These
are changing times for many employees. People are losing their
jobs, experiencing foreclosure on their loans and higher prices
for basic necessities. What can we do?
Sometimes, we just want to throw up our hands to the wind.
It’s inevitable that we will have good and bad days. On good
days, we tell ourselves to will keep a positive attitude and
continue to believe in ourselves do the networking we need
to do and everything will work out, but on bad days we get
sucked into negative thoughts and blame others for our troubles
such as; why can’t my union help…what about the government,
don’t they care…if only my wife would make more money?
So, what can we do to stay positive? The following three ideas
are meant to help you stay positive despite the turbulent
economy.
1. Focus on increasing your value
We earn a living based on our value, so how can we increase
our value? Again, we need to believe first we have value but
perhaps we need to look at other ways? Can I reduce my costs
in order to reduce expenses and increase my value? Maybe now
is the time to increase our training or cross train ourselves
into another career? Perhaps we need to market ourselves differently?
Take a look at your resume emphasizes your value.
How do you spend your free time? Are you using it to increase
your value? Reading five books on any particular topic will
increase your knowledge in any area and make you more valuable.
Are there areas where a few books might increase your belief
in yourself and therefore help you increase value?
2. Focus on not using the word, “BUT”
Recently I heard a presentation featuring Marshall Goldsmith.
He challenged us to remove the word “BUT” from our vocabulary.
His reasoning is when we use “BUT”, we are making excuses
for our behavior and since we are in control of our own behavior,
this word should not be used.
Upon returning to the office, I put the word “But” on my computer
and set about not using the word ever again BUT it keeps popping
up just like that. This is not the time for excuses; this
is time for execution.
3. Don’t compromise on what you seek
If you believe you have value, don’t sell yourself short.
If you compromise on your value and except a less compromising
solution, you are compromising on your goals and you won’t
be happy. Perhaps this is why managers refuse to place people
in less skilled positions.
Hang tight in your belief of your value. It would be better
to accept a position on a lower level and have the opportunity
for advancement than to work in an area you have little or
no interest in.
Conclusion; The formula for success is to celebrate
more good than bad.
Back
to the library
Reproduction
of this article cannot be accomplished without the expressed
consent of Human Resource Staffing.
Don Schmitz
is a popular speaker and writer on all aspects of HR and CEO
of Human Resource Staffing. Don holds graduate degrees in
Education, Administration and Human Development.
Contact Don@HumanResourceStaffingInc.com
952 854 6040
