Duals & Duets on the Subject of Work

Paranoia Need Destroy Ya

So it’s your first day on the job and everyone’s looking at you funny.Why’d you pick that to wear anyway?

And are you sure you used soap when you washed your pits? Is your deodorant working? You should have used antiperspirant, the ultra-dry kind.

And your boss, is he scratching his head wondering what he was thinking  when he hired you?

You think that being at the top of your game at the interview is a good thing, don’t you? That's only true if you can stay there. Where's there to go from such heights?

Are demons dancing in your head the first day of work?

Shut them up. They know not what they say.

No one is thinking about you, at least not as much as you think.

It’s Monday and everyone wishes that it was still the weekend.After all, there’s the project that’s due, the reports to be written, the graduation to go to, and, yes, there's you the eager new kid on the block who needs training.

What should you do rather than worry?

Be happy to help ANYONE in your workplace.
Get busy with your assignments.

Remember, whether it’s a smile or a sneer you see on anyone’s face, get used to one fact; it’s probably not about you, unless you make it that way.

Today’s lesson?

Sometimes life only has as many pressures as you create.

Starting Your Job Without Parental Tethers?

Tips for Free-Flying

If you're a Millenial, chances are that you've been protected by hovering parents. Are you ready to hit the workplace without parental tethers? You’ll either move up, or move out. “Companies aren’t rehab centers,” warns Jim Fay, co-founder of LoveAndLogic.com Here’s how to keep from being reprimanded or, worse yet, fired.

1.)    Assume no privacy, especially when it comes to anything you do on a computer. Chances are that when you filled out all those forms in your new hire packet, you gave your employer the right to monitor your every keystroke. Whether you’re writing an e-mail to Mom, IM-ing a friend, surfing the web, or downloading a song onto your iPod, somebody’s watching you.

2.)    It’s not MySpace, it’s their space; use it for its intended purpose. Recruiter Anne Wilke cites the case of a young Civil Engineer who liked eating his lunch and catching some z’s in his employer’s cushy reception area. He was eventually fired. (Daddy tried but couldn’t get his boy-lounger re-hired.)

3.)    Do it their way. According to a recent study completed by Michigan State University , 41% of new hires who are disciplined are reprimanded because they fail to follow instructions. While testing boundaries and taking risks may be seen as admirable later in your career, now’s the time to play by the rules.

4.)    No hacking. Nope we’re not talking about a nasty cough but about cranking out code and venturing into the areas of your company’s computer system that you’re not authorized to access. Sure you may want to see what’s under the covers, but it could cost you your job.

5.)    Make a commitment and give your all to your job, even if it’s for a day at a time. A day’s pay for a day’s work is one equation. A day’s work for a day’s professional growth is quite another. The latter will increase your earning potential for years to come.