How Much Loyal Should You Be to Your Employers?

Many people consider their company as their friend. For example, if you join a new company, you may also tend to think like this because during the process of interviewing and selecting you, everyone right from the HR manager of the company who may sound like an all-knowing Oracle to the manager of the department for working in which you have been chosen, may have talked to you sweetly. Thanks to such "a friendly treatment", you may think that you are special to the company. You may also assume that the company will be putting your career on the highway and so, you will be climbing your career rungs at hyper speed.

But only after the honeymoon period is over, the light bulb above your head will light up and you will realize that you have been terribly wrong in thinking that your company is your friend. Though it is wrong to assume that all companies will be like this, companies that really are empathetic towards their employees are becoming very rare.

The intention of most of the companies is to earn as much as possible with the help of their employees. If they think that you are not of any use to them or that you are not generating as much income for them as they want to have, they will not hesitate to throw you out.

You need not do a lot of research on the Internet or in the library to realize this bitter fact. But some elaboration may be worth its weight in gold.

A simple fact you should remember is that you, as an employee, is an asset or a resource to your company. This is perhaps the reason why you and all those who co-work with you are called "human resources." Any company will try to make the best use of its resources and assets so that they can generate the maximum profits. This means they will try to get the maximum out of you. This also means that wages and salaries your company pays to you are liabilities for them.

If you work hard and generate good profits for your company, the company keeps growing. But do not assume that since you are generating optimal profits for your company, you will be paid a higher salary. Even at the time of appraisal and even when you are due for a salary increase, you may be considered for a hike of only about 2 to 4% even if your company is earning 20, 30 or 40% or even more, thanks to your committed work.

That is the reason you are advised to reciprocate the same treatment to your company. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU SHOULD NOT DO YOUR WORK SINCERELY. But limit your output just to what is required. In other words, your main and foremost focus should be on your welfare and on the welfare of your family.

While carrying out your tasks, ensure that you do not do in excess of what is required. At the same time, you must always look for opportunities for networking, self-improvement and outside learning. "For me, it will be kaizen – constant and never-ending improvement – until my last breath” - These were the words an expert uttered at a business summit. Etch these words in your memory and keep improving yourself.

Simply put, it is not wise to attach a lot of value to your loyalty towards your company because the company is not loyal to you. Remember that employees like you are tiny pieces in the commercial galaxy where competition rules the roost. If you are not able to generate as much income as they expect, they will not hesitate to send you out.

Also, remember that the company will view you as their asset until you keep generating more revenue for them. But the moment they realize that the cost they incur on you is more than the income you generate for them, they will show you the door. To put it differently, if their liability towards your salaries or wages is more than the value you bring to them, they will not hesitate to ask you to leave the company.

So, you are always advised to keep looking for greener pastures. Keep expanding your network and have conversations with those who may have opportunities for you or who may guide you towards better opportunities. This type of "flirting for career growth" will certainly pay off at a later date.

But is there someone whom you can believe? Yes. But it is you and you alone whom you can believe. Never ignore the fact that your company or every other similar commercial enterprise adopts double standards. For instance, if you want to put in your papers, you have to give sufficient notice to your company. On the contrary, if the company decides to lay you off, they can ask you to leave immediately.

You may argue that the HR department of your company will protect your interests. But what does the HR department of companies do? They ensure to prepare the pay bills on time and make sure that the employees do their work efficiently.

If there are problems between one employee and another employee, the department may intervene and try to solve the problem. In other words, the HR department of any company will always be inclined to ensure that the interests of the company and not those of the employees are protected. Even the so-called HR policies are formulated in such a manner that they protect only the interests of the company and not your interest.

To summarize, know your company fully well and understand that your company is not your friend. This knowledge will help you tremendously in charting your own career course. In short, be sincere to your company but as far as loyalty is concerned, it should be more focused on yourself, your career, and your family than on your company.

Do You Need a Huge Amount to Start on Your Own?

Every person is unique. Some people may want to land in good jobs and earn. A few others may have entrepreneurial ambitions. If you belong to the latter group and if you want to start your own venture, do you need to invest heavily? Experts are of the firm opinion that it is enough if you have a small capital to begin your own venture. But they quickly add that you should have the skills that are required for launching the business, running it, and more importantly, sustaining in it. Simply put, lack of funds should not be and is not an impediment for starting on your own. On the contrary, the lack of skills required will prove to be a very big handicap. Let us delve a little deep into this.

Be a specialist.

If you think that superficial knowledge in your field is enough for launching your business, you cannot be more wrong. Apart from failing in the venture, you may land in various types of troubles that may include falling into a debt-trap, earning a bad reputation, not being able to fulfill promises and mental anguish due to the disappointments you will be experiencing in your venture. 

There is a distinct advantage of being a specialist. The world will certainly and very soon come to know of a specialist. Of course, you can take a few steps as well for letting the world know that you are a specialist. Once this happens, you will not face issues for mobilizing funds for launching your business. In fact, investors will flock to you and lure you by offering very attractive terms. In short, the problem of dearth for funds will not be there if you are a specialist.

You can earn more.

As a specialist, you can dictate your own terms including those that pertain to your income. In fact, your clients will be ready to pay you much more than what they will pay for generalists or non-specialists.  

Becoming a specialist is easier than being a jack of all trades.

Some people think that they should have all-round knowledge. They should realize the fact that by being informed or by having all-round knowledge, they are not going to derive any benefit at all. The only benefit, if you can call it so, is they can be good conversationalists and with their limited knowledge, they can talk superficially on any subject. Of course, their lack of in-depth knowledge will be exposed very soon. 

On the other hand, there are a few others who delve deep into their favorite subject. You are advised to emulate them and become a specialist in your field. In fact, making efforts to become a specialist is easy because you will be more focused than those folks who want to gain all-round knowledge. Such a strong focus will help you remain determined. You will, therefore, keep persevering to quench your thirst for specialized knowledge. 

In view of the foregoing, you are advised to become a specialist in your field. This alone is enough for starting on your own. There is no need for you to worry that you do not have huge funds for launching your business.

Never Underestimate Yourself

That there are a number of people who do not realize their own potential is a bitter fact. You may also belong to this group. Though there may be many reasons for this, the foremost among them is that you are afraid of failure. Ironically, there are people who are afraid of success as well. But regardless of these reasons, the fact remains that you are not able to realize your potential because you do not try anything new and you do not want to take risks. Read this sentence once again. YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO REALIZE YOUR POTENTIAL BECAUSE YOU DO NOT TRY ANYTHING NEW AND DO NOT WANT TO TAKE RISKS. You tread along the same path day in and day out. You are neither willing nor ready to break your stereotyped mindset, effect a change in what you do, how you think, or how you look at things. That is the reason you are not able to spot your potential, not to speak of putting your skills to use optimally. What does this situation lead to? Obviously, the biggest "Catch 22" is you will be underestimating yourself. But how to overcome this attitude of underestimating yourself? Here are a few suggestions.

1. Remember that you have been hired by your employers because you have some of the skills they require. But since you have been using these skills as a routine, you tend to forget that you have them with you. Therefore, while putting your skills to use, do not act like a "robot." Put your heart and soul into the tasks. Try to find if there are smarter ways to work. Provide insights to your peers and supervisors. This is how those with self-confidence act.

2. Read a lot. It is not that you should read whatever you lay hands on. Remember that some of the most successful titans like Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are voracious readers. It is said that Warren Buffett reads 600 plus pages daily and he is choosy about what he reads. He reads only those books that can make him better in his field. This means you should also be more focused while choosing what you read. You must read only those materials and books that are related to your field. This habit alone will make you an expert and boost your confidence. There are two other distinct advantages by developing the habit of reading. In the present-day context, every bit of information is rapidly getting obsolete. By keeping abreast of the latest information in your field, you can defy what is known as the process of being pushed into the "old-timers group." Secondly, reading will expand your horizons and help you in performing better than others. You can run the race with the new generation as well. The result is you will be revered by your employers, supervisors, peers, and subordinates. 

3. Stress and anxiety are two important factors that lower your performance and productivity. This can happen despite your knowledge and expertise in your field. When your performance and productivity dip, you automatically start denigrating yourself. You will slowly begin underestimating your potential. But why will you experience stress and anxiety in spite of your expertise? It is mainly because you try to do all the tasks yourself. You do not delegate. Even if you delegate, you try to micro-manage and hand-hold those to whom you have entrusted the tasks. This approach is certain to increase your stress levels. Further, micro-managing the tasks of others kills their creativity. The only way to overcome this issue is to choose the right people, repose faith in them, and entrust the tasks that can be delegated to them. This will ultimately improve your performance and boost your confidence. 

To summarize, underestimating yourself is certainly an issue that can hamper the process of realizing your potential. You should, therefore, take steps to surmount this issue by pushing boundaries in order to grow in your career and progress in your life.

Could Have and Should Have

When you were young, you might have wished that you should become a painter, a poet, a sculptor, a journalist, or an architect. Or, you might have had a passion and wanted to pursue it. But due to various reasons, you might not have pursued your desire. You may now be working for a company but may perhaps not be satisfied with the 9 to 5 grind because you are asked to do the same work day in and day out. Therefore, you may very frequently think that you could have and should have gone after your desire so you are not in a situation in which you are spending days and nights of regrets.

Studies reveal that there are more number of people who nurture such regrets than one can imagine. Most notably, it is the fear of risk that generally prevents people from taking a plunge in the field in which they have interest. If you are one among such a group of people, you are also risk-averse like them. Experts advise that everyone should analyze risks before deciding not to pursue the desires they have been nurturing. Let us find out more on this.

Unreal risks

Most of the risks people are afraid of are simple narratives that get created in their heads. This means that these risks are not real at all. 

Real risks

Of course, there may be a few tangible risks as well and so, they are real. Therefore, it becomes imperative that you need to analyze them thoroughly before deciding whether to take a  plunge or not. 

The fact is that regardless of whether the risks are unreal or real, they might have stopped you on your track and hence, you might not have pursued your passion. But experts emphatically assert - "no risks, no rewards." They suggest a simple and workable exercise as well so that you improve the chances of gaining the required momentum and pursuing what is burning inside you.     

What is the simple exercise?

This involves 2 steps.

1. Write a few lines describing the details of your desire and passion and send it over to three of your close friends or relatives. Write a date also before which you will begin pursuing the desire or passion. Request these people to be in touch with you regularly for checking the progress you are making on that front. The purpose of this step is to have an "accountability web" around you. Remember that when you become accountable, you will start taking the required action that leads you towards success in pursuing your interest.

2. Make two columns on a sheet of paper. On the left side, write down the risks you may encounter if you pursue the passion. On the right side, write down the risks that you may have to face if you do not pursue it. In other words, you are asked to get into the "action habit" without getting crippled by the thoughts related to the risks. 

The main purpose is that you will have more clarity if you take this step. If the risks pertaining to not pursuing your passion are more than or stronger than those that you may face by pursuing it, it means that you have to go ahead. Otherwise, you can leave your passion as another unfulfilled wish.

Remember that regretting that you could have or should have pursued your desire may be a heavy punishment. Therefore, do not subject yourself to it. Instead, follow this simple advice and stay true to yourself. You are certain to benefit immensely. 

A Tip from My Experience for Succeeding in Your Career or Profession

If you are employed or pursuing a profession, there is one particular aspect you cannot overlook, especially if you want to grow in your career or want to sustain and succeed in your profession. An incident that happened in my life will show how important this aspect is. 

I was studying in the 9th grade. Though I was an average student in other subjects, I had always been winning appreciation from my class teacher, English teacher, and others for my English language skills. Thanks to these skills, I used to score high marks in English.

At the fag end of that academic year, the school announced that there would be an essay competition. A number of students including me gave our names for participating in the competition. The topic of the essay was "the cow and how the animal could be of use to humans." Since I had always been good at writing English contents, I was confident that I would win the first prize in the competition. 

On the day of the competition, I was confidence-personified and went to the school with my head and spirits high. All my co-students also believed that I would be the winner and they did not hesitate to share their belief with others also. 

All of us went into the hall where the competition was being held and were asked to be seated. We were handed over white sheets and pens for writing the essay. Everyone started writing. I also began writing. I wrote a few sentences about the animal and suddenly, I found that I did not have any points to write. I was trying to think but could not get any new ideas or points about the topic. What all I knew I had already written. In other words, I ran out of ideas.

I observed that all the other students were busy writing and I was the only one in the hall who remained idle because I did not have anything to write about. After the stipulated time of one hour, we were asked to hand over the papers to the supervisor. I was feeling ashamed within myself because while the papers of other students were filled up, the paper I submitted had only a few sentences on it. 

As expected, I did not win any prize, not even a consolation certificate. In fact, my teachers were shell-shocked and puzzled as to what happened to me. But I realized that my sense of arrogance had blinded me to realities. I accepted the result as a fait accompli and of course, with a dose of shame. At the same time, this incident opened my eyes. 

I knew that there was no need for me to invent a solution for my problem because the moral of the whole episode itself provided me with a solution. Amazingly, the moral of the story is as relevant today as it was when I was doing my schooling. What is it? 

Moral of the story

The moral is: However creative you are, and however good your language and communication skills are, you need to do your research and have a lot of information, and more particularly, those relevant to your job or profession with you. Otherwise, you will not be able to produce or come out with ideas.

This rule is applicable to all those who want to grow in their career and all the professionals who aim to sustain in their profession. In short, be ready to put in efforts for doing a good research and gathering all possible details about the topics relevant to your career or profession. Otherwise, you cannot impress your employers or your clients and sustain for a long time in your profession. 

The inference is that you have to read every good content you come across or lay hands on. Reading and reading alone will enrich your knowledge. This will help you use them liberally when you are trying to create ideas.

What else did I learn from this episode?

My failure to win a prize in the competition did a lot of good to me. Had I won the prize, it would have fed my narcissistic appetites. Thanks to my fall from grace, I realized that I should never allow myself to be affected by what is known as the Narcissistic and Arrogant disease or NA disease. Precisely put, I had become richer on the "wisdom" front. The lesson learned is true today also. The lesson is that if you are arrogant, you can never learn. 

Once I learned this lesson, I decided to develop my knowledge in a sustainable fashion. I also understood that in life, I would encounter bigger battles, and that I should be ready for them. This means that I should equip myself suitably for facing those battles squarely and surmounting them.

"How you dress for work is far less important than how you dress your thoughts. Wise men have always known this." - These are the wise words of a successful professional and nothing can be more useful to ambitious folks than this advice.

Why You Need a Good Resume for Landing a Job

One of the most important and commonest questions job aspirants ask is, "Should I waste my time in creating a good and impressive resume?" Experts who have always been involved with giving career advice and guidance opine that having a good resume is very, very important. According to them, their opinion is not just about the resume alone. If you delve deep, you will find their advice more fascinating than what meets the eye.

You may have acquired various types of qualifications. Similarly, you may have worked in various capacities and gained experience. You may have developed a passion for a hobby or may have interest in an activity. Your life may consist of a few note-worthy accomplishments as well.

But when you decide to seriously begin your career journey, you cannot go about it in a haphazard manner. Despite your qualifications, experience, knowledge, expertise, and your passion towards your hobby or activities, no one in the world is aware of them. At the same time, you may think that by sending as many job applications as possible, you will be increasing your chances of landing a job. But remember that your so-so resume will not impress any of the employers to whom you send your applications.

There is also another group of job aspirants to which you may belong as well. This group may chicken out and hesitate to load their resume with details of all their qualifications, expertise, knowledge, achievements, and accomplishments because according to them, this may be akin to blowing one's own trumpet. But unless they put all this information in their resume, employers may not come to know of them. This means that if you do not pull your courage together and if you keep hesitating to tell the world about your details, you may never be able to land a job of your choice.  

Remember that time is one of the major constraints faced by employers. Though they require the most suitable employees for their organizations, it may not be possible for them to look for or search for the right employees. Your resume is a very useful tool that will help them in deciding that you are the right person for the job.    

Don't be unduly worked up as to how to prepare your resume. You have several technologies that can unburden your mind of the terrifying thoughts as to how to go about it. Of course, you have experts who can help you in this task as well.

To sum up, your Facebook or Twitter accounts are not yours. They belong to Facebook and Twitter. But your resume is yours and you have complete control over it. In fact, your resume is not just a document but it is an "impression creator." How prospective employers will perceive you depends on your resume, and the words and the message on it. In short, your resume should make the employers understand your value. It should help you in selling you and the services you are offering. So, spend time and prepare a good resume. You will soon land a job you have been aspiring for.

Washing Machine and Your Choice of Career

You may certainly have a washing machine in your home. But have you ever paused for a moment and recalled how you bought the appliance? You might have done your research online, made inquiries with your friends, or might have visited the showroom personally so you can get guidance from the "omniscient" sales people there. Conversely put, the washing machine makers or those who deal with the item may have made enormous promotional efforts so it reaches consumers like you.

Let us look at how a washing machine is promoted:

1. There may be graphics or description texts on the box in which the appliance is packed.

2. Makers or dealers of the washing machine may have described the product on their websites or they may have done some other form of advertising.

3. They may have advertised the item during commercial breaks on the television.

But is that all? There may be hundreds of other steps, more particularly, related to marketing, involved in bringing the washing machine to you. Let us take for example the box in which the appliance is packed. The manufacturer may have got the box custom-made and so, the services of a packaging company may have been sought. In turn, the packaging company might have promoted their services through sales letters, ads, emails, press releases, and of course, their websites.

Like packaging, there are a number of other steps such as procuring the electronic gizmo that is used within the washing machine, etc. involved in bringing the appliance to consumers. Of course, steps like conducting demos, posting letters, sending emails, posting ads, responding through auto-responders, and training the sales force are important as well and hence, are carried out before the appliance reaches consumers like you.  

What is the connection between all these and your choice of career? Just the manufacture of a washing machine and bringing it to the consumer itself offers several opportunities. This means that if you take into account all the products or services that are now available to consumers, you will have millions of job opportunities. The only point is that you have to zero in on the job in which you have interest, and focus on it. Even if you make a wrong choice, you need not worry. You can make a switch to a more suitable one any time you want. But at the same time, avoid making several or frequent switches. Remember the age-old adage - "Rolling stones gather no moss."