Thought for the Day
In an age where instant opinions are found in everything from blogs to ezines, I thought this quote from Buddha offered a thoughtful perspective:
"Believe nothing because a so-called wise man said it; believe nothing because a belief is generally held; believe nothing because it is written in ancient books; believe nothing because it is said to be of divine origin; believe nothing because someone else believes it; believe only what you yourself judge to be true."
People who are winning at working gather information wisely and think for themselves.
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Posted by Nan Russell at 06:36 AM
March 21, 2005Which half are you?
Time Magazine's, March 21, 2005 issue had this snippet: "50% of Americans are satisfied with their jobs, says the Conference Board."
Of course, that means 50% are dissatisfied! And if you're not in the satisfied half, you can't be winning at working.
You see, you can't be winning at working if you don't like what you're doing, where you're doing it, or who you're doing it for. If what you do feels like work the majority of the time, you might want to think about why, and what you can do to change it. That doesn't necessarily mean you should change jobs or companies. Transferring to another team, volunteering for a new project, or asking your boss for new responsibilities may be all it takes.
But, whatever it takes, you won't be able to offer your best you at work and get rewarded with interesting work, personal growth and financial rewards, if you aren't in a good workplace environment and a good position match for who you are, what you want, and what you have to offer.
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Posted by Nan Russell at 02:05 PM
March 16, 2005Thought for the Day
I ran across this quote from Bertrand Russell, an English mathematician and philosopher:
"One of the symptoms of approaching nervous breakdown is the belief
that one's work is terribly important. If I were a medical man, I
should prescribe a holiday to any patient who considered his work
important."
When I start to get "crazy" about work, I like to put it in perspective of what really matters ... in the scheme of things.
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Posted by Nan Russell at 02:43 PM
March 11, 2005TIP #22: Understand Deadlines
If you don't file your tax return on April 15th, there's a penalty. The same is true at work, but it's not as obvious.
If you miss a work deadline, the next time an assignment is due, extra time may be built in so your boss or colleague has what they need when they need it. These built-ins limit your future flexibility and create a credibility deficit for you.
If you want to be winning at working you need all the flexibility and credibility you can get. Meeting deadlines is one way to get both.
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Posted by Nan Russell at 06:18 PM
March 07, 2005Wishing and Hoping
Years after Disneyland was built, after the completion of Walt Disney World, the story goes that someone went up to Mike Vance, Creative Director for Walt Disney Studios and said, "Isn't it too bad Walt Disney didn't live to see this?" Without pausing, he replied, "But he did see it, that's why it's here."
If any outside figure influenced my life early on, it was Walt Disney. Maybe because when I was five, my favorite uncle took me to a wondrous new place called Disneyland. Maybe because I grew up in Southern California, visiting it every year or two, watching a man's vision come to life and grow. Or maybe because I learned that "when you wish upon a star, it makes no difference who you are." Growing up on the Wonderful World of Disney, I learned how to dream.
But as I got older I realized it wasn't just the dreaming and wishing that made the dreams possible. It was the doing. Like a Dusty Springfield song counsels, "Wishin' and hopin' -- And thinkin' and prayin' -- Plannin' and dreamin' -- Each night of his charms -- That won't get you into his arms."
In my experience wishing and hoping are poor strategies for making dreams come true, yet that's how many people approach work, often surprised at their results. They wish they could make more money. They hope they'll get promoted or offered a more interesting job. They wish someone will notice how hard they work. They hope the work environment improves, their boss comes to her senses, the problem goes away or someone else solves it.
Their chance of winning at working is right up there with becoming a millionaire on Vegas slots or holding the winning lottery ticket. And while it's not true the ostrich hides in the sand, many of us do, wondering why we never land our dreams. Olympic athletics don't get that way by wishing and hoping. Nor do great musicians, actors, chefs, architects, teachers, lawyers, parents, or business people. And I know I'll never get my first book published by wishing it so.
Dreams can come true, but there is a secret. They're realized through the magic of persistence, determination, commitment, passion, practice, focus and hard work. They happen a step at a time, manifested over years, not weeks. While wishing and hoping makes you a dreamer, acting and doing makes you someone who can turn dreams into reality. Want your work dreams to come true? Make them.
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Posted by Nan Russell at 11:10 AM
March 02, 2005TIP #21: Show, Don't Tell
People who talk about what they're going to do, what they'd like to do, or what they're thinking of doing someday are common in the workplace.
People, who do what they say they're going to do, are not.
If you want to be winning at working be like a good novelist who shows, not tells. People who are winning at working are doers.
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Posted by Nan Russell at 10:59 AM
