Feedback Form
Home Features Mastermind Forums About Advertise Blog Network Contact Be An Author

Working for the Right Person

Working for the Right Person

"I don't know," the Gen-Y acquaintance mused. "I'm thinking about grad school, but it's more work than I thought to prepare for the GREs. Then if I do all that and don't get into the program I want, it's a waste of time. Plus, did you know it could cost more than $40,000 to get a masters degree? I don't want that kind of debt, especially since I'll never make it up in a starting salary."

By the end of answering my question about his post gap-year plans, this young man described several options he was pondering for his future. But woven into threads of indecision and idealism, I recognized limiting beliefs punctuating his words. It's "too hard." It'll take "too long." It costs "too much." I also recognized he hadn't yet discovered who he was doing the work for.

He's right. Getting the work you want, creating your future, developing your skills can be hard, take time, and cost money. But this isn't a generational issue; it's a life-potential issue. We can hold these self-limiting beliefs whether we're Gen-Y, Gen-X, Boomers or Traditionalists.

When we think we work for other people instead of working for ourselves, we're less likely to make the investments in self-development, put in the time and determination, or make the trade-offs necessary to achieve the goals we desire.

When we think we work for "the boss" we're less likely to push ourselves, take on the challenging project, volunteer for extra assignments, or offer the best of who we are to our work, whatever that work may be.

When we work for other people, we're less likely to use our unique gifts to make a difference in our work group, community, or world. And we're less likely to have the internal drive and passion to sustain us through those workplace potholes.

Working for yourself is not about being an entrepreneur, owning your own business, or being self-employed. It's a vision, not a vocation.

You can give away the power over your future to bosses or other influencers in your life, or you can keep that power to fuel your dreams. As Nashua Cavalier put it, "Man's biggest mistake is to believe that he's working for someone else." When you believe you are, that's when work becomes work.

People who are winning at working work for the right person - the one looking back in mirror. That differentiation changes everything. It's easier to know what jobs to seek, skills to enhance, and opportunities to seize. It's easier to know when you should change paths, companies, or bosses. And it's easier to weather workplace stresses when you're the one holding the compass for your life.

People who are winning at working accept the accountability for inventing their future, realizing it's not the boss or the work or the company politics that stand in the way of their success. These can be obstacles to maneuver certainly, but the real obstacles are self-inflicted: fear, limiting beliefs, victim thinking or misplaced perspectives. These are what hold your life-potential in check.

Want to be winning at working? Start working for the right person.

(c) 2008 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.





Working for the Right Person - To learn more about this author, visit Nan Russell's Website.

Like this article? Share it with your friends

Article Feedback
 Article Feedback No article feedback found.
  Leave Your Feedback
article feedback

Article Feedback
John Power
John Power, founder of Biltmore Franchise Consulting, has extensive experience developing and marketing franchises and business opportunities. He has been in and around franchising for over twenty years. From 1980 through 1990 he conceptualized, organized, and developed the American Video Association. He grew AVA to 2,000 national members, before selling the company it 1990. It was later merged into another home video marketing company. From 2000 to 2005 he worked as a contract marketing and human resources consultant to several local and national companies. In 2005 Mr. Power began working as a franchise development consultant on a full-time basis. Since that time he has helped more than three dozen companies initiate and develop their franchising program. He notes that there are many companies interested in developing a franchise program, and who need his specialized assistance. Mr. Power is a “hands-on” franchise consultant. He said, “I am the ‘nuts and bolts’ person who tends to the details for my clients.” Mr. Power holds a B.S. degree with a major in Marketing. See: www.biltmorefranchise.com You may contact Mr. Power at: jpower@biltmorefranchise.co - Visit John Power's Website

David Acheson
David Acheson is the founder of DCJA Consultancy. DCJA Consultancy is a management consultancy business specialising in B2B sales consultancy. They offer bespoke and packaged sales consultancy including Sales Optimisation Review, Interim Sales Management, Sales & Marketing Review, 1:1 Sales & Management Staff Analysis, Management Training, Solution Sales Training, Creation of New Pay Plan, KPI's, run Customer Feedback Campaigns, assist with Recruitment, Coaching, Appraisals and set up Strategic Marketing Campaigns.  David spent his early career in accountancy and then moved into sales in 1982, working in Office Equipment, IT, Advertising, Training, Outsourcing and Consultancy. He has held many Senior Positions in SMBs and Global Organisations including Head of Sales Operations & Head of Business Development. His knowledge, skills and great experience of the Sales Industry has led to David making keynote speeches and running educational sessions to key businesses through organisations including The Chamber of Commerce and Business Link. - Visit David Acheson's Website


To learn more about the Evan Elite Author Program please contact us.

About The Author


Nan Russell
(Visit Nan's Website) Nan S. Russell is the author of "Hitting Your Stride: Your Work, Your Way". She is also the host of "Work Matters with Nan Russell" weekly on webtalkradio.net. Nan Russell has spent over 20 years in management, most recently with QVC as Vice President. Sign up to receive Nan's "Winning at Working" tips and insights at http://www.nanrussell.com

Nan Russell is a Platinum author on EvanCarmichael.com
About The Author

View Author Blog
View Author Blog

View Author Video
View Author Video

Free Downloads


Nan Russell's

Complete
List Of
Business-Coach
Articles

Name
Email
If you enjoyed this article, get Nan Russell's Complete List of Business-Coach Articles For FREE!

More Nan Russell
Better Together
The Whole Person
TimeOut
About Those Words
But It Will Take Too Long
The New Dance
FollowMe Leaders
CARVE YOUR SUCCESS KEY
The Echoes Heard at Work
Its Not About Time
Free Downloads


 
 
 


Evan Elite Authors
Kim Castle  
George Ludwig  
Cheryl Matthynssens  
Evan Elite Authors

Become An Author
Have you written articles that would be of value to entrepreneurs? Become an expert on our site by publishing them! Expose yourself to a wide audience, drive more traffic to your website and get more sales! Click Here for details.
Become An Author

Evan's Latest Video
Modeling the Masters: Learn the true secrets behind Walt Disney's business success factors & grow your company! Video produced by Phanta Media
Evan's Latest Video

Business Opportunities
"Learn straight from Evan how you can Make a Full Time Income (And More) from a Website"

How to Start An Online Business

Click Here To Learn More
Business Opportunities



Evan's Newsletter
Get advice & tips from famous business owners, new articles by entrepreneur experts, my latest website updates, & special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Evan`s Newsletter

Free Downloads
Zero Based Budgeting Icon Zero Based Budgeting
Ideal Client Icon Ideal Client
Make Money Online Icon Make Money Online
Addictive Entrepreneurship Icon Addictive Entrepreneurship
Adopting Creative Thinking Icon Adopting Creative Thinking
Free Downloads - Complete List

Entrepreneur Tools and Guides
Top 50 Debt Blogs
Top 50 Debt Blogs
Learn To Get Out Of Debt
 
Top 50 Geek Business Blogs
Top 50 Geek Business Blogs
Top 50 Geek Business Blogs
 
Entrepreneur Tools and Guides

SEO For Africa
SEO For Africa
Gladys Odei Nkawkaw, Ghana,
Gladys Odei
Nkawkaw, Ghana
SEO For Africa

If I Were A Startup...
Jonathan Voigt, $214k to $507k in 2 years
Jonathan Voigt
$214k to $507k in 2 years
John Zarei and Shaan Parekh , $516k to $1.5 Mil in 2 years
John Zarei and Shaan Parekh
$516k to $1.5 Mil in 2 years
If I Were A Startup... - Complete List

Famous Entrepreneurs
Benjamin Franklin, P. Gazette
Steve Jobs, Apple
Famous Entrepreneurs - Complete List

Entrepreneur Advice
John Jantsch, Duct Tape Marketing
John Jantsch
Duct Tape Marketing
Paul Kedrosky, Venture Capitalist
Paul Kedrosky
Venture Capitalist
Entrepreneur Advice - Complete List

Popular Articles
(Premium Authors)

     The Lack of Basic SEO Components in Many Small Business Web sites
By James Wells
     A Business Owners Look at Online vs Offline Marketing
By James Wells
     SEO Basics - Keyword Research and Analysis
By James Wells

Have A Suggestion?
Toronto Salsa Classes / Toronto Salsa Lessons Email us your ideas on how to make our website more valuable! Thank you Sharon from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for your suggestions to make the newsletter look like the website and profile younger entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez and Sean Combs!
Have A Suggestion?

More Evan Carmichael
More Information