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Whether you’re just entering the workforce or have been entrenched for many years or are creating your own business, the world of work is an intrinsic part of all of our lives. And for a relative few, it’s not all about the money.

Our lives in the work world can take many transitions:

As a teenager just entering the work world, it may be to earn enough money to buy a car, clothes, afford dates and for some, earn tuition into college. And along the way, discover if the type of work is one that appeals enough to continue, or indicates the need to try something else.

For others, who have taken a chosen path through college and are preparing to enter the work world, their focus will be following their path into positions for which they’ve studied. Although it’s just as possible that along the way, they may discover a penchant for something entirely different.

For those who have been entrenched in the work world for many years, it’s quite possible that their initial position(s) and intention(s) may have been shaped or even curtailed by the need to earn enough money to support a lifestyle that may include a spouse and maybe children and a mortgage.

For others, it’s not a rare occurrence that they have taken the lowliest, “entry”, position and worked their way up through the workplace and achieved all they desired in terms of personal accomplishment, respect within the workplace and garnered the wealth they need to support whatever their lifestyle.

For those who are creating their own business, it’s rare that it’s done right out of school, but more often a result of experience already gained working for someone else and in the belief that they can earn enough money to support an idea/product/service of their own, as well as support themselves. And hopefully, when it comes to hiring others to support this new business, experience has also been gained as to how to treat employees to get the best from them.

Whatever your position in relation to the world of work, one thing is clear – Your attitude towards work and/so how you approach it makes all the difference in how well you succeed.

You know the old saying about how there are no small parts, only small actors? It’s like that in the work world. There are no small positions, only small minds.

Regardless your position in the work world, there is always opportunity to improve your lot. So if you foster an attitude that you are not limited to your position, and approach each work day with an open mind and pay attention, you will discover ways that you can go from a sales clerk to store manager in just a few months.

Now if you’re thinking this sounds a bit like those commercials on tv that are suggesting you can go from a size 22 to a size 10 in a few months with their weight loss product and you think to yourself it sounds too good to be true, perhaps you didn’t pay attention to the part, “combined with exercise and a sensible diet”.

Which is to say, that whether it’s losing weight or achieving success in the work world, you will have to pay attention to everything that is going on around you, what you are doing and make a concerted effort to integrate yourself. In other words – You will have to work at it.

Right now there’s a tv commercial touting how you can work at home and buy a new home or earn $7,000 a month in your spare time … Which does sound exciting, but – NOT ONE WORD is said about HOW you can do any of this. Only that there’s a website that will show you.

If you’ve been enticed by such “come ons”, it’s understandable – Everyone one would like to be able to buy a new house or earn lots of money, and there are those who have achieved financial independence and monetary success via the Internet. So if you’ve gone to this or any other website seeking your fortune, that’s nothing to be ashamed about. But if you were believing that such sources would be THE answer to your success, ‘time for an attitude adjustment.

THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS OVER NIGHT SUCCESS

The only way to achieve success is by planning your work and working your plan. And that’s much easier said than done. On and off the Internet.

Don’t believe the hype that it’s “easy”, to achieve financial independence and monetary success via the Internet. It’s not. In fact, it may very well be even more difficult to make a successful go of it on the Internet as opposed to in the “real”, world. Mostly because doing business on the Internet is still a relatively unknown quantity. Whereas in the “real”, world there are established ways of building a business and even well established businesses built upon helping others build a business.

Sure there are scores of websites designed to encourage you to start building your own business on the Internet, but – There are so many different attitudes and approaches towards doing so that it’s quite overwhelming and hard to know which ones really work.

There have been many people who have lost everything because of following a certain “guaranteed”, path of creating a successful business on the Internet.

Best advice – Don’t spend one thin dime or even attempt to start your own business on the Internet until you’ve taken a good deal of time and done extensive research of what’s being presented as THE way to achieve success on the Internet.

And if you do achieve a state where you believe that you know what will work for you – Be prepared to work, work, work. Establishing and maintaining a viable business on the Internet is no free or easy ride.

And if you work in the “real” world, here’s the real deal -

To achieve success from/with/in any position, the first steps you can take are to be at work every day, on time and to agree, without question, to do whatever is asked of you.

Of course, you shouldn’t do anything unethical, but in today’s work world, it’s very rare that an employer would even suggest such. Too much corruption and unethical behavior has been exposed and too many organizations have been established to protect people in the workplace for this to be a common occurrence.

A key example of practicing a positive attitude and approach regarding your work position: Consider your employer, all the way to the top position, as a person instead of, “THE MAN”. A person, just like you, who had to start somewhere, learn the ropes and make the climb to where they are.

Then, take a look at the big picture and ask yourself just how much you know to be able to run a company with all its complexities, right down to the process of hiring you.

If you consider your superiors as people who have not only earned their positions, but as people who have to continue to earn their positions, which involves a great deal more than your position, you’ll find that your attitude and approach towards them and consequently, the experience of working with them, will improve exponentially.

So what we’re talking about here is learning to adjust your own attitude and approach to become an asset to your workplace, which will naturally benefit you. And by being an asset, those who are in positions to help you advance within the workplace will be more likely to do so.

If you add to this mix a willingness to go the extra step, by volunteering at least your enthusiasm to learn more, do more, then you really will get noticed and yes, promoted, to the level of your incompetence, as the joke goes.

See, most people become their own worst enemy within the workplace because of their lackluster attitude and approach. Instead of looking for ways that they can keep their days at work at least interesting, if not exciting, which just naturally leads to advancements, they start watching the clock, goofing off, calling off sick and generally start seeing their position as a dead end job.

That’s not to say that there aren’t times when work positions truly are dead ends, but again, with a better attitude and approach, one can at least make the best of it, and begin looking for another position that may be more satisfying.

There are several important benefits of making the most of your current work position while seeking another:

1) It’s a fact that it’s much easier to find new employment when you’re already employed.

And -

2) It will allow you to give a two week notice, which is regarded as a common courtesy within the work world. Doing so will allow you to leave one position with a positive reference, and prove to your new employer that your attitude and approach is about doing the right thing.

NO ONE NEED BELIEVE THEY ARE STUCK IN A DEAD END JOB

Even if you’re someone who has been at the same workplace without feeling like you’re on the “fast track”, to improving your lot, but you believe it’s better to have a steady job than risk unemployment because you do have responsibilities – Take a good, hard, long look at your attitude and approach towards your work position and start thinking in terms of what YOU can do to improve it, instead of lamenting how it’s lacking.

But, if your efforts do not improve your position, start sending out resumes. Believe it or not, employers of other companies, especially if they’re in competition with your current employer, love to “steal”, away a long time employee. Such a transition usually is just what you need to achieve the advancements you had been seeking.

Then we have the relatively rare individual whose attitude and approach has been to actively participate within their workplace while “absorbing”, everything they could until they achieve a state of self confidence that leads them to believe they have what it takes to strike out on their own.

It may be with an improved product/service based on their previous work experience, or it may be based on solid research of an idea for a product/service they have happened upon for which they believe there is a need and one they believe they can market.

These individuals have definitely chosen the road less traveled – If it was easy, everyone would be doing it.

For those of us on the sidelines, all we can do is support them however we can, to help them achieve success.

Whatever path you’re on with regards to the world of work, bottom line – Success doesn’t discriminate. It’s equally available to everyone, regardless of age or sex. You have only to cultivate and practice the hard won lessons learned by those before you and always be looking for opportunities to improve.

If you’re serious about achieving success in your workplace, as an employer, an employee or as someone who is self employed, do a little research and discover the resource specifically created to help you understand the work world and how it works, from all sides.

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Bosses have a way of rubbing us the wrong way. As nice as it would be to open a can of Jedi punishment on them, most of us usually take the more civilized route, which usually involves continuing to laugh at their unfunny jokes, kiss their butts, and gripe about them to our co-workers.

In this video, the Emperor’s latest Sith apprentice Herbert, a lowly, socially challenged programmer, goes to the Dark Side when his boss goes too far. Boss haters throughout the world, this one’s for you. (Note: don’t read into this too much; we love our boss

If for some reason you cannot see the video below, go here: Star Wars Office Humor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have you ever started a new job and found that you and your co-workers were about as compatible as a fudge brownie in a VHS player? All of your attempts at humor were met by shocked glares and a faint chorus of crickets? All of the company propaganda seemed stupid to you but were gospel truth to everybody else? If so, I have good news: it wasn’t your fault. You were the unsuspecting victim of a culture clash.

No, I don’t mean nation-based cultures, like the ones we usually hear about. I’m talking about company cultures. You see, human beings, when they get into groups, can’t resist creating order. They need to have rules of behavior about what is okay to say, what isn’t, who’s in charge, etc. Over months and years, these rules all create a new culture. As it happens on some desert island in the Indian Ocean so it happens in the workplace.

To a great extent, a company’s culture will make or break your time there as an employee. If your personal culture is in conflict with the company culture, you will likely feel isolated and unappreciated. On the other hand, if your personal matches or complements the company culture, you can navigate the social scene of your office with ease.

How do you know what to look for in a company culture? Of course, part of it is figuring out what your personal culture is. Once you do that, the next step is to identify the culture of the company you are interested in, preferrably before you become an employee there. To help you in both of these steps, I have provided the following list of commonly seen cultures. Most people will find that they are a little of two or three of these. Some will find that they fit squarely in one. Check it out and see where you fit:

1. Adhocracy – If you know about companies like Google and Pixar, then you may be familiar with this culture. Adhocracies thrive on innovation, creativity, and lack of rules and structure. They tend to come up with the next big thing but at the risk of wasting resources on fruitless ventures.

These companies can be maddening for those who crave routine, order, and stability but great for those who hate such things. If you love looking for the next breakthrough and can’t stand doing the same thing every day, the adhocracy culture is a good fit for you. Alot of tech companies fit into this category.

2. Clan – This culture places its bets on the power of people. Their mantra is "Happy employees make great companies." Therefore, everything in the company revolves around team-building and training. Be ready for lots of trust falls, cheesy handholding activities, and group hugs.

Those who find warm and fuzzy moments to be uncomfortable, and ultimately a waste of time, might want to steer clear of Clan cultures. If you go to work for the people you work with and things you can accomplish together, however, you might just belong in the Clan culture.

3. Heirarchy – These cultures thrive on rules and structure. They gain efficiencies by making things run as mechanically as possible. Power, policies, and processes are all detailed ad nauseum. In fact, a lack of rules, processes, and goals makes Heirarchy people very uncomfortable.

It should be plain to see that Adhocracy people will probably not succeed at a Heirarchy as they are polar opposites. Clan people tend to view Heirarchies as cold and impersonal. Heirarchies are often larger corporations or engineering-based firms.

4. Competitive – The opposite of the Clan culture, Competitive companies value the goal, the win, and performance over the people. Bringing home a victory matters most here. Employees who can’t cut the mustard generally get canned quick. Investment banks, sales companies, and sports teams are good examples of Competitive cultures. Competitive cultures can inadvertently promote cheating (i.e. Enron), backstabbing, and a resistance to cooperation. Whatever it takes to be on top.

Obviously, Clan people are appalled by the sharky ways of the Competitive culture and its narrow focus on results. However, the Competitive culture can be unappealing to Adhocracy folks as well.

Most companies are a combination of two or more of these. The best thing you can do before taking your next job is finding out what kind of culture they have and deciding whether you fit in or not.