FeistyFemale

23/02/2007 In Entrepreneurship, Life, Perspective by feistyfemale

I have just discovered the behaviour in people that I find completely despicable. I am still brewing while writing this…

There is nothing worse on this planet than demotivated people who blame their failures on their background or circumstances and then spend their time moaning about how unfair life is toward them, and just to top this off they don’t snatch up any opportunity that comes their way.

I have a friend, who like me is an extremely enthusiastic, positive individual. Strangely both our careers started off at the same company - at the bottom of the corporate ladder (basement or pitt would be more descriptive in this case). We have carried, packed, filed, cleaned, worked the late hours, gone the extra 100 miles and reaped the rewards. We have that CAN DO attitude. No matter what the task, how late the hours, how big the pressure, how great the workload, we get the job done. No questions asked. We exceed expectations!

After our basement jobs, I had a promotion company, he being younger and still studying, worked for me as a promoter. Once again he outshone the rest! Persistent with consumers, determined in sales, no task to big or to small, he was the one I could count on. Not even wearing the pink suit for the Men in Pink Campaign could sink his spirits (that low). It takes a really persistent, determined and confident man to do that job! Bottom line - he did what he had to do! And he did it well.

Since then my dear friend has become one of the most sought after sales people in the wine industry. He manages wine sales in big regions and is truly a fantastic, energetic person driven with passion and ambition.

Where did this all start? He was spotted doing a wine promotion for my company. He was chosen above hundreds of other promoters and applicants in the field who had work experience. Pride in his work and the enthusiasm with which he carried out the job lead to his success today by differentiating himself from the average worker.

Here is the lesson or my thoughts on this story. There are people that don’t do the work at all, mostly because it is beneath their “higher status”. Some people would do the jobs purely for financial gain - they would be average. Then there are the people who take up the task (whether big or small) with passion and a positive attitude. Those are the people who excel and end up making a difference in society.

Thus when I hire employees I have certain expectations. I don’t expect them to have the passion for my company that I have. I am asking them to be positive and passionate about their work and their lives. I am asking them to take pride in what they do. And ultimately to strive for something better by requiring more of themselves. Is this an unrealistic requirement - I ask you.