I’ve decided I’m no longer working for anyone else, I’m working for myself. This doesn’t mean that I’ve broken off and started my own company (not yet anyway). I’ve just decided that any job I have can help me achieve my goals to some extent. It may only be giving me money to provide the basics of life for my family, but that’s one of my goals. A limited income helps me and my wife to learn to budget and set priorities. As a person of faith, I feel we all have a responsibility to use the resources we’re blessed with in the best way possible. Learning to live on a limited income helps me learn these skills.
Another way that I’m “working for myself” is that my work product is my own. I can control my attitude, my effort, and my attention to detail. I can figure out better ways to get my job done and be more efficient. I’m blessed to have a job that gives me alot of autonomy. Some of you might be in jobs where you don’t have that luxury. If you’re in that situation, I would just recommend taking responsibility for what is in your control: arriving on time, having a good attitude, have a clean appearance, serve your company’s customers well, find ways to make your boss’s life easier. All of these things are worth taking the time to do. If you are consistent, they will set you apart from your coworkers.
Some of you might have heard of the concept of building a personal brand. Regardless of the type of work you do, or your level in your company, you are building a personal brand. Supervisors will come to know you for your work ethic and the other qualities you bring to your job. You will find it easier to get raises and promotions as you develop your brand and reputation. Your brand will also come in handy when you are ready to make a change to other employment. Your current supervisors will be willing to give glowing recommendations about you to your new employer.
Developing your personal brand is a lifelong pursuit, and you will always be improving. As you work for different companies (12-15 over your lifetime ), there will be good ones and bad ones. When you “work for yourself” you should have a perspective of always learning and growing. When you work for a good employer, learn what they do well, and incorporate that into yourself. When you work for lousy employer, take note of all the things you DO NOT want to do. In my experience I’ve learned as much, if not more, from the bad companies as from the good ones.
Finally, a reminder to those of us that are not in our ideal career track right now: the current situation is a stepping stone. If you have long term goals of where you want to be headed, today is only a moment. It’s a blip on the screen in your life. Hopefully in a few years we’ll look back on this moment and realize it for what it is: a building block for us to construct the future. So look at where you’re at and where you’re going. Then start working for yourself.