In my five-year study of the daily habits of the rich and poor I discovered six common triggers that lead to either termination or promotion:
#1 Communication
Fired – Poor communication with your superiors, colleagues, customers or clients. Resource needs, potential problems and obstacles that prevent you from completing tasks, projects or meeting expectations are not communicated on a timely basis. Everyone in the business chain is forced to put out fires, which can create quality issues with products or services.
Promoted – Good communication means keeping everyone up to speed with tasks and projects you are working on. Regular, constant communication prevents surprises and unexpected events from occurring and enables you to meet expectations.
#2 Technical Proficiency
Fired – You don’t keep up with changes in your industry. You don’t maintain your technical skills to do your job. Errors occur and opportunities to make more money for your company are missed.
Promoted – You devote thirty minutes or more each day in keeping current with your industry. You are able to identify opportunities to add value and make more money for your company.
#3 Passion
Fired – You have no passion for your job. You do the bare minimum to get your job done and avoid taking on additional responsibilities. Very likely, you don’t like your job.
Promoted – You like or even love your job. It shows in your enthusiasm as you take ownership of your job. You seek improvements and efficiencies and take on additional responsibility in order to learn more and provide value to your company. You never watch the clock, often work longer hours, and take short lunch breaks.
#4 Relationship Management
Fired – Your relationships are on an as-needed basis. You don’t seek to improve and grow your relationships at work or in your industry. You surround yourself with individuals who are struggling at their jobs, have financial issues and are negative.
Promoted – You make every effort to grow relationships with individuals who are upbeat, positive and who share your enthusiasm and work ethic. You surround yourself with other successful people who are doing well in their respective careers and who regularly receive raises, promotions or bonuses. You generally like or love what you do for a living.
#5 Health
Fired – You do not exercise regularly, have poor eating habits and your health is suffering. Your poor health negatively impacts your ability to do your job. You are frequently sick or struggling with some health disorder. Consequently, you are not as productive at your job and it affects everyone at your company who are then required to complete tasks or projects that were previously assigned to you.
Promoted – You exercise aerobically every day for thirty minutes or more. You watch what you eat and how much you eat. You may even count calories and weigh yourself every day. Your good health means you have more energy, fewer sick days and this translates into more productivity at work.
#6 Finances
Fired – You live beyond your means and are mired in debt. Your financial problems create stress in your life and this stress follows you to work. You have trouble concentrating at work, as your mind pulls you back into thinking about missed bills, delinquencies and other financial problems you may have. Because of your financial circumstances, you function from a negative emotional state and this negativity affects your productivity and all of your work relationships.
Promoted – You live below your means, saving 20% or more of your net income. Because of your sound finances, you are optimistic, upbeat, positive and worry free about finances. You are able to clearly focus on your job and, as a result, you are very productive.
About Thomas C. Corley
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