Eventually every great plan deteriorates into hard work.
A newly minted Psychologist went to a new elementary school. Her job was to help children develop strong characters, overcome problems, and become fulfilled individuals. At 11:15 that morning the Principal poked her head in and said, “Come with me. We need your help.” A crisis intervention? Her training would really pay off now. They both went to the lunchroom. The Principal took the Psychologist over to the milk cooler and told her, “At lunch you sell milk to the children who bring lunches from home.” That Psychologist said she nearly quit. It took her weeks to realize that every job has some work that just needs to be done. Someone has to sell the milk.
She works for the children. She really does change their lives, just not always the way she expected to.
You work for people. Your boss is one. He is a customer. Your coworkers are customers. The people who see and use your work are customers. The people who buy your company’s products are customers. Are you giving them what they need and want? Are they satisfied? Can you prove it?
In a job journal you can keep track of how you have served your customers. Tracking what good you have done will improve your performance. Telling your boss exactly what you contribute each week will get you a raise as you improve. If your boss doesn’t give you the raise you have earned, your job journal will help you get a new job.
So, who did you help? What was their problem? Did your answer save time, money or frustration? Write down and report on your expected duties. Also report on the times you just have to sell milk.
It is not hard. It’s a great plan. It just takes a little work.
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Something To Do
Do you have a job journal? Create one for as far back as you can remember if you don’t have one already. Unemployed? Create one for your last job. Write down what you accomplished. What things are better because you were there? Did you save money, earn money or keep a customer? Write it down.
Here is the gutsy part if you have a job. Managers need to know what you accomplished, but most are afraid to admit they don’t know what you do every day. Submit a report to your manager in a format he can use to show his boss. Do it every week. Give your manager something to brag about every week.
Write down your failures in your journal too. That way you can show how much things have improved later on. Report failures along with how you have fixed them and how much money your improvement will now save.