The new attitude to work

Some years ago, i had a realisation which till today i still subscribe to it and still believe it is the right attitude towards work.. especially if you are working for other people. Here it goes:

"Work as if you are going to stay forever, but plan as if you are going to leave tomorrow."

So, do you think it has some truth? Somehow it makes me feel more fulfilled, kept me busy & moving forward, and not rest on my laurels.

While some may think it's a bit of a conflicting mindset, it is precisely this. If you have read my post on holding two conflicting ideas or thoughts, you will know what i mean. But seriously, i looked at it as a balanced mindset instead. A positive one and one having the right attitude.

What do you say?

Stay positive @work

3 Ps & getting a life. Ref: Straits Times pg R32.

How do you counteract negativity in your workplan.

1st P - is it personal?
When your boss is in a bad mood & scolded you the whole morning.. When one of your seemingly neutral comments became the focal point of an argument, it may have nothing to do with you. They're just in bad mood and u happen to be there. When your boss comment abt the poor results, he may be talking abt the process or external factors beyond your control, and not abt your poor management skills.
In fact, in most cases, people are more worried about themselves and more interested about themselves than you. It's sad but true.

2nd P - is it permanent?
"This too shall pass" expression is so true! And "there's light at the end of the tunnel". It almost always happen. ;-)
Just look back at your life and you know that somehow you will just get out of a tight situation.
Like life itself, nothing stays permanent. So dont worry so much. All shall pass.

3rd P - is it the big picture?
"What's the worst scenarios?" ask yourself. In most or all cases, you wont die because of it. At most, you loose your job. That's all. And most of the time, it's not that bad afterall..

Get a life.
Work is not the only thing/task in life. Balance your life with work, friends, hobbies and family. Dont keep thinking about work all the time. I'm a victim of this too.. i always think abt my work.. so i'm still learning as well.. Have to keep reminding myself once in a while.. That's whu i'm writing it on my blog here.. ;-)

How to have a happy work life?

Are u happy at work? Do u complaint about your management, colleagues or work itself? Do you find that your boss is a tyrant , a weakling or even a fool? Do u feel frustrated at work?

Sometimes u wonder if u will ever find an ideal workplace.. and a good, understanding and knowledgeable boss. But after working for more than a couple of companies later, you probably have lost hope.

Is the situation really that bad? Perhaps not so bad.. if only u made an effort to change something..

I will share an approach that might work for u.. it works for me though.. But before i begin, i must say that it only works for people who are proactive. Passive ones need a different antidote. U need to take action to make improvements.

1. Acknowledge your present situation. You must cross the first hurdle by accepting your current situation no matter how bad it is. Dont let your pride get the better of you. Face it squarely as if you are laying down all your cards on the table - list down all those things you dont like. Examine them.

2. Understand work life. Understand life. Recognise that there are few workplace that's ideal. Most people will live thru their lives working in places they dont like - either they hate the job, the boss or their colleagues.. Identify those things you can change. And those you cant change. Be honest with yourself.

3. Learning and growth is the key. If looking for the ideal workplace is almost impossible or requires lots of luck, what should i do? Well, u can first start by changing your mindset. Change your focus to Learning & Growth instead! This focus serves to add value to yourself and your self worth. It divert your attention to worthwhile matters. By means of learning, i really mean improving your knowledge in your work matters. By means of growth, i mean personal development - soft skills such as communication and project/time management. It can also include characters such as being helpful, caring and compassionate. Spiritual aspect may be looked into as well. Once you have gained value, you wont be afraid of loosing your job, moving on to your next job or even start your own business. Treat every bad situation a learning opportunity. U will move on with life anyway.. so, learn from it and move on..

4. Review your situation. Now that you know your new focus - new mindset, you need to relook at those stuff you placed on the table in step 1 and 2.. By now, you would probably have better insights to which you can do to effect change and which you cant. And what you need to do to enhance your learning & growth.

5. Take action now! Ask yourself everyday what you've done today that is keeping you a step forward towards your goal(s). That should be a good check point. A little step each day is a giant step in a year! Good luck! ;-)