Developing the proper work habits for success is crucial.

There is a quote that says, “First we make our habits, then our habits make us.”  This is so true, but it is important to know the right habits to develop.

The habits for success at work have changed a bit from the old days.  Knowing the right things to do will help you to climb that ladder to success much faster than your peers.

The Ten Work Habits to Develop for Success

These habits are the same whether you work for yourself or for someone else.  They will help you to stand head and shoulders above the mediocrity of the masses.

Here are ten work habits for success:

1.  Take Initiative

Employers and clients want people that see a need and meet it.  Don’t wait for someone to tell you what to do.  Be the first to act.  When you’ve accomplished something meaningful, drop your boss or client a quick email letting them know.  They’ll love you for taking care of it for them.

2.  Be Positive

You don’t have to be a “yes man”, but you should keep your overall attitude positive.  People are naturally attracted to optimists.  Companies want people that see a better future and can help them get there.  Take a positive attitude with you and it will pay off.

3.  Make Yourself Indispensible

As Seth Godin points out in Linchpin, people that deliver high value are the ones that get paid the most and receive all the perks.  Make it a habit to constantly look for opportunities to serve your organization in ways that no else can.  In short order, you will become indispensible.

4.  Stay Organized

It is hard to deliver high value if you are disorganized.  Find a system that works for you and use it to keep yourself heading in the right direction.  A well-organized to-do list and calendar are essential to your success.

5.  Give More than Expected

If you do the bare minimum, then you are going to get the bare minimum in return.  Always give your most valued customers more than they expect.  Going the extra mile will get you a whole crowd of raving fans singing your praises to those that sign your checks.

6.  Get Along with Others

This was important in Kindergarten and its still important now.  You must know how to deal well with people of every race, religion and ethnic background to thrive in today’s work environment.  Avoid things like gossiping, temper tantrums, and cliques.  Getting along with others is an essential element to high achievement.

7.  Keep Up with Technology

Like it or not, technology is a big part of today’s workplace.  Are you knowledgeable about the latest software, hardware and online systems in your industry?  If not, then make it habit to get current and stay there.  This can also be a way to make yourself indispensible.

8.  Accept Change

Change is the new norm in workplaces.  We’ve all heard that change is inevitable, but are you prepared for the rate of change we are seeing today?  You’ve got to be extremely flexible so you can roll with the punches.  Today’s environment won’t allow you to get comfortable.  The more adaptable you are to knew situations, the better.

9.  Keep People in the Loop

Those you work for want to be informed.  There is nothing worse than being blindsided in a meeting with an issue you don’t know anything about.  Keeping higher-ups in the loop on what’s going on will make you a valuable person in their eyes.

10.  Be Widely Available

“Business hours” is an obsolete term.  The modern world operates 24×7.  We all want instant access and no delays.  Be sure the people you serve know how to get in touch when they need you.  If you always answer, but your colleagues do not, then guess who will become the go-to person.

What are some other critical work habits for success?  Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts.

Photo: Copyright PhotoXpress.com

I can’t remember a time recently when I’ve been accused of working too little. If you’re like me you find it hard to let work go, take a break, and enjoy some well deserved leisure time. Though, to have more joy and serenity in life, having “free time” is exactly what needs to be done.

Leisure time offers a chance to regroup and relax. It offers a chance to feel free from life’s restraints, and provides time to experience peace of mind. Don’t be a slave to work, deadlines, and time constraints.

Everyone needs time away from daily stressors, so start making leisure time a priority and reap the benefits.

Change Your Perspective on Leisure Time

Leisure time should not be a burden or inconvenience. Remember that life is a gift and must be cherished each day. Take time to slow down and stop looking toward tomorrow. You must give yourself permission to take part in life and really experience it for everything it has to offer. Expand your perspective of what life is all about. Life is certainly meant to be much more than a stressful and exhausting race to accomplish your to-do list.

Begin living here and now! By always waiting for what we don’t have and focusing on the next thing to come, we lose out in the end, as life will pass us by. Look at life as an adventure, where every moment offers something valuable.

Make Work and Leisure Overlap

In an ideal world we would all be spending our days focusing on what we love and never be overwhelmed by the stress of the daily grind. If this is you, I commend you for designing your ideal life, and managing your emotions so nobly.

Many people haven’t reached this pinnacle in life. Though, don’t despair, we can all reach this point of making a career out of our passion if we are willing to put in the dedicated effort and gain the self-awareness and self-trust to make it happen.

Start examining your values, interests, and skills, and explore how these can be developed in a way where you can make a living while enjoying what you do.

This may be in a creative endeavor such as music, art, or writing, or related to overall lifestyle habits, such as exercising, meditating, or praying. Work toward integrating your life roles and responsibilities so you can spend time improving your mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being in a convenient and involuntary manner.

The Importance of Managing Time and Stress

So, you may be saying, “I understand that leisure time is important, and really do want to make it part of my life, but I just don’t have time.”

If this is the case, you need to begin reorganizing your life and prioritizing your values. Here’s how:

1. Make sure priorities and values match. Are you spending time on those things that are most important to you, or do you spend the most time on things that are at the bottom of your values list?

2. Once priorities are known, follow suite and do first things first. If you have an urgent task that needs to be done now get it done, and don’t worry about what can wait until later.

3. End the procrastination cycle. Start now and get started on the things that end up getting in the way of valuable time spent with family, friends, and hobbies or other nurturing activities.

4. Simply schedule in time for leisure activities. Make it a priority to spend time doing what you love. Put it on your to-do list.

If you love what you do, you will find many moments when it provides fulfillment, though whenever stress comes into the picture, leisure time is no longer serving its purpose. If stress is the issue, remember:

• Time-management is key
• Don’t worry about what you can’t control
• Spend time with people who can help you relieve stress
• Engage in leisure activities that can relieve stress
• Get plenty of sleep
• Exercise
• Eat healthy

Do you actually take Leisure time?

Many people feel they must work harder and longer in order to reach their goals, make more money, and find happiness. If we’re going to work hard, we need time to play hard as well.

When you are taking time for leisure, are you having a hard time enjoying the moment? Whether you’re gardening, taking the dog for a walk, spending time with family, or any other recreational activity you may find yourself concentrating on other things and having your attention elsewhere. If this is the case, it doesn’t count as leisure time. If you are only physically present during these times, and neglect the emotional and mental respite, you will never experience a reprieve from the stress of daily life.

Realize how valuable and important these experiences are for your relationships, health, and well-being. Learn to organize your life and priorities in order to become completely immersed in whatever you choose to do in your leisure time. In the end taking time away from the hustle and bustle of life can come in many forms. You just need to find what offers you relaxation and rejuvenation.

Joe Wilner writes at www.shakeoffthegrind.com to help people stay motivated, confident, and inspired to work through those not so uplifting times in life.  You can also follow him on Twitter at @shakethegrind.

Photo by Scarleth White

Many people hate their jobs or are seriously bored with what they do at work on a daily basis.  This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.

As I mentioned in my last article a Lack of Engagement at Work Is Bad for You.  It carries many different risks that can really mess up your life.

Gallup says that two-thirds of American workers are “not engaged” or “disengaged”.  If you fall into this majority, then you should take action to correct the situation so you can live a more satisfying life.

See Being Disengaged as an Opportunity

It is easy to blame your employer, partners or even external factors such as the economy for your situation, but this important matter is one that you need to become responsible for and address.  Based on the negative impacts I detailed in my last post, you simply can’t continue ignoring the problem.  It is time to take the bull by the horns and make things better.

If you feel disengaged, then I’d suggest that you view this as an opportunity.

You might ask, “How is being disengaged at work an opportunity?”  Well, you are basically already at the bottom in terms of job satisfaction.  Therefore, you have nowhere to go but up.  This means that you have the opportunity to make changes with very little additional risk.  If you try something and it doesn’t work it isn’t really going to make you less happy, now is it?

Look at it this way, you are already risking your livelihood by being disengaged.  What more damage can you do?  Any change will likely be positive because it will give you a sense of control and enthusiasm that will almost surely turn things around.

Furthermore, you have the justification to change.  Having good justification is an opportunity.

Sometimes spouses, friends, partners and family members will resist change especially when it messes with their source of income.  But how can they argue when you let them read all the negative effects disengagement is having on your health, relationships and overall well-being?  It will certainly reduce their resistance if you present it correctly.

Here is this opportunity staring you right in the face.  What will you do with it?  Life is sending you a message.  It is time to respond.

What You Can Do About Your Disengagement at Work

Okay, you know the negative impact and you know that this is an opportunity to make some changes.  Now what do you do?  Well, I’m going to lean heavily on the advice offered by Douglas LaBier in Three Sources of Boredom in Today’s Workplace — And What Helps.  Here’s some of what Douglas suggests:

1.  Identify the Kind of Work that Engages You

Think about a past work experience where you felt very engaged.  What kind of work did it entail?  What were the challenges?  Did you work with a team or alone?  What specific things about that work did you find most satisfying?  Now think about your current situation.  What is lacking?  Is it your boss?  Is it your coworkers?  Is it the environment or the type of work?  Figuring out what makes you tick at work is the first step toward fixing the problem.

2.  Scope Out Opportunities

Once you have identified the kind of work that engages you, then look for opportunities at your present employer that are more stimulating for you.  Often, it is possible to carve out new responsibilities for yourself with a little initiative and extra effort.  Mold your job like Play Doh.  Craft it into something that you find more engaging.

3.  Talk It Out

Meet with your boss and explain that you are interested in getting involved in the type of work you identified above.  I wouldn’t tell them that you “feel bored” or “disengaged”.  I’d suggest putting it in more positive terms.  For example, say something like, “I’d like some new challenges.” or “I’m interested in growing in a new direction where I can make a greater contribution.”  Most bosses will appreciate this kind of interest.  If your boss isn’t open to the idea, then talk to someone in HR or another leader that you trust.

4.  Think Outside the Box

If you just can’t figure out a way to make your existing situation work, then look for another opportunity that is more engaging.  You might be able to find something in another department or you might have to move to a completely new employer.  Be patient and look for something that really excites you.  Of course, work is not the only place that you can apply your skills.  You can also consider things outside of work altogether such as volunteer opportunities, starting a micro-business or beginning a hobby.

Make Changes to Become More Engaged at Work

You simply cannot remain disengaged at work and expect to live a great life.  You’ve got to deal with this problem before it causes issues with your health, relationships and finances.  Apply the suggestions above and you’ll find yourself in a much better situation at work in no time.

 Photo by CarbonNYC

I want to say right up front that a lack of engagement at work is bad for you.  Yes, it is bad for your employer too, but the negative effect it is having on you is my main concern.  So, let’s take a look at this and see what we can do about it.

Engaged Versus Disengaged

Engaged workers are all out involved.  They are enthusiastic, proactive and dedicated to making their business a success.  They enjoy what they do.

Disengaged workers are bored, stressed, distracted, disillusioned and sometimes holding back from giving their organizations their full potential.  They do not enjoy what they do.

Which are you?

When you think of a disengaged worker you may imagine the burned out cubicle dweller or the slacking construction employee, but I think it goes beyond this.  In fact, I think there are also a lot of disengaged CEOs, managers, entrepreneurs and freelancers out there.  Are you one of these?  If you are, then this information will help you too.

Feeling less than fully engaged at work is a troubling problem that contradicts living life to the fullest.  Your work engagement level has a lot to do with your success and satisfaction on the job.  If you aren’t fully engaged, then it isn’t likely that you are going to be happy, healthy or effective.  Therefore, we need to do something to fix it.

The Majority of Workers are Bored and Disengaged

If you are not fully engaged at work, then you are not alone.  Studies show that worker engagement is dropping.  Gallup says that more than two-thirds of American workers are “not engaged” or “disengaged”.  Two-thirds!  This certainly constitutes a major issue.

Bored and disengaged workers fritter their time away on the Internet, socializing, gossiping and going to make-believe appointments.  One article I read recounts Joel’s story.  He is a disengaged, mid-level executive who sneaked out of his office one afternoon to go to a movie.  When the movie was over, he ran into his boss coming out of the same theater!

Other studies have confirmed what Gallup has found.  Workers around the world are bored and do not feel fully engaged.  They feel under-utilized and under-appreciated which leads to heavy dissatisfaction on the job and in their personal lives.

The Negative Effect Disengagement Has on You

A lot of articles address the negative consequences that a lack of engagement has on employers and businesses, but again that’s not my focus.  I’m concerned about the internal agony it creates for individuals like yourself.  This inward division causes stress which is a contributing factor to many serious health issues, but this is just a part of the story.

Overall, what I found about the effects of disengagement at work on our quality of life is very concerning.  For example:

• An English study followed a group of healthy men over 10 years. What they found is men who were engaged at work are 30% less likely to suffer from coronary heart disease than employees who are disengaged at work.  This confirms the link to negative health effects.
• Another study found that, 5 in 10 engaged workers (53%) strongly agreed that they had gotten the important things they want in their lives, compared to just 13% of actively disengaged workers.
• It was also found that work stress had caused 54% of actively disengaged workers to behave badly with friends or family members three or more days in the last month.

Bottom line, a lack of engagement at work causes health issues, relationship trouble and reduces the likelihood that you are going to get the important things you want in life.  In my mind, this makes it a serious problem that you need to deal with before it wrecks your life.

Of course, disengagement can also put you at risk for losing your job which is most likely your primary source of income.  Without steady income, you are likely going to suffer financially.  This can lead to additional stress which can further complicate health and relationship issues. 

The whole matter can snowball on you very quickly which is pretty scary.  Disengagement at work is obviously bad for you.  There is no two ways about it.

Again, two-thirds of all American workers are suffering from some level of disengagement at work.  This means that a lot of people are living less than a great life.

You Need to Deal with Your Lack of Engagement at Work

Don’t you want a better life for yourself?  Don’t you want to avoid the health, relationship and financial issues that being disengaged at work can lead to?  Heck, don’t you want to be happy at work where you spend a good deal of your time?  If so, then it is time to deal with your lack of engagement.  It is time to take action to correct the situation.

Keep in mind that the needed change might be modest or radical.  Either way, the need to fix things is staring you right in the face.  In my next article, I will explain how a lack of engagement at work is an opportunity and how to go about making the necessary corrections.

 Photo by joshuahoffmanphoto

This is a crucial question to answer.  It defines your behavior and your behavior defines your success (or failure).

If success is what you desire as an entrepreneur, artist, salesperson, student, accountant, writer, public speaker or whatever, then you need to understand the differences between an amateur and a professional and choose which you will be.

I think we often fail to make this distinction.  I also think we lack understanding on what it means to be a professional versus an amateur.  I’d like to clear up some of this confusion and help you decide which you are.  Trust me, it will make a huge difference.

Initial Thoughts About Amateur Versus Professional

I don’t think I’d ever really given this difference a lot of thought before I read The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield.  The only realm where I thought it mattered was sports, college versus pro for example.  However, Pressfield extends the idea well beyond this one limited arena.

Pressfield is a writer, an artist, and so he writes mostly about the difference between a professional artist and an amateur.  For the sake of this discussion, it is important that we think of an artist like Seth Godin does.  Seth says,

By my definition, most art has nothing to do with oil, paint or marble. Art is what we’re doing when we do our best work.

This means we are all artists.  Our art is our work.  Now the question is for the various work you do, are you a professional or an amateur?

For example, I’m an IT Director, blogger and father.  I do work in each of these areas and there is more than a little art involved in doing each of them right.  What is my status in each of these roles?  Where do I stand in terms of being an amateur versus a professional?

We’ll take a deeper look into how to answer these questions in a minute.  First, let me say that there is nothing wrong with being an amateur at something.  In fact, sometimes deciding to transform a hobby into a profession can zap the fun right out of it.

Once you make something an obligation instead of doing it for pure enjoyment, then you risk stirring up the resistance created by your lizard brain and inner pig.  These two will make you want to stop doing what you once loved to do.  Therefore, I wouldn’t always encourage you to go pro at everything.  There are some things better left for recreation.

Contrasting the Amateur Versus the Professional

The amateur plays for fun.  The professional plays for keeps.
~ Steven Pressfield

If there is an endeavor in your life that you seriously want to succeed at, then you need to start thinking like a professional towards it.  You cannot dabble at it and expect to succeed.

Again, there is nothing wrong with being an amateur.  There is nothing wrong with having a hobby.  If blogging is your hobby and you enjoy it, then fine.  However, if you want to one day quit your job and live off of your efforts as a blogger, then you need to choose in your mind right now to become a pro.

What does it mean to be a pro?  Well, I’m going to rely heavily on Steven Pressfield here to help us define it.  Here are some of the ways that he distinguishes a professional from an amateur in The War of Art.

I know this is a long list of differences, but it paints a clear picture.

What do you think?  Are you an amateur or a professional?  Has failing to commit yourself to being a pro held you back from achieving the success you desire?  Maybe it is time to decide to be a pro.

Another Reason Making This Distinction Is Important

Let me give you a final thought about the importance of making the distinction about whether you are professional or amateur in the various things you pursue in your life.

Deciding in which specific areas you want to be a pro lets you concentrate your efforts.  Focus has almost a magical power in helping you achieve what you want.

When you consciously separate your pursuits into those where you want to be a pro and those where your fine remaining an amateur, you have clarified your focus.  You have also released yourself from the guilt that burdens you and keeps you from zeroing in your focus on what really matters.

This focus combined with all the other distinctions of what makes a person a professional will translate into greater success for you in the most important areas of your life.

The choice is yours.  Are you going to be a professional or an amateur?

 Photo by Julia Manzerova

When I was growing up in my early childhood I was always under the obligation to care for myself as my single mother found herself working most days and nights.

Growing up and reaching the age of 14, I had the independent mindset that "no one will do for you what you need to do for yourself" and so I found myself wanting to work and earn money – for what else? Video games!

The Road Less Traveled

Since I was an immigrant, my work permit would only allow me to work about 15 hours a week and my visa status wasn’t quite there yet, which prevented me from working in most places, as they required verification of employment status that I didn’t have.

Wandering around in my high school cafeteria one day, I found myself presented with an interesting opportunity…telemarketing. I was young and not quite sure of what a telemarketer was – and so I was told that I would be making phone calls for leads and would earn $12 an hour. More importantly, this opportunity would allow me to build experience instead of sitting at home. It seemed like a great idea at the time and actions are better than dreams so therefore I decided to take control of my future at the age of 14.

Being a telemarketer is much easier than most people imagine. In fact, it’s very easy as long as you’re confident and don’t mind getting rejected a hundred times a day. The job itself is simple and requires nothing more than some common sense, the ability to speak English and the confidence to make a phone call.

Most people will not do the job, as they are simply not interested in being rejected over a hundred times a day. I, however, looked at life differently and understood that the money was simply better than what I could earn flipping burgers. Also, the location was an office job rather than a restaurant, and the earning potential could triple if I were successful.

I did nothing more than do my job. I made phone calls, countless phone calls that led to sales, sales that led to commissions, and commissions that led to promotions. At the end of the day I worked half the hours my friends worked at various restaurants and retail stores and I earned almost ten times as much; which leads me to my point…

Often in life, we enjoy doing certain things and aspire to be a certain somebody. We often visualize what we will be as we get older or what the road ahead looks like after high school or college, but we usually lose ourselves in our dreams rather than pursuing the actual real path to get there. Sometimes people aspire to live a certain luxury lifestyle but yet want to become public school teachers or law enforcement officers, which are okay professions by all means but not a means to attain a luxury lifestyle of any sort. Therefore, there is a missing element to the goal, and that is a realistic approach.

Picking the Right Path Is Crucial

When people ask me "Don, what was your first job?" I reply " I was a telemarketer" and they laugh and say "Man, you must have hated it", it simply amuses me and I reply "No, It’s the reason I drive an Aston Martin today".

You see, years ago my goal in life was not to become a telemarketer, a banker, the president of some company or any such thing. My goal 10 years ago was to be a in a position to help people, people like yourself who send me emails thanking me for the coaching. That was my ultimate goal.

My other goal was to be very comfortable financially, to enjoy my passion for cars and real estate and to enjoy a life full of pleasant experiences. The more comfortable path and my goals did not match and therefore I took a realistic approach, not an enjoyable one.

I stayed on the road that made the most money, not the one where I felt I would enjoy the most at the time.  I did this so in the future I could acquire the lifestyle and comfort I’ve always wanted. Now, as a result of my financial independence, I’m able to spend time helping everyone I’ve always dreamed of helping and I have the lifestyle I’ve always dreamed of having.

Align Your Actions with Your Goals

Sometimes the decisions we have to make are not the easiest nor the most comfortable ones. However, if they are aligned with your ultimate goals, and not so much with what you’d like to do today, then the final outcome will allow you to get back to your original comfort zone and beyond.  Also, the experiences along the way will make you stronger and more seasoned for what’s to come.

Just remember that ultimately, you and only you control where your life is headed. It’s worth stopping for a moment before accepting a job offer or taking the next step and asking yourself, "Is this a realistic move to grow into the person I ultimately want to become?" If it’s a dead-end, then don’t let it waste your time. Instead, find the correct path or you might just end up spending your entire life doing nothing more than dreaming about the life you really want.

About Don Sabatini

Don Sabatini, 28 years old, has served in many different roles in Corporate America, from a small startup sales office at the age of 16, to being appointed the Vice President of a Fortune 500 company at the age of 20, and currently holding a Vice President position at a Fortune 100 company (without holding a college degree).  His drive for success, expertise and experience make him one of the highest paid Vice Presidents within his company. As an industry expert and teacher, Don has taken his experiences in Corporate America, and his real world experiences in finance, real estate, investing, and business development and created Secret Entourage, to help motivate and educate others that seek a high level of success in an accelerated time frame.

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I believe most of us want this more than we are willing to admit, but fail to do what it takes to make it a reality.  I think most regular people have all but given up on finding true satisfaction in their jobs.  In fact, I’d say that we’ve sort of resigned ourselves to just being cogs in the machine.

Is this you?  If so, I want to encourage you.  I believe there is more.  I believe it is possible to transform your work no matter what you do into something more meaningful and rewarding.

Of course, this means you are going to have to make some changes and change can be uncomfortable.  It can even be a little scary.  Are you up for it? 

What alternative do you have?  The other option is to stay stuck where you are and just go through the motions every day.  Is that really the life you want?  I didn’t think so.

Two Work Scenarios for You to Consider

Let’s delve into this a little deeper.  I want you to see the options you have available more clearly.  Again, I understand that change is difficult so I want to help you make the choice necessary to transform your work life into something more rich and rewarding.  I want to give you some food for thought.  Let me paint a couple of pictures for you.

Work Scenario One

Tim works in the IT department at his company.  He shows up every day at exactly 8:00 and leaves at exactly 5:00 or maybe a few minutes before because he thinks no one really notices.  He does what he has to do, very seldom does he do more.  In his mind, work is work.  He gets it done and then goes home.  He doesn’t get into any trouble and he keeps to himself.

Tim’s role is help desk analyst.  He takes calls and fixes what’s broken.  To Tim, his job is boring, mundane and he feels like the people that call him are stupid severely technically challenged.  He knows this attitude spills over in the tone of his voice from time-to-time when talking to users, but he just can’t help it.  He’s fixed the same problem for the same people over and over again.  He wonders why they can’t just figure it out for themselves.

Tim dreads going into work each day.  He grumbles a lot while he’s there.  It is always the same old crap.  Yes, once in awhile, management tries to put a pretty new wrapper on the crap, but in the end it is still the same stuff. 

Tim does the minimum possible to comply with the wishes of management and the policies put forth, but that’s it.  He believes that if he keeps his nose clean he can just keep trudging along.

However, he feels like he’s underpaid and that his boss doesn’t appreciate all the potential he has to offer.  Tim feels stuck in a job that is repetitive and lacks challenge.  He can’t understand why his boss and the company leadership can’t see all he has to offer.  He feels certain he could do a much better job than his boss at running the department.  As far as Tim’s concerned, the guy’s pretty much a dweeb.

He’d look for another job somewhere else, but he has a family to feed and bills to pay.  He needs this job.  It is drudgery, but at least it is stable.

Work Scenario Two

Stephanie works for the same company as Tim.  She is also a help desk analyst.  However, Stephanie sees things a little differently.  She embraces this position as a jumping off platform for her career.

Stephanie typically puts in about the same number of hours as Tim, but she really cares about the users she serves.  She always has a smile on her face and seems happy to help. 

Stephanie likes to understand the projects the users are working on.  If a user is building a PowerPoint presentation for an important meeting, she will go the extra mile to help the user.  Stephanie even read some books about how to make presentations more persuasive and she shares what she’s learned with her colleagues as she’s answering their other questions.

Stephanie has stayed late more than once to make sure everything was ready for the next day.  She even calls the user after their meeting to follow-up and find out how everything turned out.

As a result, Stephanie has built many great relationships throughout the company.  People, including several executives, often call her direct line so they can specifically speak with her because they know she won’t make them feel stupid and that she really knows her stuff.  They feel Stephanie really helps them get their job done in a more timely fashion.

The help desk policy and procedures manual states that analysts shouldn’t accept calls for assistance on their direct line.  It also defines goals for keeping the duration of calls to a minimum.  Stephanie’s boss makes exceptions for Stephanie because she gets a lot of kudos from the higher ups which makes him look good.

Because of her positive attitude and approach to the job, Stephanie gets asked to be involved in a lot of special projects.  These projects add diversity to her work day and increase her job satisfaction.  Overall, Stephanie doesn’t want to remain a help desk analyst forever, but she’s happy and feels her efforts will pay off down the road.

Some Things to Ponder About These Work Scenarios

In every case, the linchpins among us are not the ones born with a magical talent.  No, they are people who have decided that a new kind of work is important, and trained themselves to do it.
~ Seth Godin, author of Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

Here are a few questions to think about regarding the two work scenarios above:

- Who gets more enjoyment and satisfaction from the same exact job?

- Who is more secure in their position?

- Who is going to get promoted sooner regardless of seniority?

- Who is more likely to get a raise?

- Who is more likely to get offered a better job somewhere else?

- Who are you more like, Tim or Stephanie?  (think about this and be honest!)

- What’s holding you back from being more like Stephanie?

Tim and Stephanie’s role at work right now might not be their dream job.  Their employer might not offer one of the best places to work.  Their boss might not be the best leader or career coach.  Still, Stephanie’s approach to the position is the most beneficial to Stephanie.  It makes the most of the situation for Stephanie and her employer.

- When will you start bringing your whole self to work?

I doubt Stephanie will remain in her current position for long.  She is going to get snatched up by somebody for a better position with more pay, perks and prizes.  Tim on the other hand is living a self-fulfilling prophecy.  His situation is likely going to get worse before it ever gets better.

If you want to improve your situation, then I’d recommend reading Seth Godin’s Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?  It will help you see your job in a whole new light.

Photo by akeg

Suppose you love baking pies and you’re really good at it. People are always saying that your pies are the best in town and that you should go into business for yourself.

One day you get bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and you decide to open a pie-baking business as a solo-entrepreneur.   Once your small business is up and running you concentrate the bulk of your efforts on doing what you love: baking pies.

However, you let other vital aspects of your business fall by the wayside: soon, you’re having cash flow problems, you’re working around the clock baking pies since you don’t have any adequate systems in place, and you’re worried because you don’t have a solid marketing strategy. Despite all of your pie-baking skills and your hard work and sacrifice, your small business is fledging.

The scenario described above is what Michael E. Gerber, author of the bestseller The E-Myth Revisited, calls the entrepreneurial myth.  The myth most new entrepreneurs buy into is that the way to beat the dismal odds of succeeding when you start a new business is simply through hard work and perseverance.

So, if it’s not just about skill and hard work, what does it take to make your small business succeed?

Build a Business, Not a Job

Gerber points out that most small businesses are started by “technicians”; a technician can be a plumber, a lawyer, a computer programmer, and so on. When these technicians decide to leave the company in which they work and strike out on their own, they have a tendency to continue concentrating on the work they’re skilled at and ignore the “business aspect” of their new enterprise.

That is, they basically create a job for themselves instead of really creating an actual small business.

The solution, says Gerber, is for business owners to balance their business personalities.  That is, they have to wear three different hats: the entrepreneur hat, the manager hat, and the technician hat. The technician produces the product or service, the manager makes sure that operations and finances run smoothly, and the entrepreneur creates a compelling vision for the business, formulates goals, and steers the business toward the accomplishment of those goals.

Here’s how Gerber defines the entrepreneur:

“The entrepreneur is not really interested in doing the work; he is interested in creating the way the company operates. In that regard, the entrepreneur is an inventor. He or she loves to invent, but does not love to manufacture or sell or distribute what he or she invents.”  ~ Michael E. Gerber

A business that is built and managed by someone who combines the approach of the technician, the manager, and the entrepreneur—Gerber indicates–will have a far greater chance of future success than one guided by someone thinking like a technician alone.

Prepare to Sell a Franchise of Your Business

Another way to make sure that you’re working on your business instead of just working in it — is to create a plan or business model as if you were going to sell franchises of your business at some specific future date, even if you don’t intend to do so.

Franchises have procedures, clear operation manuals, a consistent sales approach, and so on. They’re set up so that practically anyone can walk up off the street and run the franchise. This is the goal that you should set for your small business: you want to create systems and then continually improve those systems.

Gerber advices that you get all of the following right while you’re still small:

• Your sales system;
• Your lead generation system;
• Your lead conversion system;
• Your system to convert buyers into repeat customers.

Some of the questions you should ask yourself while creating your systems are the following:

• How can systems be put in place so that large numbers of customers can be served efficiently and consistently?
• How can the business run efficiently without you having to be there constantly keeping an eye on things?
• How can you maximize the time spent doing the things that you really enjoy doing?
• How can you minimize the time spent doing the things you hate to do, but that have to get done

Conclusion

By making sure that you take on the roles of technician, manager, and entrepreneur, and by creating systems and an Operation Manual as if you were going to sell franchises of your business, you’ll make sure that you´re working on your business instead of just working in it.  That is, you’ll be building a small business which will give you more financial independence and freedom, instead of creating a job that will enslave you.

Written by Marelisa Fábrega.  Marelisa blogs about creativity, productivity, and simply getting the most out of life over at Abundance Blog at Marelisa Online.  Marelisa is the author of the ebook “How to Be More Creative – A Handbook for Alchemists”.

Photo by Lars Plougmann

People that please their boss are the ones that get raises, promotions and other perks.  Why?  Because the boss wants them to stay.

Fortunately, there are plenty of great things you can do to stand out from the crowd and it doesn’t even take that much effort.

In a sea of mediocrity, it is easy to float to the top!

How to Please Your Boss and Get More of What You Want

You can only get what you want, if you help enough other people get what they want.
~ Zig Ziglar

You should do your best to give all the bosses above you more of what they want.  If you put a smile on their face, you will almost certainly get more of what you want.

So, what exactly is it that they want?  Well, they want people that are self-motivated, take care of business and don’t cause trouble.  Of course, I’m going to offer a few more specifics.

One word of caution first, you must be genuine and authentic in implementing these strategies or they could backfire on you.  Do not use them to try to manipulate your boss!

Here are a dozen ways that you can please your boss daily:

1.  Ask their advice, use it, then thank them for it.

When you are working on a particularly difficult issue, ask your boss for their advice.  If you like what they suggest, then use it and be sure to follow-up with them later thanking them for helping you out.  The follow-up is crucial.  Your boss will love this approach!

2.  Say good things about your boss to others.

What you say about your boss influences your thinking about him/her and will ultimately impact the way you interact with them.  Talk your boss up to other people.  This will keep your attitude positive and it certainly can’t hurt if your boss hears you are saying good things about them.

3.  Readily accept opportunities to learn and grow in your job.

When you are offered the opportunity to learn something new, go for it!  Don’t hesitate for a moment.  The more knowledge and skill you have, the more valuable you become.  I’ve heard some people say, “Why should I do this if I’m not going to get paid more for it?”  This is very shortsighted thinking.

4.  Show up every day ready to give it your best.

Come to work ready to do what needs to be done.  Be rested and alert!  Have your game face on.  Don’t just sit there like a bump on a log!  A boss needs people that they can count on.  Be that person and you will definitely put a smile on their face.

5.  Arrive to work early.

Coming in early says that you are committed and ambitious.  It conveys the message that you are willing to put forth extra effort to achieve great things.  Your boss will notice.  If you are the first person they see every morning, then you’ll be the first one they think of when they are handing out promotions and raises.

6.  Ask questions to understand more about your company’s business.

Bosses are always impressed by people that are hungry to understand the business.  Don’t be a pest, but when the opportunity is right, ask questions.  Dig to understand all that you can.  Find out about other branches, relationships and what’s going on above you.

7.  Do more than your share of the work.

“That’s not my job” is the motto of the perpetually stagnant.  Again, the more people you help, the more help you’ll get.  When you run out of things to do, don’t relax.  Instead, go ask your boss if you can help them with something.  This will truly impress them!

8.  On occasion, stay after work to finish something important.

Demonstrate to your boss that you understand the priorities in your unit.  Don’t be hesitant to stay late when the work warrants it.  This says that you are truly self-motivated and self-disciplined.  Your boss wants to get the job done and get it done right.  Helping them to do this is a feather in your cap!

9.  Do whatever you can to make their ideas successful.

Support the ideas that are nearest and dearest to your boss’ heart.  Do everything within your ability to contribute to their success.  Your boss will appreciate this and will begin to think of you as an ally instead of just a subordinate.

10.  Don’t participate in negative talk or gossip.

Be a part of the solution not a part of the problem.  Griping and gossiping drains a unit of their productivity.  Your boss doesn’t need this.  He/She also doesn’t need a tattletale.  Follow the advice of your mother and unless you have something good to say, keep quiet.

11.  Offer well-reasoned suggestions and be ready to implement them.

Be proactive!  When you see something that can be done better, go to your boss with a well-reasoned plan.  Ask for the chance to implement the details yourself.  This kind of initiative is rare and welcomed by all good managers.

12.  Be honest.

Above all else, always be honest.  A boss values a person that they know they can trust.  Tell the truth even if it isn’t flattering to you.  It will pay off in the long-run.  The truth is often hard to discern so your boss will value your integrity if they know you always tell it like it is.

What other suggestions do you have to please your boss?

Photo by Annie Mole

Recognition, raises and promotions are highly overrated.  People that get these things are suck-ups and have sold their soul to the man.  They seem happy, but I bet deep down inside they are miserable creatures that loathe all the attention they get at work.

What’s more, none of us wants to be married to our jobs anyway.  Is having a steady job really all that important?!?  Jobs are a dime a dozen.  Sometimes you just don’t fit it and besides I can draw unemployment for a nice long time right now.  Who needs a job?  Who wants to be a workaholic?

The more you work, the more they ask you to do.  It’s a never ending rat race.  That’s why I’ve developed some tactics for remaining invisible and slacking off at work.  These help me to fly under the radar while still drawing a paycheck at least for awhile.  Hopefully, they can help you do the same!

1.  Who said that “being late” is a bad thing?

Women have given “being late” a bad rap.  You can shave a little time off your workday by slipping in once everyone else is at their desk.  Being five minutes late is an ideal tactic because only the worst tyrant of a boss would get upset over 5 measly minutes.  Yet, when you combine this tactic with the others I’m about to mention, you can really avoid a lot of work.

2.  Break rooms are the oasis in the desert.

After you mosey in at 8:05, get your coffee cup and head immediately to the break room.  Your goal is to spend the entire morning here, but you might have to work up to this.  There is really an art form to it.  Here’s an example morning to help you get started:

• 8:10 – Start out by washing your coffee cup.  Take your time and get it really clean.
• 8:20 – Wash any other dishes in the sink while you are at it.  Get some out of the cabinet if you need to.
• 8:30 – This should by enough time for someone else to come in.  Strike up a conversation and try to keep it going for as long as possible.
• 9:00 – Try to engage as many people as possible in the conversation as they come to get coffee refills.  You might even consider buying donuts to lure people to the break room, if necessary.
• 9:30 – Once this breaks up, make yourself some breakfast and sit down to eat it.
• 10:00 – Now, it is mid-morning and more co-workers will probably filter in for breaks which allows you to strike up a whole other round of conversation.
• 10:30 – After this round of talks, wash your breakfast dishes.  Again, be sure to stretch this out as long as possible.
• 11:00 – By this time of the morning, you should be able to see that the break room needs a little attention.  Stock the cups, creamer, sugar and other condiments.
• 11:30 – Hopefully, you have successfully filled the time and now the early lunch bunch will start showing up.  I think you can figure out what to do from here!

3.  Stretch out your golden hour of opportunity wisely.

Stretching the length of your lunch break out as far as you possibly can is an opportunity hard to resist.  You want to eke out every minute that you can.  If you get caught, simply use an excuse like traffic was terrible or the restaurant was really slow today.  These are likely to get you off if you don’t use them too frequently.  Wise use of this tactic will buy you 10 to 15 minutes daily!

4.  Fire up the afterburners to keep from burning out.

I know cigarettes are bad for your health, but they are indispensable when it comes to slacking off.  Most employers still offer employees a place to smoke (usually outside) and time to partake of their habit.  The fact that smoking areas are outside is an added bonus because it takes a few extra minutes to get in and out of the building!

5.  Look out!  The boss is headed your way.

Practice this mantra, “That is not my job!”  Repeat it over and over in your head to be sure you are ready when your employer comes and asks you to do those little extra things that some would say are opportunities, but that we know are just sneaky attempts to throw more work our way.  We won’t be duped into getting a bunch of extra crap thrown in our laps!

6.  Makin’ copies is sweet as molasses.

Haven’t you heard?  The copier is the new water cooler.  That’s right.  Go hang out at the copier.  Take a big stack of paper with you and act like you have to make tons of copies.  You can collate, staple and stack them to make it look real.  In the mean time, you’ll have plenty of coworkers walk up needing copies.  This gives you the chance to act polite by letting them cut in on you wasting even more of your time!  Of course, be ready with plenty of questions about their kids, hobbies and the latest gossip!

7.  Drop-ins are always welcome.

When you get stuck and don’t know what else to do, go cruise the halls.  You can always find someone to drop-in on at their office or cubicle.  Chat it up!  You know those folks that love to talk so go find them.  Don’t let another minute pass without learning about their long lost relatives or their latest trip to the doctor.  These stories are priceless for burning minutes off the clock!

8.  For God’s sake, never waste a sick day!!!

Hopefully, this one goes without mentioning, but I don’t want to take any chances.  You might be a recovering workaholic.  Be sure you know exactly how to manipulate the company’s policies concerning sick days to your full advantage.  If you have kids, they are like having a “get out of jail free” card!  Most employers let you take a sick day if you have a “sick” child.  What a bonus!

9.  Takin’ care of business

Don’t fret!  I’m not talking about company business.  Did you think I had lost my mind?!?  No, I am referring to your personal business.  Pay your bills, balance your checkbook or shop for gifts online!  All of these are excellent ways to make the time pass without ever really accomplishing anything.  Plus, this frees up your time at home to play games on your Wii!

10.  Committees are the greatest invention since sliced bread!

Get yourself on a committee.  Everyone knows that committees never accomplish anything.  You can set in endless meetings without ever having to do any real work.  This is a last ditch effort due to the boredom involved, but it is still worth considering.  I recommend getting yourself some wireless earbuds so you can listen to your iPod during the meetings.  How brilliant is that?

WARNING – Not everyone will get the results desired!

Okay, hopefully it is obvious that I’m being facetious here.  I’ve blown up several bad habits larger than life to be a little funny (hopefully!) and to make a point.  These things and many others can waste a ton of your time on the job.  They can also cost you the recognition, raises and promotions you deserve.  Are any of these things standing in your way?  If so, it might be time to change your habits!

What did I miss?  What are other ways people waste time on the job?

Photo by LetTheCardsFall