How To Work Better
“Knowing a great deal is not the same as being smart; intelligence is not information alone but also judgment, the manner in which information is collected and used” - Dr. Carl Sagan
Remember to put in extra effort and work smart. There is no point of telling your boss how hard you work. Tell your boss how much you get done.
Let's take a look at this story that illustrate this point:
Chuan and Jing joined a wholesale company together just after graduation. Both worked very hard.
After several years, the boss promoted Jing to sales executive but Chuan remained a sales rep. One day Chuan could not take it anymore, tender resignation to the boss and complained the boss did not value hard working staff, but only promoted those who flattered him.
The boss knew that Chuan worked very hard for the years, but in order to help Chuan realise the difference between him and Jing, the boss asked Chuan to do the following. Go and find out anyone selling water melon in the market? Chuan returned and said yes. The boss asked how much per kg?
Chuan went back to the market to ask and returned to inform boss $12/kg. Boss told Chuan, I will ask Jing the same question? Jing went, returned and said, "Boss, only one person selling water melon. $12/kg, $100 for 10kg, he has inventory of 340 melons. On the table 58melons, every melon weighs about 15 kg, bought from the South two days ago, they are fresh and red, good quality.
Chuan was very impressed and realised the difference between himself and Jing. He decided not to resign but to learn from Jing.
The moral of the story:
A more successful person is more observant, think more and understand in depth. For the same matter, a more successful person sees several years ahead, while you see only tomorrow. The difference between a year and a day is 365 times, how could you win? Think! How far have you seen ahead in your life? How thoughtful in depth are you?
“Today, and every day, deliver more than you are getting paid to do. The victory of success will be half won when you learn the secret of putting out more than is expected in all that you do. Make yourself so valuable in your work that eventually you will become indispensable. Exercise your privilege to go the extra mile, and enjoy all the rewards you receive. You deserve them!” - Og Mandino"Men who do things without being told draw the most wages" - Edwin H. Stuart
Be always willing to give that extra effort! You can choose to look forward to the day, or choose to complain. It's your choice!
(Source of this story: Internet; Author Unknown)
Photo 1 by kentbrew taken from this source
Photo 2 by juliebee taken from this source
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- The Habit Of Going The Extra Mile
- Working Attitude
- Ultimate Success Formula?
- Take the greatest challenge
- Have you come to realization?
13 comments:
good case study on jing and chuan but one has to look at why chuan acted like that and did the mgmt take note of it. did the mgmt send chuan for courses to ensure that chuan is producing results as well.
Good case study. Over delivered give you a leading edge over others. Learn from others and improved yourself is important
Hi Johnny Ong,
Thanks for sharing your valuable views. You are right! A good boss also ought to help and guide his employees to perform. However, it is also important for one to help himself.
"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much." - Jim Rohn
Best wishes.
Hi Honman,
Thank you for your insight and wisdom!
Indeed, we must always try to deliver our very best whenever given the opportunity. There are plenty of good examples to follow and learn.
"People seldom improve when they have no other model but themselves to copy after" - Oliver Goldsmith
Best Wishes
Hi Sam,
Very nice, and so true!
It seems for many, just getting by by doing the bare minimum is enough...
One of my father's favorites quotes...
"If you only do what you are paid to do, you will never get paid for more than you do."
:-)
Jen
Excellent post. So good, in fact, that I had my eight-year-old daughter read it too. This illustrates perfectly what I have been trying to teach her about doing more than simply what is asked of you.
In my job, I am not asked to do many things that I do, yet I do them as they need done. My co-worked does not do anything beyond the basics. When something specific is asked of us, then, it is I who is entrusted to do it. My co-worked doesn't understand why.
Excellent post, Sam, excellent!
I mean co-worker.. oops, heeheh.
What you wrote is true in most cases, but there are cases where the 'smarter' one (tripod or 3 legged, always following behind the boss) will conquer the workplace, he may not necessarily be technically intelligent. He is SMART AT THE RIGHT TIME :) :) :)
Hi Jennifer,
You are right!... one mustn't just do the bare minimum.
Thanks for the nice quote: "If you only do what you are paid to do, you will never get paid for more than you do."
Best Wishes
Hi Sue,
I am glad that you liked this post and find it so useful that you share it to your daughter.
You got the very essence of the message - "I mustn't just simply do what is asked but do more and count it a privilege to do it well"
Blessings to you and yours
Hi Janice,
Thanks for sharing your valuable thoughts. Indeed, in life there are some exceptional case.
However, for this story, you will find that both worked very hard. However, when asked to find out anyone selling water melon in the market, Chuan just go and returned and said yes. Then only when asked again by the boss how much per kg, he go again and returned to inform boss $12/kg. This is similar to the Chinese sayings "No Kick Won't Move"
My best wishes.
Sam...this is great. It reminds me of 2 years ago when in a performance evaluation I found out why some people make big $$ and others dont. Always think and ask the rite questions. Make a decision on yourself as to if I was buying the watermelon what information will I need. If I want to buy wholesale what discount can I get?
Its always about the questions we ask that decide our focus...
Great post !!
Biggs, Thanks for sharing your valuable experience. Indeed, there is power in asking the right questions! It is by questioning our limitations that our greatest strengths are unveiled.
Thanks for your continued support and interest in what I do.
Best Wishes
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