Reputation Building 101: Good work ethic

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My father was a man of few words.  But when he spoke, boy, he definitely had some good stuff to say.

When it came to the World-of-Work, he told my brothers and me that there were a few rules to follow when we eventually got jobs:
1.  Go when you're scheduled to work.  Even if you don't feel like it.  Your employer and co-workers depend on you being there.
2.  Arrive well before you have to clock-in.  Give yourself plenty of travel time in case you get a flat tire, or traffic gets backed up.
3.  Give all you've got to the work you're doing, because what you're producing is important to someone.
4.  Be nice to the secretaries, janitors and the cafeteria ladies.  If you are, you'll never have a problem at work because they're the ones who really run the place.
5.  Mind your manners.  You never know who you're talking to.
6.  Look like something.

These pearls of wisdom may sound dated, given the entitled attitudes I frequently am exposed to, but they are as relevant today as they were many years ago.

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Pop lived these rules all the years he worked as a milkman for several local dairies, and later as a master journeyman carpenter for the National Park Service.  His uniform was always perfect. He left an hour early to make sure he got to work on time, and stayed late if something needed to be finished.  He'd go to work even when he didn't feel well; I can remember him staying home from work on only two occasions:  when his best friend died, and when my youngest brother was born.  I heard him call his boss "Sir" and all of the ladies in the office "Ma'am."

After he retired, he always spoke of his work with fondness and great pride.  He knew he did the best job he could, and made his employer look good...the goal for every dedicated, engaged and successful employee.

A good work ethic is essential for crafting a good reputation, and will take you farther in your career than you can imagine...if you follow Pop's simple rules.


(c) Robyn King. All Rights Reserved.