What is your work ethic?

Originally Posted by Zeke

Well, who's gonna admit they are a slacker who doesn't put his best effort into a job? Silly thread.

I am.

I do not work nearly as hard as some of my peers. I just don't. I now regard my time as more valuable than money, so I no longer work weekends and evenings like I did in the past.

In my current field (teaching), I consider my self only average among my peers. I have much to learn, and will try to become one of the best because of desire and pride (there is no money in teaching).

If the thread is silly to you, don't participate.

[Baz]

My philosophy is work harder and smarter.

And if you love what you do, like I do, you'll never have to work a day in your life.

Having said that, doing something productive with your life...creating something....improving something.....fixing something....that is what ensures you'll never have self-esteem issues.

[sammyg2]

Can't talk now, busy

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

I am.

I do not work nearly as hard as some of my peers. I just don't. I now regard my time as more valuable than money, so I no longer work weekends and evenings like I did in the past.

In my current field (teaching), I consider my self only average among my peers. I have much to learn, and will try to become one of the best because of desire and pride (there is no money in teaching).

If the thread is silly to you, don't participate.

I'm only saying that the results of your 'poll' are going to be skewed. And where I bolded your text, you contradict yourself. At least in the sense that you answered "I am" to my question about being a slacker and what effort you put forth. Sounds to me like you're fairly dedicated.

I'll tell you who is a slacker who puts forth little effort is the employee at the Home Depot I observed who continually walked the aisles looking at his phone and not stopping to assist anyone. He was doing absolutely nothing but staying on the move. As for his efforts he might as well have gone outside and sat on a bench. He made it a few days before I suspect the mangers caught up to his game and got rid of him.

[KFC911]

What is this "work ethic" thing you speak of ?

Most here have a bit of talent, smarts, and a bit of the above methinks...in different ratios.

Lots of good replies....

I'm lazy.....worked hard at it all my life.

I truly am lazy compared to my parents, grandparents, etc. Seriously...

[Sarc]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Well, who's gonna admit they are a slacker who doesn't put his best effort into a job? Silly thread.

I work in the creative industry and in my experience, its impossible (without the aid of certain enhancing substances) to be "on" at all times. Sometimes the well is dry, and slacking (recharging) is the order of the day. The good work ethic ensures you don't stay in that mode.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by Sarc

I work in the creative industry and in my experience, its impossible (without the aid of certain enhancing substances) to be "on" at all times. Sometimes the well is dry, and slacking (recharging) is the order of the day.

Well, since I seem to at odds with this thread, I'd say if you're at your workplace, then you have put forth the effort to be in place when creativity strikes. I do know that people like you might very well hit a 'zone' anywhere at any time. To bring your ideas to fruition does take a lot of effort. Anyone who has thought up something and can't get it recorded before the essence of the idea is mostly lost knows of what I speak.

[Bill Douglas]

I love work. I could watch others do it all day.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Well, who's gonna admit they are a slacker who doesn't put his best effort into a job? Silly thread.

Not really. I've known lots of people who perform well within the responsibilities of their job without really working all that hard at it. Maybe they are under-performing their potential and working an easy job. Maybe they are just talented and that allows them to not work very hard. Maybe they have a manager who just doesn't push that hard? Unless you are just oblivious and think that you are the best you could ever be, most self-aware people can point to areas where they could improve. As someone who manages people, I have those conversations all the time. It's more a question of performance vs potential. Lots of people do great at work without working that hard.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

I'm interested in how people judge their own work ethics at their jobs. A couple questions if anyone is interested:

1. Do you think you work harder than your peers, about the same, or less hard?
2. Do you think you do a better job, and equal job, or a worse job than is done by most of your peers?
3. If you think your work ethic is good, what drives you toward same? What's important about doing a good job? Pride? Money?

1. Yes
2. Yes
But I work for the state so that isn't very hard
3. It is right in the title 'Ethics"

[jcommin]

My work ethics were developed from what my parents taught me as a child. My grandparents were Greek immigrants who had much of nothing. What they taught my parents is: knowledge is power. There are two things no one can take away from you: what you know and who you are.

Everything I do I give a 100%, I don't quit, I know what I know and I know what I don't. I was brought up very religious, I have a sense of right and wrong. I'm not a good liar.

My problem today is ethics and the real world environment. Sometimes I just shake my head in disbelief.

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by Baz

My philosophy is work harder and smarter.

And if you love what you do, like I do, you'll never have to work a day in your life.

Having said that, doing something productive with your life...creating something....improving something.....fixing something....that is what ensures you'll never have self-esteem issues.

I met a friend who is also a competitor for beers a few weeks ago. He employs one of my ex employees.

He asked me how I perform the task of recovering a historic Permanent Control point that has been paved over. I responded that I use a chisel and sledge, I like the work out.

He told me he now has a battery skill saw in his truck with a masonry blade on it. They make 4 cuts to create a square and pop out the piece of asphalt, takes seconds.

He laughed and said that was the benefit of having my ex employee there, he is lazy and comes up with great ways not to work hard.

Made me think of this quote.

“I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it.”

― Bill Gates

I was urged to start my own business in the 90's by an ex partner of my old boss. He remembered me when I worked there and looked me up. I was in West Palm Beach at the time suffering in a larger corporation hating my life.

He asked if I was interested in starting my own company mostly because he needed someone to work with him on a few large projects. (Big subdivisions and commercial developments)

He told me I should be a business owner, he said the way I conducted myself working for my old boss showed to him I cared more about the company than the boss did.

He was the push I needed to get out on my own. I remember the day I was handed my last paycheck, it would be the last time someone would be paying me, from then on out I had to make my own paychecks. Daunting to say the least, looking back, best move of my life.

Now I just need to work on that lazy thing so I can be more innovative.

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Not really. I've known lots of people who perform well within the responsibilities of their job without really working all that hard at it. Maybe they are under-performing their potential and working an easy job. Maybe they are just talented and that allows them to not work very hard. Maybe they have a manager who just doesn't push that hard? Unless you are just oblivious and think that you are the best you could ever be, most self-aware people can point to areas where they could improve. As someone who manages people, I have those conversations all the time. It's more a question of performance vs potential. Lots of people do great at work without working that hard.

This is sort of what I was getting at. My son was probably the most over-qualified cashier at Petco during the year he worked there. He didn't work near to his capacity or particularly hard, but performed very well and his bosses loved him.

I think creative people sometimes don't have to work all that hard to make a successful creation--say music--while others slave away at it. I think of Charlie Watts, the Rolling Stones' drummer. He's a creative guy--likes art, prefers jazz to rock--who basically works way below his capacity when drumming for the Stones. He's a great part of an iconic band, but i don't think he works at it very hard, and good for him!

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I'll tell you who is a slacker who puts forth little effort is the employee at the Home Depot I observed who continually walked the aisles looking at his phone and not stopping to assist anyone. He was doing absolutely nothing but staying on the move. As for his efforts he might as well have gone outside and sat on a bench. He made it a few days before I suspect the mangers caught up to his game and got rid of him.

You understand that the store inventory is in a phone app, and he may have been working. That’s no excuse for ignoring a customer of course.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

I'm interested in how people judge their own work ethics at their jobs. A couple questions if anyone is interested:

1. Do you think you work harder than your peers, about the same, or less hard?
2. Do you think you do a better job, and equal job, or a worse job than is done by most of your peers?
3. If you think your work ethic is good, what drives you toward same? What's important about doing a good job? Pride? Money?

YUGE cash prizes to anyone who wants to play along. Not really.

I work harder than anyone else I know or have ever known. But to me it's fun.


I do things until they are as close to perfect as possible. Hard to believe I get paid to be a 99.9% person.


I'm sure there's a psychological disorder for what I have, I just don't know the name of it. Pride is only a part of it. That something must be the best it can possibly be is most of it.

[Bugsinrugs]

When I hire installers I tell them to try and keep up with me. I always try to work harder then the people I hire.
My father once told me that if you miss a day of work you can never make it up.

[Zeke]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

You understand that the store inventory is in a phone app, and he may have been working. That’s no excuse for ignoring a customer of course.

I figured someone would come up with that and probably you. I can tell when someone is working and when they aren't. I could see the look in his eyes when he did look up. Very cautious. He was on as stroll, that's it. I go there a lot and I see who stays and who is gone. The turnover is way too much and the store is what it is because of that.

In 2 weeks time it's new faces all around.

[pavulon]

I have workaholic tendencies. It cost me a lot. Now I have a job that is finished when I leave and starts again when I come back. I have peers who are perfectionists and can't see the problems that causes themselves and others. They are constantly playing defense and "what if'" themselves miserable then start in on peers. Dicks. Wanna mess with them? Compare them to someone else or compliment someone else in front of them...then watch them burn.

Offense is the way to go. Everyone does better. Perfect isn't awesome because perfect doesn't really exist. Giving some fire doesn't make your candle burn any less.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

I’ve always had the attitude that I might not be the smartest or most naturally talented, but that there’s nothing that keeps me from outworking everyone else. Typically I’m a “whatever it takes” type person. I also have the attitude that if you can do something, so can I. That one has gotten better with age and experience, turns out there are some things I suck at.

Me to a tee. Many times out of the gate I suck ass, but improve exponentially and quickly and I never settle for mediocre quality- my data analysis and solutions usually go unchallenged by the clients. It has to be useful, and as clean as possible, none of this last minute 'good enough' stuff that plagues middle management.

I routinely get compared to The Energizer Bunny and Rocky Balboa and had bosses tell me to go home- cuz their afraid their bosses will say something about them not working too hard- especially when they know my work by it's traits.

'Aggressive, consistent and persistent'- is my boilerplate answer during those dumb HR Mandated 'personal growth' questionnaires we get pelted with annually.

It's an attitude that has served me well. I deal with clients as a lead analyst for a consulting company- I get the biggest newest projects (that no one understands) and get to oversee my company's end of the work-cuz they know I'll break my back to deliver once the bigwigs have sold it. No calling in sick, no last minute poorly designed trash, no drama, and I (try to) look the part of a professional.

I fool 'em good!

rjp

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by pavulon

I have workaholic tendencies. It cost me a lot. Now I have a job that is finished when I leave and starts again when I come back. I have peers who are perfectionists and can't see the problems that causes themselves and others. They are constantly playing defense and "what if'" themselves miserable then start in on peers. Dicks. Wanna mess with them? Compare them to someone else or compliment someone else in front of them...then watch them burn.

Offense is the way to go. Everyone does better. Perfect isn't awesome because perfect doesn't really exist. Giving some fire doesn't make your candle burn any less.

This is true- especially if that person has to 'toot their own horn' about it in front of everyone else- office virtue signaler. The trick to excellence is letting everyone else notice it on their own, and STFU about everyone else's work- absolutely hands off, no comments unless YOU have to sign off on it.

Let their boss deal with it.

1) Be Switzerland in these matters.
2)- follow Machiavelli's advice- never outshine your boss, unless he's declining.