Business and Career - Here's Help

Doing the best job you can do regardless - Everyday I try to do the best job I can do. I am a results oriented person and in order for me to feel successful, I have to know that I gave 100%. Keep in mind that I am human and I do make mistakes but I do try very hard to be the best I can be. Taking ownership of your job, whether you are a teacher, stay at home mother, CEO, janitor or writer, taking responsibility of yourself and your job is very important.

Making a difference

– Do any job the best you can

– You may not be the best choice for doing the job

– If you do that, people will notice

– When they see you take ownership, they will give you jobs important to them

– The more you do jobs that matter to your superiors and do them well, the faster you will move ahead

Holding yourself accountable - Many times I ask myself if I was wrong or if I did that correctly. I think it is human nature to second guess yourself but I do think it’s important to hold yourself accountable for your own actions. If I make a mistake, instead of trying to hide it, I will own up to it. I am accountable for myself, all my actions, words and written language. Do you hold yourself accountable?

Acquiring the skills & knowledge you need - Knowledge is Power! know your business! You should always read, take classes, be involved or do other activities that only increase your knowledge. My husband reads the paper everyday; he keeps up with the community and other items that are interesting to him. I actually, do not read the newspaper but I will read magazines, books and articles. We actually have a lot to talk about and its fun for us to discuss what we have learned new today.

For your job, understand the skills needed to do your job and to also advance in your position. It is critical, in my opinion to know what you are doing, why you are doing it and how to improve it. But first, know the job, have the skills and keep learning your position, your boss’s position or the position you want. That is what is important.

Taking action, moving forward - If you don’t take action, believe me, someone else will! Don’t be shy, be professional but always work to move forward in your job. To be more specific, take action when necessary, work to improve, work to enhance and most of all, work to make it better or more effective. Always look ahead and try harder to do better. For example, if my boss is out of touch and really doesn’t understand what we need in our department, then I start to take action, I include him in meetings, have him involved from beginning to end on a project and when he understands what we need, then I push him to take action. If he still doesn’t take action to enhance our department, then I will continue to move forward with the team, respectfully keeping him included in the decisions that I make. Remember these key points;

· You have to hold yourself accountable!

· Your success depends 10% on what happens and 90% on how you react!

· You have 100% control over how you choose to react.

· Treat all situations as if you are 100% responsible.

Learning from your mistakes-We all make mistakes, but it’s not the mistake it’s how you react to the mistake. If you call the person by the wrong name, then own up to it. Apologize and move on. If you are holding a training session and the materials don’t show up because you forgot to ship them, and then make copies of your presentation and review.

Business points to remember;

• Don’t panic
• Regroup and come up with an alternative plan
• Always admit to your mistakes
• Never blame someone else even if it wasn’t your fault
• Learn from your mistake!

Understanding the importance of relationships - In the Corporate world, always be positive and friendly to all. You never know who you will work for in the future. Believe, I know, when I was young and dumb I got mad at this manager who was yelling at me, I should have kept my mouth shut and just listened but instead I interrupted her and yelled right back at her, I was not professional, not nice. I didn’t think anymore of it and a year later she became my boss, needless to say, it was very difficult to work for her, she never forgot how insulting or unprofessionally I was over a year ago. Keep points;

• Be professional at all times regardless of the situation
• Know your job and the people that work with you
• Understand the relationships, because all levels are important to have
• Never throw a coworker under the bus
• Don’t be negative always look for the positive solution
• Offer solutions, not just problems
• Know your business, know your job, know your boss, know your team

Surrounding yourself with positive people - We all know those people, the ones that always find something wrong, always complaining, you know who they are, stop hanging around them, they are bringing you down! Surround yourself with positive people, ones that make you laugh, think, sometimes cry but in the end, they make you feel good. Pick a person you know and ask these questions;

• Do they make me laugh?
• Do they see the glass half full or half empty?
• When I am around them, do I want to be a better person?
• When they leave, will you miss them?

Because if they make you feel drained, bad or angry because they gave you so much emotional baggage, then don’t hang around them. Unfortunately, in our day and age, it’s “guilt by association” and when others at work see you hanging around someone they believe is negative or non productive you will be considered the same (in most cases). Surrounding yourself with positive people in the business world and in your personal world it will only make you feel better and want to be more positive yourself.

You have one life, live it. Take ownership of who you are, what you want to be and just do it. Okay? Be the very best you can be and it will work for you!