Losing my job in the last recession of the last century, I discovered firsthand the power of creating your own luck. A week later, I decided to locate an interim position while looking for a “real” one. Accepting a temporary minimum wage position in an industry I knew little about, I decided that the way to enjoy the position was to learn as much as I could and contribute as much as I could. I went through manuals in my downtime, developed processes to streamline work, trained new hires, volunteered for additional assignments, and did whatever it takes. Four weeks after a ten week job, I was unexpectedly offered my first administrative position.
If I had heard my friends warning me that accepting a minimum wage position was career suicide, if I had been concerned about accepting a job “below” my level of education or experience, or if I had only done what was expected, I would have I missed an opportunity that led to five promotions in the next seven years.
It has been my experience over the years, while climbing the corporate ladder to Vice President of a multi-million dollar company, that opportunity is everywhere and anywhere. Often times, it is in unexpected places for those who differentiate themselves in the workplace. People who do what is expected of them do it very well, “and then some” have opportunities that arise that others never do. And people who put their ego aside, contributing all they can to the task at hand, often create their own luck. That’s because initiative is a powerful good in the workplace.
People who offer to do extra work only if they get paid for it, or take on extra responsibilities only if their pay goes up first, have it backwards in my book. My advice: get the job done, get it right, and then get it even better. Taxpayers are followed by higher salaries, greater responsibilities and greater opportunities. Whenever he was looking to hire people, offer permanent positions to temporary employees or interns, start new departments or companies, or promote people, he looked for people who did their job well … “and something else.”
(c) 2004 Nan S. Russell. All rights reserved.