Malcolm O. Munro - The "Career Fitness" Coach

The Not-So-Secret Formula for Job Security

Always give a hundred percent, and you'll never have to second-guess yourself - Tommy John

This past weekend, my mom ecstatically shared some very good news with me.  Her company had just given her a 5% raise which was much more than the 3% given to the other employees.  Her boss shared that "insider" news with her because he wanted her to know how much he appreciated her doing her job AND anything else that needed to be done.  The interesting thing was that this 5% raise only came out to 60 cents more an hour but it was all the small company could afford.  For my mom, who used to pull down a big salary working in HR at a large defense contractor, the raise was very small but for her, the recognition made all the difference in the world.

While some say our Great Recession is coming to an end, there are still a ton of people out of work and others who still fear the dreaded pink slip.  What if I told you the secret to keeping that job or showing you're qualified for a better one was a simple formula?  Would you implement it?  I hope so.  Here it is:

Do the job you were hired to do to 100% completion and then look for something else to do.

Simple isn't it?  Then why don't more people do it?

Most people I speak with view work as an entitlement.  When something is an entitlement, it also becomes something that we take for granted.  When something is taken for granted, our attitudes toward it change to one of expectation.  Before we know it, we look at our job or employer as our adversary and it's our job to do as little as possible to get by and then live for weekends and holidays, only to dread the aftermath of returning to the job.

Before we know it, work is a politically-charged environment where a subjective boss rewards everyone else but us (and of course nobody works as hard as we do right?) so that now we do even less - just enough to get by.

How do I know this?  It used to be the way I looked at work.  It's also what I see as I travel around the country, working with lots of different organizations in both the public and private sector.  It's depressing listening to all the stories, but seldom do I hear anything but whining.

Maybe it would help to focus on the things we can change and not on those we can't. 

• We can't control what our boss does, but we can work as hard as we can.
• We can't control the reward systems, but we can work as hard as we can.
• We can't help that others slack off and get rewarded, but we can work as hard as we can.
• We can't change subjective performance management systems, but we can work as hard as we can.

Do you notice a theme?

We're only a couple of weeks into the new year.  Why don't we all make a resolution to give 100% in everything we do.  At worst, we can sleep better at night.  At best, we'll be rewarded for our effort.  I'm in...are you?

Opportunity Knocks for Everyone...

Opportunity is missed by most because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. Thomas Edison

This week I'm in Orlando, FL on two different projects.  The one I did today was a workshop on social networking for the National Association of RV Parks & Campgrounds (ARVC).  It turned out great and I had a lot of positive feedback, but the one thing my attendees need to do now is to implement a strategy.  In other words, this opportunity will take some action. 

I'm convinced that everyone has equal access to opportunities and luck.  This is encouraging to me because I've run into a lot of people that complain that the only luck they get is bad luck.  Now keep in mind that some circumstances are bad.  Not a whole lot we can do about that.  The part we can control is the actions  we take in spite of them.  Most of you are familiar with Kentucky Fried Chicken.  You may not know that a set of bad circumstances for its founder, Harland Sanders was the very reason for it's success today.

Sanders had a very successful restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky and achieved a lot of fame and money from it.  However, in the 1950’s a new interstate highway was planned that would bypass Corbin. Recognizing that his business was doomed, Sanders sold off his restaurant operations and after paying his bills, was reduced to living on his $105 a month Social Security checks. Confident in the quality of his fried chicken, at 62 years old, Sanders devoted himself to franchising his famous chicken. He drove all over the country, cooking batches of chicken for restaurant owners and their employees. If the reaction was favorable, he entered into a handshake agreement on a deal that stipulated a payment to him of a nickel for each chicken the restaurant sold. By 1964, Colonel Sanders had more than 600 franchised outlets for his chicken in the United States and Canada.  Ironically, he was turned down 1,099 times before he finally found a buyer.  That's what you call making the most of circumstance and taking advantage of an opportunity.

So what about you?  What are you struggling with that could be turned into a great opportunity?  Another famous person, Thomas Jefferson, was said to have  remarked, "the harder I work, the more luck I seem to find."  We live in a time where, with the leverage of technology, everyone has a fair shot at greatness.  You can publish your own books, create your own record label, run your own virtual radio station, or pretty much anything else you'd like to do.  The future is for each of us to create, not to become victims of.

I'm excited for the opportunities ahead.  I hope you are too!

What's Underneath Your Mask?

This past weekend we celebrated my favorite holiday, Halloween!  I'm not sure why I enjoy it, maybe it's all the skeletons (you probably know I love skeletons - just look at my clothing line at www.greyskullattitude.com) out there or perhaps just the huge amount of candy my kids bring home. 

It seems I'm not alone.  The average family in the U.S. spends about $40.00 on just candy.  Then there are the adults who really get into the season by donning elaborate costumes.  People seem to enjoy wearing masks and being somebody different if just for one night.

I find in my line of work that many people wear masks each and every day at work.  Martha Beck, in her  book Finding Your Own North Star speaks of these as a person's Social Self.  It's the part of us that does the sensible thing rather than what our desires and wants tell us to do.  Now don't think this means without the Social Self we'll do a bunch of deviant things, it means we often hold back what's really important to us in favor of what we think the others around us want us to be.  If you're wearing this kind of mask, life for you can be even more frightening than a bad dream with Freddy Krueger in it!

Sunday night I did a workshop with a bunch of high school students using a personality instrument.  My purpose was to help them discover early on, what their personality preferences were.  If they can figure this out early in life, before making career and relationship changes, I think it will help them make choices that will eliminate the need to wear the mask later in life.  We had a great time!  I hope they can take the information they learned and put it to use.

So what about you?  What mask are you wearing?  More importantly, what is under the mask that you wish you could show every day? If you're not sure, maybe the following questions can help you sort it out:

• What motivates you besides money?
• What kind of activities recharge your batteries?
• When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
• What types of people are you drawn to?
• Where do you see yourself (realistically) in 20 years?
• What will you want people to say about you at your memorial service?

These are the kinds of questions that reveal what's under the mask.   I believe you can operate as the REAL you on a daily basis if you become familiar with the REAL you and work to align that with the career you're working for.  I've been able to do that and I no longer dread Mondays.  

Why not take the time this week to do some self discovery?  If you succeed,  you can proudly proclaim that you've experienced a "Halloween Miracle!"

Career Lessons from Ants

As you might imagine, coming up with a posting for my blog or Career Fitness Tips each and every week can be somewhat challenging.  Most of the time, I have some strange observation from my travels that seems post-worthy, but on other weeks, like this one, I'm absolutely (figuratively) speechless. 

To help me out, I thought I'd just pick a random quote or statement from the media, books, or other places, and expound on it as a Career Fitness Tip.  If you can guess who the quote was from, I'll email you a electronic copy of one of my books.  How does that sound?

Here's this week's Words of Wisdom:

Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and be wise! Even though they have no prince, governor, or ruler to make them work, they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? I want you to learn this lesson:

A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest--and poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.

So what does this mean for us here in the 21st Century? 

Well, you don't have to read to far into it to figure it out.  Basically, it's a call for us to work harder!  Now I know most of you would tell me you already work hard, but are you working on what matters?  If ants just build tunnels to nowhere, would they really add value?  Don't confuse hours at work with accomplishment.  If you can't tell your boss at any given moment what you're working on and WHY it matters, there's probably no value in it. 

I know this sounds harsh, but I'm absolutely convinced that a lot of people do the absolute minimum to get by and treat work as an entitlement.  If you've been laid off in this Great Recession, I know you'll never look at work as an entitlement again.  In a strange sense, it's a privilege to work. 

What do we learn from the ants?

1. Ants work hard without somebody telling them what to do.  If you're like me, you hate micromanagement.  Are you doing something that causes your boss to micromanage you?  If so, STOP DOING IT!  Be proactive and look for things to do.  Do a good job at what you do.  Don't cut corners.  Show how you're adding value.
   
   
2. Ants are proactive.  Are you anticipating what's coming down the line?  You know, it doesn't take a whole lot of inside information to figure out upcoming changes at work.  Just keep your ear to the ground and listen.  If you see something major coming your way and have the power to leverage it to your advantage, do it!  Being proactive means anticipating and then acting.  Ants don't wait for invitations do they?  Why would you?

Final thoughts?  A little extra sleep, a little folding of the hands to rest -- and poverty will pounce on you.  Hey how about not taking your job for granted and putting into cruise control?  I can't tell you how many of my career coach clients told me "I never thought they could lay me off!"  If you're not adding value, you're expendable.  Let's all commit to putting 110% into our worklife if we want it to be there for us.  And, if you're not willing, it may be time to find a different career.  No shame in that - and I'm happy to help you with that!

Now, if you can guess who the quote is from, contact me using the "Contact me" button at the top of the page and let me know.  The first correct response gets a electronic copy of my book Endeavor to Persevere: 10 Steps to Create Breakthrough in Your Personal and Professional Life!

The Power of Generosity

This week I had the privilege of attending a huge family reunion in Riverside, CA.  It was the first time in many years I was able to reconnect with some of my cousins and their children and to see many of my aunts.  Just as a point of reference, my grandmother is one of 8 sisters, all of whom are in their 80s and older and in varying  degrees of health. 

It's pretty astounding to me how a family can be so large with the matriarchs still around and influential.  Add to that countless children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even some great-great-grandchildren.  The only explanation is the principle of generosity.

Without going into detail, I can tell you that my family is one of the most caring and concerned bunch of people I've ever associated with.  They welcome all and include all.  Nobody has a need that the family would not step in and assist with.Ironically, even though I've not seen or spoken to some in over 20 years, we had an immediate bond.

Is it possible that generosity and caring is a principle that can lead to longevity and success?  If it were, would you be willing to try it to see?

Zig Ziglar, the famous speaker and motivator has a quote that I've always admired.  "You'll  get everything you want in life if you help those around you get everything they want in life."   Do you believe that?  I do.  I'm proof of that, and I'm convinced my extended family is as well.

This week, let's take the opportunity to see what we can do to help release the dreams of those around us.  Ask people what the aspire to and then do what you can to encourage, educate, or connect them so they can get started.  I think you'll immediately notice a spike in your energy and attitude and I'm pretty sure a measured degree of success.

I'm up for the challenge, are you?

Take Control of Your Future!

Flying used to terrify me.  I didn't take my first plane ride until I was 19 and it was a real experience - flying from Los Angeles to Exmouth, Western Australia, all told about a 28 hour flight.  My fear of heights of course was a factor but what really bothered me was the feeling of helplessness, a lack of control.

Of course now I'm pretty much over it all considering I fly somewhere around the country to lead workshops or to speak nearly every week.  I'm also convinced it's much safer to fly than to drive.  I do in fact have safety on the plane even if I can't go up to the cockpit and take over the controls.  By looking at what I can control, the other fears seem to fade.

This week I'm working with some Federal employees, helping them write self-assessments for their performance management system known as the National Security Personnel System (NSPS).  If you haven't heard of this, just know that it's quite unpopular among Feds as it's the first radical change to their pay and performance system in about 70 or so years.  For them, the fear goes along the lines of lack of control and potential subjectivity.

My message to them is the same:  Focus on what you can control, not on what you can't.

• They can't control potential favoritism but they sure as hell can work as hard as they can.
• They can't control subjectivity but they can take time each week to document their performance for a comprehensive self-assessment.

I think the lesson works for all of us.  Focus on what we can fix and what we can control and work that as hard and long and viciously as we can.  It's empowering and liberating.

This week, take some time to list all the things you have full control of:  your work ethic, your attitude, your personal development, etc.  Then make a commitment to add to that list each day and work each item as hard as you can.  It's a great way to reduce victim-stance and help you achieve your personal and professional goals.  I'm going to try it - won't you join me?

These are the Best of Times!

This past Saturday I watched as my son's football team went through the rigors of pre-season conditioning.  It wasn't easy, particularly in the heat and humidity of a Maryland morning, complete with a contingent of gnats that managed to find their way into eyes and noses.  Just a typical football practice.

While the boys were experiencing great misery, there wasn't a dad on the sideline that wouldn't jump at the chance to trade places with their sons, myself included.

You see, for those of us that played football as a youth or in high school, we only remember the fun of the game and the great memories and stories we share.  Funny as it sounds, even those hot and muggy practices seem like great fun now.

What's the lesson for us today?

Put the stress and pain of today in perspective.  Even if life proves miserable now, there's a good chance that down the line, you may actually look back at today with a sense of nostalgia, and even a wish to go back.

The problem with wishing away our troubles is that we wish away the days that contain them.  I don't know about you, but I'm thinking of trying to make the most of each and every day, good and bad, in hopes that I can enjoy the best of times right here and now!

So this week, take a look at your current situation.  Figure out where you need to go and put a plan in place to get there, but at least look for the good in every situation.  Visualize yourself in 10 years looking back.  What will you miss the most?  Find those things and take time to relish the moments.  You won't have to regret doing that later.

What Have You Done for Me Lately?

This past Saturday morning, my 13-year old son's tackle football team, the Rockville Wolverines began their summer training.  Their head coach brought all the players and parents together and held up the game ball from their Superbowl winning performance last December and all of us cheered. 

He then said, "You've had 8 months to celebrate, now we start completely over."

It was a very profound statement.  This Wolverine team, once the "whipping boys" of the league went from worst to first in one season, but winning doesn't necessarily translate from season to season.  The champs are now in the crosshairs of every other RFL team who wants that trophy!

What have you done for me lately?

I've come to realize that while great accomplishments are fun to celebrate and even brag on a little, they really mean nothing when it comes to future performance.  If you're not working hard every day to surpass what you did yesterday, mediocrity will find you.

What have you done for me lately?

Have you ever run into people who still talk about past accomplishments while doing nothing meaningful today?  I wonder if they realize that the past really doesn't matter all that much.  Heck, I used to weigh 170 lbs in High School.  Is it relevant 27 years later?  Do I look any less scary in a bathing suit at the pool?  Not really!

The good news is that mediocre performance in the past is also no guarantee of future success.  What you did previously, even though you still may suffer some consequences, doesn't need to dictate the future.  Everything depends on what you'll do starting today.

What have you done for me lately?

This is the question for the week.  Take some time today to map out your future and take some steps to positively impact it.  What you did yesterday, successfully or unsuccessfully has no bearing on today.  Get out there and get it done!

Increase Morale by Celebrating Milestones

To view this week's tip on YouTube, click HERE!

Can you remember your best day ever?  What were the events?  How did it change your life?

Aside from that one day, what about other important days in your life?  The day you finished college, got married, had a child, wrote a book? 

Each of us can easily fill in the blanks I'm sure.  More than just thinking about those days, we love to talk about them, celebrate them, and remember them.

We're in the second week in our series on E.M.P.A.T.H.Y.  It's a quick formula to help us boost office morale, particularly in tough times.  Here's a review of what it means:

• E - Empathy
• M - Milestones
• P - Personal Vision
• A - Aspirations
• T - Total Focus
• H - Have a Heart
• Y - Your Self Last

This week is Milestones.  

In our sometimes day-to-day existence, reflecting on milestones in our lives gives us reason to celebrate.  It's a chance to look back at events that gave us satisfaction and great pleasure.  For some of us, they're private moments, but in other cases, we like to share them.  Having someone else recognize our personal success gives us validation and confidence.

We also love our birthday.  Sure we try to downplay the day and keep it to ourselves.  Most of us tell those around us not to make a big deal, but if you've ever experienced what it's like to have nobody wish you a "Happy Birthday" you'll know it's not the case.  We feel disappointed and unwanted.

What's my point?

If you want to raise the morale of the people around you, celebrate their milestones with them (and sometimes for them).  Remember their birthdays and anniversaries.  When they do something remarkable, recognize them.  If they appear in a news article, make copies and pass them out.   Sing others' praises and they'll do the same for you. 

As we continue to navigate a bumpy economy and work climate, taking any opportunity to celebrate success is time well spent.  What will you do this week to celebrate others' milestones?

E.M.P.A.T.H.Y. for Better Office Morale

If you're one of the fortunate ones to have a job these days, do you notice the demeanor of the people around you?  For the most part, it seems to me that most folks are unhappy.  I know you can blame any number of reasons right now but the question is, what are you doing about it?  Should you be doing anything about it?

Office morale is everyone's responsibility.  Certainly if you're a manager you need to tune into it.  Your productivity rides on it.  But even if you're not in charge, you can make the environment far more pleasant if you take the time to make others a little happier.  It's more than just the golden rule ("Do unto others as you would have done unto you") which works fine to a point.  Try Tony Allesandra's Platinum Rule which is "Do unto others as THEY would have done unto THEM.  How do we do that?  We need to get to know them. 

How well do you know the people around you?  Not just surface stuff or gossip fodder.  What do you really know about them?  If you have no clue, spend some time building relationships.  The best way is to show E.M.P.A.T.H.Y.  What does that stand for?

• E - Empathy
• M - Milestones
• P - Personal Vision
• A - Aspirations
• T - Total Focus
• Y - Your Self Last

Over the next few weeks, we'll unpack this acronym and learn some new ways to improve the environment around us.  I think we'll all benefit from it!