You’re in a financially unrewarding job you don’t really enjoy, and for some VALID reasons, you’re stuck with it. You feel you have two choices: either 1.) whine and attract sympathy from others, perform lackadaisically, then quit and find another unworthy job; OR 2.) stay, improve yourself, and do your best while waiting and looking for better opportunities. Option 1 seems to be the easier choice because it’s easy to blame others for our lack of progress instead of doing something worthwhile. But do good things happen to those who wait?
You’ve probably heard the news about the fascinating people on the internet popularized by their successful money-making stories. Ordinary people who became internet legends by blogging. And then you’ve asked yourself: “When is it my turn?” You want to be like them: lucky by doing nothing.
You’re wondering: why are some people so damn lucky earning lots of money sitting in front of the computer?
I’ll tell you a secret. I have read about their inspiring stories, too.
You know what I noticed?
Continue reading ‘Playing The Waiting Game’
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A few people from work asked me to do a thing or two for them. I had to say YES, because: 1.) I was the only one who can do it; and 2.) It had to be done by today.
Normally, after I laid out my plans for the day, I would zone out everything and carry out my plan. If I get interrupted by favors indirectly related to my regular work, I would accept it and politely say “I’d finish it as soon as I can.“
But today was a lot different from my normal Friday, which is supposed to be lighter, compared to other days of the week. Today, I had to endure extended work and a couple of distractions. (I felt the need to sugar-coat the word “distractions” and use “challenges” instead, but, decided against it because they are what they really are: distractions.)
Continue reading ‘The Ability to Multi-Task’
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My friend Ernie (not his real name), a single father of two young teenage boys, is a loyal employee of a local video store for 5 years now and has an excellent record and good rapport with other employees. He works his butt off for his boss doing almost everything imaginable. Ernie comes to work early and is always the last to leave. He is a huge part of the store’s daily activities and doesn’t complain even though his meager salary is just enough to make it through the day… he said he was doing it for his family.
But that is about to change because his boss confronted him one day.
Continue reading ‘Loyalty is a Two-Way Street’
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Would I accept a low-paying job that would give me substantial experience? Or would I go for a dead-end occupation that pays big-time but somewhat unrelated to my field? Why even choose? Can’t I just get a high-paying job that put my skills to good use?
Those are the eternal questions newly-graduates ask themselves as they prepare to join the labor force, and most often they get confused. I was one of them nine years ago.
Continue reading ‘Experience or Salary: Which is More Important to First-Time Job-Seekers?’
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As a local computer mechanic, I receive handful of calls from friends (and their friends) to fix their erratic machines. Since we are “chummies”, I refuse to bill them when they ask me how much I charge. Is it shyness on my part? Partly. My philosophy is, someday, I’ll get something in return anyway. Give and you shall receive. Something big is waiting for me.
And then it becomes a habit. This time, I service computers without charging people who I met just once. Not good, I think. Most of these people are professionals and businessmen, and it makes them uncomfortable when someone refuses their offer, may it be in donation or in kind. They even have to force the payment to my hands. What an awkward situation. I had to accept. And the moment that happened, the long wait was over.
If you are in the same boat, I have an advice for you: don’t let the day pass by. You have to understand that this is your chance or you’ll keep waiting forever. Politely take it, like it is an honor servicing them. Because “that someday” you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. And “that something in return” that awaits you, is already right in front of you.
Own it, like I do now. There’s nothing wrong with accepting something you rightfully deserve.
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