Working philosophy

originally written 11.10.09

My working philosophy was formed over almost a decade of employment experience. My entry into the workforce began during the formative years of my life when at 15. The bulk of my time was spent toiling in the food and retail industries, but over time, the lessons I’ve learned have proven to be of immeasurable value in all my endeavors.

The following two habits make up the core of my philosophy as principles that I continuously strive to implement in my actions and behavior.

When working, I apply all of my attention and mental faculties towards the task at hand, no matter how trivial it may seem. I take pride in the quality of my output and knowing that I’ve given it my all. In addition, I learned early on that the best method for passing the time at work, as well as a means of avoiding the boredom that often accompanies work of a less than challenging nature, is to focus all of my energy on the task itself. In essence, I lose myself in the work and earn both pride and fulfillment from the fruits of my efforts. I’ve experienced many positive consequences of this work habit including excellent grades, a capacity to take on an increased workload from my job and school, the notice of my superiors and professors and, most importantly, I now find work enjoyable.

The next principle of my philosophy is less like a habit and is, instead, more of an overall outlook. I feel it is absolutely essential to always seek out ways to better my skills and abilities. I don’t believe in resting on one’s laurels and allowing skills to stagnate. Spending leisure time learning new skills and enhancing old ones takes considerable effort. The difficulty of doing so is a testament to the high value of the results, which immediately dispel the lingering disappointment of previous failures.