What’s the difference between the owner of the company and the front-line employee? The obvious answer is that the employee works for the owner. Really?
Let’s enter the No Bullsh#*t Zone: Whether you own the company or you’re an employee of a company owned by someone else, who do you really work for?
Too many people give-up responsibility for their own success and happiness; no place is this more evident than in the workplace. Even people who are self-employed sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that other people and circumstances dictate success and failure. Bullsh#*t.
Here are some fine whines I’ve sampled over the past few years:
“I’ve been with this company 5 years without a raise; why should I work any harder?”
Put a cork in it. If you’ve been working someplace for 5 years and you haven’t gotten a raise you probably don’t deserve one! Have you gone the extra mile? Have you performed above and beyond what’s expected of you? If you have, then someone else should appreciate your value; it’s time to move on. Go with a great attitude and the spirit of improving your destiny.
“I only make $8.00 an hour so that’s what I’m giving them, eight bucks worth of work an hour.”
That’s why you only make eight bucks an hour and will continue to do. If you want $10 bucks an hour, you’ve got to put out $10 worth of work when you’re making $8. Who do you think the raises usually go to? Who gets moved into better positions?
If you agreed to do a job for $8 an hour, then that’s all your company owes you. Increase your value so you’re worth $10, $15 or $20 and see what happens.
“It’s not my company…”
Make it your company. Whatever job you’re doing right now; own it! Work any job as if you’re self-employed because in the greater scheme of things you are! People who work a job as if the success of the company depends on it are those who succeed.
“I get no support. If only my company would buy me a (fill in the blank).”
Know what’s funny? I’ve met people who wouldn’t spring for a $1,000 laptop for work who willingly forked over twice that amount on a pile of get rich quick DVDs and a book. Not mine: I don’t charge that much and my program isn’t about getting rich quick! If you need some tools to do your job better, get them. When you’re pulling in extra business take the receipt to your supervisor, demonstrate how your new laptop helped your sales performance and ask for a reimbursement; or better yet, forget about it! Just do your job and if you’re not getting just rewards take YOUR laptop and find a better paying job! Better yet, take YOUR laptop and go into business for yourself!
“It’s not me, I’m doing everything I can but the product just isn’t moving.”
It’s always me. If I’m not constantly improving and trying to learn how best to present my products and services, then it’s my fault. OR…I’m selling crap! Remember the great sales mantra: “ABC”? Always Be Closing? That’s the great chant of those who sell crap! If you sell crap, you better close before the prospect changes his mind. Make sure you believe in your product and services, create strong relationships with prospects and selling becomes a formality. There’s always room for improvement and there are always quality products and services to sell.
“It’s the economy.”
OK, sometimes it really is. So, what are you going to do about it? Are you the President, the Fed Chairman or God? Even these guys have a tough time managing the economy. Do what you can in your little part of the world. Improve your skills, talents and abilities. Find or develop quality goods and services to produce, market or sell. There are always fortunes to be made in the worst of times and fortunes to be lost in the best of times. Focus on that over which you have control.
I’m not trying to be cute, but notice the theme? No matter who you are, the only person truly responsible for your success and happiness is the person brushing your teeth in the bathroom mirror. Success is product of hard work, focus and perseverance. Success is created by your goals multiplied by your achievements.
The greatest method for generating success is constant self-improvement. Embrace perfection as a process, not a destination. Then, no matter whether it’s your name or someone else’s on the signature line of your paycheck, you truly work for yourself!
You Always Work for Yourself! - To learn more about this author, visit Jim Bouchard's Website.
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