A Question that Made Me Think
I recently saw a post on LinkedIn asking this question:
What 3 words would you say to a new graduate entering the workforce today?
Interesting question. The posting had over 1,000 answers when I saw it. I started reading the answers and realized just how screwed up we are. This is the way the answered were “trending.” About 50 percent went something like this:
- Never give up. (I have spoken a lot about this: Dumb advice. If it isn’t working, give up and find something that does.)
- Be yourself. (More dumb advice. What if you’re stupid or incompetent or a jerk? Be a good employee instead even if that’s not you, pretend it is.)
- Trust your instincts. (Not good advice either since few people have been raised to have good instincts. For this crowd, how about “listen to boss”??)
- Find your passion. (Dumb advice again. What if you find it? Then what are you going to do with it?)
Besides, you weren’t hired by your new employer to find your passion, you were hired to do a job. This job probably has a job description and I bet you no where in the job description does it say anything about YOUR passion. Just do the job and be damn good at it and your new employer will become passionate about keeping you as an employee.
There were also about 10 percent that went like this:
- Leave at 5. (Obviously from a top performer don’t you think?)
- Learn to hide. (I can spot this guy every time, can’t you?)
- Welcome to hell. (I can hear this employee from where I’m sitting.)
- Break the rules. (Yeah, New Hire try that and let’s see how long you last.)
The other 40 percent were pretty good.
- Learn and earn.
- Save. Save. Save. (I liked that one.)
- Always be reliable.
- Work. Work. Work.
- Save then spend. (Another good one.)
I also found it interesting that the task was to use THREE words, yet I bet 75% of the responses were far longer than 3 words. How about these three words: Learn to count.
Here’s what I realized:
- 50% are caught up in the airy-fairy-woo-woo-unicorns-puppy dog world of following your bliss, being happy all the time and the world of emotional satisfaction. If things don’t go their way or if they aren’t happy at every moment, then they want someone to compensate them. (Guess it’s a good thing Amazon will do that for you: don’t like your job? Here’s a check for $5K)
- 10% are ignorant slackers looking for a place to hide out and not work. They should be fired. Better yet, they should have been discovered during a rigorous interview process and never hired to begin with. Go back home and sleep on your momma and daddy’s couch because they created and enabled your lazy butt.
- 40% are good folks who go to work, do a good job, save their money, do the right thing and understand that it’s called work for a reason.
This is society. The good hardworking folks are in the minority. Until we change these percentages around, we are screwed.
What 3 words would you suggest? (Warning, answer with more than 3 words and watch me have a field day with you!)
Read Larry Winget.
learn, earn, truth-Learn your job, it is not a passion it is a job that provides for you and your family, Earn your money-pay-points whatever you are working for but earn it, No cheating or stealing time or money or being a dick to customers or co-workers, remember you are working towards your goals and they are working towards there’s and the company want’s you to work towards it’s goal, Truth-always tell it, not as you ‘think’ it is but as the facts are-its hard to do but is doable, if you screw up accept the responsibility and keep your integrity.
Work. Save. Plan.
Focus on Competence – The competent will be rare in the coming generation. The every Timmy Gets a Trophy crowd are easily lead and will hunger even more for leadership. The public schools are narrowing the field of competition nicely for those recognize it.
Goal. Plan. Action.
Pay yourself first.
LEARN
WORK
SAVE
Learn what you’ve been trained to do, learn from the best in your chosen business. Work your ass off, be the first in and the last out.. and start early to save money, you may need it for your own business… I wish I had saved some back then 😉
DO THE WORK!
NEVER.STOP.LEARNING.
Create value. Repeat.
Do your best.
Learn, Earn, Return.
Never quit improving.
Earn your pay
produce, serve, create
Make money work.
Do not suck.
Learn from mentors
strive for excellence.
exceed company’s goals
DON’T KNOW? ASK!
Never stop learning!
To quote you – Grow a pair!
More people do need to.
Today Not Tomorrow
preparation eliminates chaos
Add value daily
Kick butt daily.
become goto employee
contribute maximum daily
Jump right in.
Never give up!
Excellence, accountability, timliness
Attendance, Appearance, Attitude.
we succeed together
ready for anything
life is work
avoid negative coworkers
Excel. Save. Learn.
develop adapt shine
embrace change positively
Continue to Grow.
Continue to educate yourself – reading (technical, self-improvemnt, or other non-fiction material),
attending seminars/courses, etc.
Grow personally – challenge yourself – get out of your comfort zone, network with people
Grow your net worth – save, invest, and create a reserve (prepare for down times)
use Larry’s wisdom
Take a job.
Make a Difference
Create Meaningful Value…or Duck Your Head!
I REALLY like yours..
You’re not entitled!
Focus, Add Value
Maximize your output,
Problem solving approach,
Take full responsibility,
Eager to learn,
Ambition to succeed
HIT – Honesty, Integrity, Timely
Drink a beer!
Save your money.
It takes time.
To succeed: focus
Learn to count
Build your integrity
Learn, earn, play
BUST YOUR ASS
Do your job.
Study personal development
Work on yourself
Honor Your Word
quiet, work, save
Get to work!
Know your values.
Know what is important to you, so you can figure out what you want out of life, and don’t expect anyone else can give it to you, but you.
You can succeed at something you value if you are disciplined, willing to learn, deal with failure, have courage and are persistent. There are no guarantees, but life is far too short to be mediocre, and there are enough people competing with you.
Showing up is not enough. There is far too much competition for that. Even if you do something you have personal interest in or the talent for, it will not always be sunshine and rainbows. If there is a meaning behind your work beyond scraping by, the possibility exists to be and do more.
Sure, work is work regardless of what you do, but it doesn’t have to be a four letter word.
Stop, look and listen!
“Suck it up.”
PAY YOURSELF FIRST
Get it done.
Decide, Plan, Sacrifice.
Learn to sell
I like it!
ABOVE AND BEYOND!
Always be punctual
Improve every day
Commit to commitments
Save, Invest, Donate.
Strive, Thrive, Survive
Work all the time you work. Develop a reputation for being the hardest worker.
Good point but more than 3 words!
NO SITTING!
NO MISSING!
NO SPENDING!
Do your best
Engage, focus, listen
save your money!!!!!!!!!
Key to Personal Success – Share your knowledge with others – “Learn, Practice and Teach”
APPEAR
ENGAGE
CONTRIBUTE
CREATE – INSPIRE – EVOLVE
Desire discipline determination
Integrity, accountability, persistence
Integrity, Accountability, Persistence
Never accept mediocrity.
Make it Your Passion. (sorry, over three word limit…..)
Learn, Work, Improve
Prepare, Focus, Execute! (Repeat)
Honesty, Integrity,Reliability.
avoid stupid people ( I guess larry could have said that ! )
follow Larry Winget