Going on the road with a band in the mid 1990's was, for me, an eye-opening experience. I met people from so many cities and towns and learned a few things about how strangers are treated. As a touring musician, you are pretty much always an outsider and that can be a good thing or a bad thing. Here is some of what I learned:
1) Nobody takes you seriously unless:
a) they've seen you on TV OR
b) you perform well on stage
If you haven't got either of these two things going for you, expect to be treated like 'any other band'. Sometimes that means being treated like dirt. In some cases, you will meet somebody who hasn't yet seen you perform, so they don't treat you very well until after you impress them by performing well. Negotiating is better done on the phone before the show!
2) People judge rock musicians the moment they lay eyes on them.
Rock musicians often dress 'showy' even off the stage. It is a part of their identity and they are comfortable with it. They rarely wear blue jeans with t-shirts tucked into them because it's too normal. Also, dark colors are preferred. My band was in Calgary on one occasion and there were a few cowboys who were openly rude and not afraid to make loud comments.
Older people often look at young musicians as broke sofa-surfers who can't handle a real job. That is, until they see you on TV, then everything is good. They just don't want to see you on the way. If they do, they might suggest you take up a profitable trade and save the guitar for the weekends. I lived that for many years and I can't stress how uncomfortable I felt when people didn't take me seriously.
3) If a homeless person asks for a baloney sandwich near a water treatment plant in Seattle, just give them one and they'll probably go away.
If there is nobody else around and you run into a hungry hustler while you are sharing the rations with your band mates, the best thing to do is share your food. It's only baloney, anyway.
4) If you are angry at your band mates, your show will probably suffer as a result.
From my experiences outlined above, I learned how to better treat people and understand any outsiders I meet. New people should feel at home, no matter what the situation.
- Buck Moore
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Stepping Outside (Yourself, That Is)
I have always believed that if a person could see the way they acted from another perspective, they would probably modify their behavior based on 'what others might see'. But, because we can't see ourselves from that view, we are often unaware of what we look like in front of others.
On a day to day basis, this might not be a big deal, but when people start treating each other poorly, it is a big deal, especially in a work environment where co-workers are supposed to be allies, not enemies. It's so easy to see how productivity can be compromised when people don't get along.
Just last week, I was at a conference about 'managing change' in the public sector. One of the remarks made by the chairperson of the event was that if a person is aware of their behaviors, they are more likely to change them. She is a very well educated professional with amazing credentials and I just felt good that I'm not the only one who believes in that. So, why do people 'lose it' on others that they work with?
I am a firm believer in seeing myself as others may see me and also a firm believer in forward thinking, while limiting my impulsiveness. I can honestly say that the limiting of impulsive behavior is a skill just like anything else and that is why some people just 'don't have it'.
With reminders, positive meetings and workshops, managers and supervisors (and even employees) can learn how to use these two skills to benefit their companies and staff.
Two more tidbits I walked away with from that event:
"Question tradition. Why keep doing something just because it's always been done that way?"
"Front line managers are the key to sustainability (of a company or organization)"
- Buck Moore
On a day to day basis, this might not be a big deal, but when people start treating each other poorly, it is a big deal, especially in a work environment where co-workers are supposed to be allies, not enemies. It's so easy to see how productivity can be compromised when people don't get along.
Just last week, I was at a conference about 'managing change' in the public sector. One of the remarks made by the chairperson of the event was that if a person is aware of their behaviors, they are more likely to change them. She is a very well educated professional with amazing credentials and I just felt good that I'm not the only one who believes in that. So, why do people 'lose it' on others that they work with?
I am a firm believer in seeing myself as others may see me and also a firm believer in forward thinking, while limiting my impulsiveness. I can honestly say that the limiting of impulsive behavior is a skill just like anything else and that is why some people just 'don't have it'.
With reminders, positive meetings and workshops, managers and supervisors (and even employees) can learn how to use these two skills to benefit their companies and staff.
Two more tidbits I walked away with from that event:
"Question tradition. Why keep doing something just because it's always been done that way?"
"Front line managers are the key to sustainability (of a company or organization)"
- Buck Moore
Friday, April 17, 2009
The Most Inspirational Books (& tapes) I Have Ever Read (or Heard)
Finding inspiration to do something you've always wanted to do is quite easy. It can come from a good book, a bad movie, a tag-line on public transit advertising or even from innocent eavesdropping when people talk too loud in public.
When I needed a life change that included starting a better career, I gathered as much inspirational material as possible from my own collection, from the collection of others and from bookstores. Of course, these kinds of materials are generally in the 'self help' section, a section of a store that some people laugh at. I'm not crazy about the labeling either, but then I think that those who don't feel they need the help don't have to worry about what others are looking for, anyway, so I buy my material based on what I need.
Under the category of 'Inspirational Materials', I highly recommend the following for anybody who needs a change in life and career and are considering being self employed, either part time or full time:
Books and tapes I own or have owned:
"Think and Grow Rich" - by Napoleon Hill
"Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow" - by Marsha Sinetar
"The Entrepreneur's Audio Handbook" (tape) - by Dr. Richard Buskirk and Mack Davis
"The Science of Getting Rich" (tape) - read by Bob Proctor (from the book by Wallace D Wattles)
Quotes to memorize:
"Objections are those frightful things we see when we take our eyes off our goals." - anonymous
"Failure is the opportunity to more intelligently begin again." - Henry Ford
"You are the only problem you will ever have and you are the only solution. Change is inevitable, personal growth is always a personal decision." - Bob Proctor
"Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success." - Dale Carnegie
Definitions:
"Perseverance - to persist in a state, enterprise or undertaking in spite of counter-influence, opposition or discouragement."
Books I have on my list:
"Personal Balance Sheet - A Practical Career Planning Guide" - by Randall M. Craig (I have seen him speak in person and he has some great ideas in his message, so I got the book and have read much of it so far - there is a lot of information inside)
"It's Not About the Money" - by Bob Proctor (seriously, this guy is great. Sure, I liked the famous movie, which I won't mention here because it has too much publicity anyway, but he always says some very inspiring stuff.)
Many of these inspirational people have one core message about what success means and even though the word 'rich' comes into play, it does not necessarily always refer to chasing the money. The message is simple - do what you are passionate about for your life's work and everything else will fall into place. If you do the work, it'll happen and there's nothing 'get rich quick' about it. That's a fallacy. It's about persevering, but intelligently.
- Buck Moore
When I needed a life change that included starting a better career, I gathered as much inspirational material as possible from my own collection, from the collection of others and from bookstores. Of course, these kinds of materials are generally in the 'self help' section, a section of a store that some people laugh at. I'm not crazy about the labeling either, but then I think that those who don't feel they need the help don't have to worry about what others are looking for, anyway, so I buy my material based on what I need.
Under the category of 'Inspirational Materials', I highly recommend the following for anybody who needs a change in life and career and are considering being self employed, either part time or full time:
Books and tapes I own or have owned:
"Think and Grow Rich" - by Napoleon Hill
"Do What You Love, The Money Will Follow" - by Marsha Sinetar
"The Entrepreneur's Audio Handbook" (tape) - by Dr. Richard Buskirk and Mack Davis
"The Science of Getting Rich" (tape) - read by Bob Proctor (from the book by Wallace D Wattles)
Quotes to memorize:
"Objections are those frightful things we see when we take our eyes off our goals." - anonymous
"Failure is the opportunity to more intelligently begin again." - Henry Ford
"You are the only problem you will ever have and you are the only solution. Change is inevitable, personal growth is always a personal decision." - Bob Proctor
"Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success." - Dale Carnegie
Definitions:
"Perseverance - to persist in a state, enterprise or undertaking in spite of counter-influence, opposition or discouragement."
Books I have on my list:
"Personal Balance Sheet - A Practical Career Planning Guide" - by Randall M. Craig (I have seen him speak in person and he has some great ideas in his message, so I got the book and have read much of it so far - there is a lot of information inside)
"It's Not About the Money" - by Bob Proctor (seriously, this guy is great. Sure, I liked the famous movie, which I won't mention here because it has too much publicity anyway, but he always says some very inspiring stuff.)
Many of these inspirational people have one core message about what success means and even though the word 'rich' comes into play, it does not necessarily always refer to chasing the money. The message is simple - do what you are passionate about for your life's work and everything else will fall into place. If you do the work, it'll happen and there's nothing 'get rich quick' about it. That's a fallacy. It's about persevering, but intelligently.
- Buck Moore
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
How to Create a Great Business Card
Concepts of What a Business Card Is
A business card is a small, printed piece of thick paper with information about you and your company or services. Although I am not telling you something you do not already know, people can sometimes get all wacky with the design and miss the point of what that card is supposed to do. There are numerous studies on the internet and in business books and magazines about what the most effective business cards should look like, but I just follow a basic set of guidelines when designing a new one - guidelines which make the final card effective, not just pretty.
I think technology is great. When I first saw an electronic business card in the shape of a small CD with it's sides shaved off, I thought: "Wow! This is pretty cool!" You could put your whole resume and website on one of these, and maybe a few small videos. Then, I thought about it and I decided against the idea. The reasons were simple - a) people often lose business cards, b) electronic information is almost never finished (ie; never perfect and thus continually modified), c) I can't carry as many CDR's as I can paper business cards, d) I could simply print a traditional card and direct people to my website for updated information, e) Those tiny CDR's don't work with some disc trays (like sideways trays or Mac-style trays where the cards get 'sucked in').
Even with the argument that it depends on the industry and some people are better off with nifty new electronics cards, bear in mind that all novelties wear off eventually (stereo, 3-D, surround sound, cabbage patch kids, etc). Nothing replaces a well-designed paper business card.
Initial Design of the Card
I suggest doing a mock-up of the card with cut and paste methods, either on a computer or with actual paper. Do a few of these and look around at what other people have. Compare, compare, compare. Write ten different tag lines, if you want a tag line, and try a few different fonts and colors. Be sure to make a version of the card at normal business card size so you can check that the text can be read. In some industries, the text should be a little bigger and clearer, depending on who will be looking at it.
Stay away from tiny, fancy fonts because when people want information, they want it fast. I usually choose a sans serif font like Arial (I know, boring, right?) or Humanist 521, Calibri or something that has a bit of style, but can be read small. I like to add a logo or picture and keep the colors the same as all other promo stationary so the brand is consistent. Make sure it works, it doesn't have to catch the eye like a magic fireball, but it should look very well designed.
I don't believe a person must get a card professionally designed, unless they just don't want to bother creating one. I prefer to do mock-ups, wait a few days while I ponder the card and overall message, then consider changes, then fine tune it.
Fine Tuning the Card
In this stage, you have decided on the best design for you, maybe you have let others look at it (a good idea, don't fall in love with everything yet!) and now you are ready to commit to a design. Fine tuning is like the final edit - check each and every word for typos!!! Let others look over it to see if words or phrases are used correctly and that they are in proper context. Let them tell you if they think it makes you look like a hack or even too ostentatious with a glorification of all your top achievements emblazoned across the top.
Ensure any pictures are exposed well and sharpened if they need to be. A 3/4 angle works very well for a publicity shot (profiles don't work and frontal face shots show no depth to a face). Make sure any logos are high enough resolution so they will look good when printed. Small jpegs look fuzzy, even when made small.
Avoid printing free email accounts and websites, if at all possible. It looks cheap. Buy a domain name, even if you are hosting somewhere else, and you should get a free email account with it. Redirect your URL to wherever your web page is and consider 'masking' it, so your URL always shows when a person goes from page to page.
Printing the Card
I prefer to use online services for printing because I get great deals often. I also wait for specials so I can take advantage of free offers like glossy front (I always use glossy fronts, they look great) or free shipping. I get 250 at a time so I am not stuck with an outdated design.
I find computer-printed cards are always cheap-looking because of the fuzzy edges, misalignment or spotty ink. If you have created an electronic version of the business card image for printing, check to make sure the image will fit on the card properly. Ensure you have enough edge space for color bleed. I choose to do WYSIWYG designs online at Vistaprint.ca and I usually always use white as a background so I have no 'bleed' issues.
Get a Card Holder
Nothing looks worse than a dog-eared business card with slight soiling on the surface. A nice card holder will guarantee a perfect card handed out every time. It says something about you.
Evolution of Your Business Card
If you are a freelancer, artist, musician, etc, chances are your card design will evolve. Creative types are never satisfied, so go for small orders until you are confident enough to stick with a design long enough to justify ordering 1,000 cards at a time. You may get a new website, new publicity shot, logo, tag line or whatever, and want to get some new cards because it is exciting. And, if you run out of new cards, you can still use the old ones a back-up!
Hope this helps!!! By the way, here is an example of my newest card for public speaking:
The right side, middle, is blank, so a person can hold it and not cover up information. The edges are white, the text is readable and my address is on the back, not front. The logo was around 150 dpi, which shrunk down very nicely. It's simple, bright and the front is glossy, so the pictures and logos stand out better. I also chose to crop the photo (like a movie frame) and put a black border on it to separate it from the text.
- Buck Moore
A business card is a small, printed piece of thick paper with information about you and your company or services. Although I am not telling you something you do not already know, people can sometimes get all wacky with the design and miss the point of what that card is supposed to do. There are numerous studies on the internet and in business books and magazines about what the most effective business cards should look like, but I just follow a basic set of guidelines when designing a new one - guidelines which make the final card effective, not just pretty.
I think technology is great. When I first saw an electronic business card in the shape of a small CD with it's sides shaved off, I thought: "Wow! This is pretty cool!" You could put your whole resume and website on one of these, and maybe a few small videos. Then, I thought about it and I decided against the idea. The reasons were simple - a) people often lose business cards, b) electronic information is almost never finished (ie; never perfect and thus continually modified), c) I can't carry as many CDR's as I can paper business cards, d) I could simply print a traditional card and direct people to my website for updated information, e) Those tiny CDR's don't work with some disc trays (like sideways trays or Mac-style trays where the cards get 'sucked in').
Even with the argument that it depends on the industry and some people are better off with nifty new electronics cards, bear in mind that all novelties wear off eventually (stereo, 3-D, surround sound, cabbage patch kids, etc). Nothing replaces a well-designed paper business card.
Initial Design of the Card
I suggest doing a mock-up of the card with cut and paste methods, either on a computer or with actual paper. Do a few of these and look around at what other people have. Compare, compare, compare. Write ten different tag lines, if you want a tag line, and try a few different fonts and colors. Be sure to make a version of the card at normal business card size so you can check that the text can be read. In some industries, the text should be a little bigger and clearer, depending on who will be looking at it.
Stay away from tiny, fancy fonts because when people want information, they want it fast. I usually choose a sans serif font like Arial (I know, boring, right?) or Humanist 521, Calibri or something that has a bit of style, but can be read small. I like to add a logo or picture and keep the colors the same as all other promo stationary so the brand is consistent. Make sure it works, it doesn't have to catch the eye like a magic fireball, but it should look very well designed.
I don't believe a person must get a card professionally designed, unless they just don't want to bother creating one. I prefer to do mock-ups, wait a few days while I ponder the card and overall message, then consider changes, then fine tune it.
Fine Tuning the Card
In this stage, you have decided on the best design for you, maybe you have let others look at it (a good idea, don't fall in love with everything yet!) and now you are ready to commit to a design. Fine tuning is like the final edit - check each and every word for typos!!! Let others look over it to see if words or phrases are used correctly and that they are in proper context. Let them tell you if they think it makes you look like a hack or even too ostentatious with a glorification of all your top achievements emblazoned across the top.
Ensure any pictures are exposed well and sharpened if they need to be. A 3/4 angle works very well for a publicity shot (profiles don't work and frontal face shots show no depth to a face). Make sure any logos are high enough resolution so they will look good when printed. Small jpegs look fuzzy, even when made small.
Avoid printing free email accounts and websites, if at all possible. It looks cheap. Buy a domain name, even if you are hosting somewhere else, and you should get a free email account with it. Redirect your URL to wherever your web page is and consider 'masking' it, so your URL always shows when a person goes from page to page.
Printing the Card
I prefer to use online services for printing because I get great deals often. I also wait for specials so I can take advantage of free offers like glossy front (I always use glossy fronts, they look great) or free shipping. I get 250 at a time so I am not stuck with an outdated design.
I find computer-printed cards are always cheap-looking because of the fuzzy edges, misalignment or spotty ink. If you have created an electronic version of the business card image for printing, check to make sure the image will fit on the card properly. Ensure you have enough edge space for color bleed. I choose to do WYSIWYG designs online at Vistaprint.ca and I usually always use white as a background so I have no 'bleed' issues.
Get a Card Holder
Nothing looks worse than a dog-eared business card with slight soiling on the surface. A nice card holder will guarantee a perfect card handed out every time. It says something about you.
Evolution of Your Business Card
If you are a freelancer, artist, musician, etc, chances are your card design will evolve. Creative types are never satisfied, so go for small orders until you are confident enough to stick with a design long enough to justify ordering 1,000 cards at a time. You may get a new website, new publicity shot, logo, tag line or whatever, and want to get some new cards because it is exciting. And, if you run out of new cards, you can still use the old ones a back-up!
Hope this helps!!! By the way, here is an example of my newest card for public speaking:
- Buck Moore
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Don't be Afraid of the Word 'Work'.
Work is often seen as a series of activities we get paid to do for somebody else. Although in many cases this is true, work really should be thought of as something we do for ourselves, whether or not somebody else is paying us to do it AND it can benefit others.
I see so many websites and TV ads that stress the concept of 'financial freedom' that anybody can learn so they can play golf, travel the world or sit on a beach and just comfortably enjoy the sun. All of this for a modest fee, of course.
If anybody could do it, why are most of us working? Would we not get bored of doing nothing on a beach with a golf club in our hand? If it were so easy to do, more of us would be doing it, but then, who would be working? I don't know about anybody else, but I like to keep active and have made my life's work and passion (and fun) a part of what I do every day, rather than do my time helping somebody else get wealthy.
With excess comfort comes apathy (and weight gain). I think it makes sense to find comfort when one needs comfort, but keep moving and not become too comfortable for too long a time or stagnation and entropy may develop.
I see so many websites and TV ads that stress the concept of 'financial freedom' that anybody can learn so they can play golf, travel the world or sit on a beach and just comfortably enjoy the sun. All of this for a modest fee, of course.
If anybody could do it, why are most of us working? Would we not get bored of doing nothing on a beach with a golf club in our hand? If it were so easy to do, more of us would be doing it, but then, who would be working? I don't know about anybody else, but I like to keep active and have made my life's work and passion (and fun) a part of what I do every day, rather than do my time helping somebody else get wealthy.
With excess comfort comes apathy (and weight gain). I think it makes sense to find comfort when one needs comfort, but keep moving and not become too comfortable for too long a time or stagnation and entropy may develop.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Living Vicariously (Through Yourself)!
When I was a lot younger, someone told me that they were accused of living vicariously through me. After I went to look up the word, I felt like that was the best compliment I could ever get. I also realized that I had never done that because I had always had plans which were much bigger than me and those plans dominated my daydreams.
In my experience, people often forget what they are trying to accomplish so they look around for something to accomplish. Many never see it. I believe I am a lateral thinker (rather than linear), which can carry with it problems of lack of focus. The focus gets better with each passing year, but then, there was always one general direction in which I was looking anyway.
I had overheard the term 'room with a view' when I was growing up; it was in songs and stories and on the tips of people's tongues. I wondered what the big deal was with a view. Maybe it had something to do with that other overused term 'big picture'. I haven't heard that one enough!
Big Picture? Look Closer!
An old friend of mine once told me I was lucky. He obviously didn't feel my personal struggles. He spent a lot of time wishing that he had had a different life with more opportunities. I told him to look out the window to see what opportunities he had been missing.In my experience, people often forget what they are trying to accomplish so they look around for something to accomplish. Many never see it. I believe I am a lateral thinker (rather than linear), which can carry with it problems of lack of focus. The focus gets better with each passing year, but then, there was always one general direction in which I was looking anyway.
I had overheard the term 'room with a view' when I was growing up; it was in songs and stories and on the tips of people's tongues. I wondered what the big deal was with a view. Maybe it had something to do with that other overused term 'big picture'. I haven't heard that one enough!
Big Picture? Look Closer!
He looked out the window and asked what he should be looking for. "The details", I said. "Just about every industry in the world is represented from simply looking out a window. Pick one!"
I looked out and I could see cars, clothing, lighting, glass windows, grass, concrete, bicycles, in-line skates, potato chips, health care, telephones, cell phones, purses, knapsacks and the list could go on forever. Plus, all of those things have their own collection of things we can't see, but we know they exist (we can imagine them!). "The trick...", I said, "...is to pick a couple of related things and focus on them." Why see the big picture when you can focus on the details?
Creative Visualization & The Law of Attraction
There's nothing wrong with seeing yourself as who you want to be or believing that maintaining a positive mental attitude will inevitably bring you riches of some sort. Some people swear by The Secret (a lot of which had been written about in Think and Grow Rich many decades before) and others think it's a silly marketing idea because things can't just manifest themselves if you think about them hard enough.
As ethereal as the concept seems, though, I know for sure that we do become what we think about most. It doesn't just 'happen' out of thin air, but eventually it will manifest itself. So, it appears that the intangible concepts need to be paired with tangible actions in order to see them become fruitful.
There's nothing wrong with seeing yourself as who you want to be or believing that maintaining a positive mental attitude will inevitably bring you riches of some sort. Some people swear by The Secret (a lot of which had been written about in Think and Grow Rich many decades before) and others think it's a silly marketing idea because things can't just manifest themselves if you think about them hard enough.
As ethereal as the concept seems, though, I know for sure that we do become what we think about most. It doesn't just 'happen' out of thin air, but eventually it will manifest itself. So, it appears that the intangible concepts need to be paired with tangible actions in order to see them become fruitful.
Excitement can be fueled by words. I know, because I have read many ideas in books, magazines, websites and even a 'quote of the day' day-timer. I studied the most popular self-help gurus, the top philosophers, cosmology, business leaders and even some physicists. Way back in 1995, I needed something that I wasn't getting. I needed something electric.
I was looking for permission to expand beyond the fence I had set up around myself. Through a constant pursuit of knowledge over a period of a two and a half years, something finally clicked in me and I hit the ground running. All of that reading and studying paid off - it was like I was zapped by jumper cables that made me quickly take the fence apart and go down a road I had never been on before.
At every milestone, there stood an image of myself that I had once pondered, as if it were welcoming me to that point in my life. Heck, if I can dream it up and it becomes real, I haven't got time for living vicariously through others.
- Buck Moore
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Working for a Living? Revitalize Your Livelihood!
Most people I know work for a living. There are not a lot of folks out there paying bills and mortgages with no income - we must have money coming in, there is little choice about that. But how you create income is up to you. The trick about working for a living is to do something you want to do or fix what you are doing in order to get the most satisfaction from it. Because it is so easy to lose steam at work, even if what you work at is perceived to be a dream job, some revitalization is occasionally needed. Nobody wants to get sick of what they do, but it happens often.
Viral Office Attitudes
One thing to be aware of when losing steam is your immediate surroundings. If your attitude permeates to the extent of influencing others, they may take on a similar attitude. It's like when somebody brings a cold to the office and others get it. In the same way, people can take on a new attitude when they let their guard down, not just because it is 'in the air'. This is especially true when the person with the attitude problem is in a position of authority.
Work Isn't Hard if You Like What You're Doing
It's a difficult thing to feel trapped in a place of work when you really don't want to be there. It is even more difficult when your options for a change of scenery are burdened by recession, lack of motivation and fear of the unknown. Sometimes appreciation of a position comes only by comparison when you think: "It could be worse, I could be doing ________". The comparison can also come from actually quitting a job out of spite, going to work somewhere else, then asking for your old job back because you didn't realize how good you had it.
One excuse for the 'quit then get re-hired' scenario is that a person may only feel qualified to do what they know, so they 'stick it out' no matter how uncomfortable they get. Money is only one motivator in that kind of situation with the quality of the surroundings sometimes being more important. If the money is right and the surroundings are one-of-a-kind, work does not always seem like work, but a team effort to get things done in a fun way.
So, when somebody feels trapped, it is important for the person to think about the situation very rationally and create a plan to change it so they can get to a point where they actually like going in to work. This transition period can be tricky, however, as the person in question may cut a lot of corners and make their present business suffer as they daydream about their coveted position. That doesn't work well because why should somebody leave behind a mess for someone else to clean up?
Cleaning Up Your Mess
Whenever you leave a position, you leave something behind. That 'something' can be a system you had developed, a drawing on a napkin, a joke you used to tell or simply your way of doing things. Too often negative things are left behind such as a system nobody knew but you, angry customers, unfinished paperwork and the list goes on.
Remember, it's not about the job or the company all the time, it's about the people; it's about you. Why leave a mess for somebody else to clean up? That's inconsiderate with little chance of lingering respect being attached to your name. Even people we despise get respect because they did the right thing in their own way and that's something that is irrefutable, even if it wasn't to our advantage.
Not Just 'Work', 'Life's' Work
Adopting an attitude of 'life's work' or 'body of work' instead of merely 'work' (or 'job') can help revive the positive mental state originally brought in with a person to the work they were excited about in the first place.
"All things tend toward disorder" states the second law of thermodynamics. Entropy can happen everywhere and usually does, unless revitalization takes place now and then. This can mean a reinvention of oneself or one's position or career. With every revival comes excitement and that is the kind of excitement that should permeate through the air and be infectious to others.
Life's work should be difficult from time to time, like a battle. But, that would be the kind of battle from which it's worth showing off the scars.
- Buck Moore
Viral Office Attitudes
One thing to be aware of when losing steam is your immediate surroundings. If your attitude permeates to the extent of influencing others, they may take on a similar attitude. It's like when somebody brings a cold to the office and others get it. In the same way, people can take on a new attitude when they let their guard down, not just because it is 'in the air'. This is especially true when the person with the attitude problem is in a position of authority.
Work Isn't Hard if You Like What You're Doing
It's a difficult thing to feel trapped in a place of work when you really don't want to be there. It is even more difficult when your options for a change of scenery are burdened by recession, lack of motivation and fear of the unknown. Sometimes appreciation of a position comes only by comparison when you think: "It could be worse, I could be doing ________". The comparison can also come from actually quitting a job out of spite, going to work somewhere else, then asking for your old job back because you didn't realize how good you had it.
One excuse for the 'quit then get re-hired' scenario is that a person may only feel qualified to do what they know, so they 'stick it out' no matter how uncomfortable they get. Money is only one motivator in that kind of situation with the quality of the surroundings sometimes being more important. If the money is right and the surroundings are one-of-a-kind, work does not always seem like work, but a team effort to get things done in a fun way.
So, when somebody feels trapped, it is important for the person to think about the situation very rationally and create a plan to change it so they can get to a point where they actually like going in to work. This transition period can be tricky, however, as the person in question may cut a lot of corners and make their present business suffer as they daydream about their coveted position. That doesn't work well because why should somebody leave behind a mess for someone else to clean up?
Cleaning Up Your Mess
Whenever you leave a position, you leave something behind. That 'something' can be a system you had developed, a drawing on a napkin, a joke you used to tell or simply your way of doing things. Too often negative things are left behind such as a system nobody knew but you, angry customers, unfinished paperwork and the list goes on.
Remember, it's not about the job or the company all the time, it's about the people; it's about you. Why leave a mess for somebody else to clean up? That's inconsiderate with little chance of lingering respect being attached to your name. Even people we despise get respect because they did the right thing in their own way and that's something that is irrefutable, even if it wasn't to our advantage.
Not Just 'Work', 'Life's' Work
Adopting an attitude of 'life's work' or 'body of work' instead of merely 'work' (or 'job') can help revive the positive mental state originally brought in with a person to the work they were excited about in the first place.
"All things tend toward disorder" states the second law of thermodynamics. Entropy can happen everywhere and usually does, unless revitalization takes place now and then. This can mean a reinvention of oneself or one's position or career. With every revival comes excitement and that is the kind of excitement that should permeate through the air and be infectious to others.
Life's work should be difficult from time to time, like a battle. But, that would be the kind of battle from which it's worth showing off the scars.
- Buck Moore
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