Career killers

Mrs. Gonzales phoned the repairman because her washing machine quit working.

The repairman couldn’t accommodate her with an “after-hours” appointment and since Mrs. Gonzales had to go to work, she told him, “I’ll leave the key with the neighbor. Fix the washing machine, leave the bill on the counter, and I’ll bring the payment to your office tomorrow on my way to work. By the way, I have a large Rottweiler inside named Killer; he won’t bother you. I also have a parrot, and whatever you do, DO NOT TALK to the bird!”

Well, sure enough the dog, Killer, totally ignored the repairman, but the whole time he was there, the parrot cursed, yelled, screamed, and about drove the repairman nuts.

As he was ready to leave, he couldn’t resist saying, “You stupid bird, why don’t you shut up!” To which the bird replied, “Killer, get him!!!”

Some people simply refuse to obey instructions. And they suffer as a result of it. There are many toxic beliefs that lead to destructive behaviors that become killers of their career, business and potential.

Faulty beliefs lead to faulty perspectives. And faulty perspectives lead to faulty behaviors that eventually kill their career and potential.

Scriptures provide the instruction for right behavior and beliefs that would lead to right and positive results.  “Whatsoever a man thinks, so is he...” is just one of the many yet many lives and careers have careened off course because of the following career killers that need to be addressed and challenged:

1. WHAT OTHERS THINK AND SAY OF ME IS VITAL TO MY SELF-WORTH.

There are people in the workplace who are obsessed with what others say and think and are constantly seeking approval. Their definition of what they are and who they want to be is totally predicated on the opinions of their co-workers, friends, relatives and in many cases their insecure bosses.

You would be amazed at the number of young people who have asked me for advice as they communicated with me directly through Facebook personal messaging system how they are on the verge of submitting their resignations or quitting their jobs because their bosses think they are not good enough and would berate them in public.

These bosses who behave like jerks are exactly the people who lack leadership skills but they are who and what they are. Yet careers are killed because the poor person’s worth and esteem rely on other people. What others think is merely their opinion and should not define you as a person. Be confident in doing what is right and doing excellently at it. Prove them wrong by doing what is right. The more you do this the more confident you become and you would not submit yourself to bullying.

2. MY FUTURE AND SUCCESS IS DESTROYED BY THE FAILURE AND MISTAKES I MAKE.

Some people get their worth from what they do. In other words, their entire disposition is predicated by one word “Accomplishments.”

We all make mistakes. But when we own it, process it, receive correction, accept reprimands gracefully and learn from it, then failures are no longer failures; they are now called “tuition.” We become better, stronger and wiser and this preps us up for the next level. The moment the person thinks that a mistake or a failure becomes the obstruction for future success, the career is killed and a totally wrong way of thinking.

3. I WILL ALLOW MY FEELINGS TO DETERMINE MY ACTIONS.

Oh my… emotions are the most undependable gauge for reality. Many careers are killed because the person could not master his or her moods and emotions. Emotions are gifts and they are important. Just imagine being in love with a person who does not emit any emotions at all. You might was well be in love with a wall. But emotions should be trained and educated as well and they should be put on hold. Thinking and reason should come first and should not be clouded by emotions.

4. MY GOOD FORTUNE WILL COME ONE DAY.

As the old cliché goes, “Fortune favors the prepared mind.” Opportunities come but they stop at the door and enter only when it sees the prepared is there to receive it. We refer to these people as “lucky…” But not really, they were simply prepared.

One wise guy says: “The harder I work, the luckier I become.” Careers are not dependent on the supernatural, it all depends on old fashioned virtues like hard work, personal development, confidence, respect, and people skills etc… you know the things that are not defined by luck.

5. MY CAREER SUCCESS IS DETERMINED BY MY BOSS.

In some limited way, this may be true. But you need to understand one thing. Your boss is also concerned with his or her own career as well. Your growth may not be dependent on your boss. Growth is your own business and you need to seek it and in the process help make your boss successful. You have to take the initiative to do things and the only way you can is if you have the competence and the knowledge to do things well.

One bank executive is so smart he told me his number one priority as he started his career was to work so hard, learn harder and help make his boss successful. And every time his boss gets promoted the boss makes sure he brings this executive with him. Sometimes he is forgotten but he does not lose much because whatever he has learned and developed is his exclusively and no one can take it away from him. And in the meantime, even when neglected, the market and future opportunities are ready for him because… guess what? We go back to number 4 – he is prepared.

Do not let these career killers get into you. Fortune do not only just favor the bold, they favor the prepared.

(Experience two inspiring days of leadership training with Francis Kong in his highly acclaimed Level Up Leadership on May 17-18 at Makati, Shangri-La Hotel.  For registration or inquiries contact April at +63928-559-1798)