To be able to dance like a DI ( dance instructor ) is one of
my dreams. One night, a DI revealed to me that he started with only three steps of cha-cha. He was a rookie when he first entered a ballroom and was intimidated by the other DIs whose “ feet
were kicking in the air. “ I realized that even these spectacular performers
were not as great in the beginning.
We all go through a test before we earn respect for our
work. Don’t mind the more senior
officemates who look down on the noobs. It’s only a matter of time for you to
rise above them. For example, a younger creative person who used to report to
me one day became my boss !
But how high can we really go ?
I once attended a talk by John Maxwell, world famous leadership guru. He said that
people are either ducks or eagles. He was sure that no matter how you train and
encourage them, ducks will always be ducks and good only for duck duties. So he
suggested that we “hire eagles and let them soar. “
In 1896, Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto discovered that
80% of Italian lands were owned by 20% of the population. He also observed that
20% of the pea pods in his garden contained 80% of the peas.
Today, believers of the “Pareto Principle” are convinced
that 20% of employees contribute 80% of the business, 20% of the employees
produce 80% of the company’s best works and so on. The "80-20 rule" estimates that an office’s
elite is roughly 20% of its population.
In the book Good to
Great, John Collins wrote that “good is the enemy of great,” ( which was also expressed by the
Philosopher Voltaire about 2 centuries earlier. ) Collins lamented that in any category of things and people there are only a few great ones because we are easily satisfied by a lot of the good.
I do not know if I am in the top 20% of our
company. In my profession, maybe I'm just good and not great. I cannot give you any advice
on how to be great. But I will encourage you to prove to yourself that you're an eagle, not a
duck.
To improve your standing in the office, here are some things
that I suggest you remember :
1.
Choose a career that you are really good at and so
passionate about. Without the natural gift and the interest, you are in the wrong job.
2.
Dedicate your job to somebody or something. They
will give meaning to your work and keep you motivated even when discouraging
events happen.
3.
Keep on learning. Keep on building your arsenal.
If you only know what you know after 3 years, you are already stagnating.
4.
Idolize the best guys in the office. Study how
they think and do things.
5.
If the boss gives you a special assignment,
don’t refuse even if you have to stay up late a few nights or work on some
weekends. These are opportunities to learn and also to show your boss what good
things you can do.
The most successful career persons I know worked with zeal.
They always took the extra mile to make their output unique and special. They refused to be daunted by challenges.
They remind me of a quote from the legendary Michael Jordan : “ Heart is what
separates the good from the great. “
Maxwell doubted that a duck can turn into an eagle. But I
learned a few nights ago that the DI was so passionate about his work, he practiced
with fervor and transformed himself from a caterpillar into a butterfly.
If you have concerns about your job or if you wish to
suggest a topic, you may email me at rglabayen@gmail.com
I would assume that you’re giving me permission to
publish your email ( if chosen) and my reply. Your identity will not be
disclosed.
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