify your manager about your actions.

Regrets . . . I’ve Had A Few

Regrets that encase people are typically not from actions taken but instead are due to actions not taken. Most people know that success and failure go hand in hand. For every success a person has created, there have been some failures along the way. This is a normal ingredient of life. We usually do not regret unsuccessful endeavors resulting from our best possible efforts. However, when you have always wanted to do something yet never attempted it, you will never know the real outcome. Uncertainty created by inaction fuels many cases of regret. Do not let inaction create regret in your life. Set goals and then follow your dreams.

life is too short

Your job should be enjoyable at least three to four days per week, ideally all five days. Full-time workers spend about one-fourth of their waking hours on the job. If these are rewarding hours, you are very fortunate indeed. Be thankful for this job, and do everything possible to keep it. If, however, happiness and contentment elude you, then maybe it is time for a change. Determine exactly which parts of your job are troublesome, and then find ways to improve your situation. Solutions can range from the simple to the complex. Some possibilities are changing your task assignments, getting training or a formal education, or increasing your amount of sleep. Interpersonal relationships are often part of the problem. Your attitude or that of your colleagues could be troublesome. Changing projects, managers, departments, companies, or possibly your career are all possibilities. Hopefully, the required changes are not too drastic. Keep modifying until you are happy. Remember, you are the best person to mold your career to match your desires.

passion

Passion can take the routine and create excitement. Passion is the emotion that livens the day. Passion can be contagious and spread throughout your organization. Passion can improve your products and services. Passion can attract customers and increase your profits. Live, work, and communicate with passion. If passion is missing from your life, get it and live it. Afterward, your life and your company will not be the same.

paths

Many people choose life and career paths that are surprisingly different from each other. Just because a path is different from yours does not mean it’s the wrong path. Employees in your organization have varied backgrounds, education levels, specialty areas, personal interests, personality types, family considerations, drive, and career aspirations. This diverse set of backgrounds and interests will generate a large variety of paths, most of which are quite different from yours. When someone’s life and career paths seem unappealing to you, take a breath and acknowledge that we are all different. This is a good thing.

Grab hold of the rudder

Design your own career. Do not entrust others or the corporate ladder to do it for you. Expecting someone else to steer your career away from the rocks and onward to a great destination is unrealistic. Other people are too busy working and tending to their own matters to be concerned about something far removed, like your career. Determine what you want, how to get there, and then consistently move in that direction. No one else will do it for you.

Speak up

Do not be afraid to speak your mind. If people did not want your opinions, they would not ask for them. Establish a reputation for saying what you think. Make your opinions and recommendations very clear. Do not wait for someone else to ask you either. Opinions are usually welcome, as long as you deliver them with respect and a positive, constructive attitude.

you must experience these things

You have to find out for yourself. Many people can tell you, with complete confidence, that you either should or should not do something. Human nature dictates that you frequently will not believe them. “My circumstances are different,” “it will work for me,” or “your experience doesn’t apply here.” You simply need to try it yourself. Then you will either prove them wrong or become a believer. You must experience these things!