Doing Your Best

Doing your best  BUSINESS MATTERS (BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE) By Francis J. Kong , November 22, 2008 The Philippine Star

One of the saddest things I’ve heard in my life is being told that I was “overqualified.” Fresh out of college and looking for a job. Armed with all of my impressive scholastic records and filling out those endless job application forms, companies would simply dismiss me by saying I was too over-qualified for the job. Sounds good but it’s not. But then it didn’t matter. I was young, inexperienced and I continued to look for the job where I could be qualified. Somehow I have gotten through the fear and pain of rejection and have accepted these are co-existent with life.

But what is more tragic than this is when somebody already working at a job entertains the thought in his mind or her mind that he is too “over-qualified.” This is a negative thought what would surely hinder the progress of one’s career and I have seen this happen all too often.

Here is a thought for you:

No matter what you do and what position you occupy, give it your best effort because you are worth your best effort.

I started my corporate career many years ago working as an executive assistant to the president of a company. Fancy title it was but all I ever did was to type letters, prepare coffee and deliver messages during the first few months of my budding career. The job description was embarrassing and the pay was frustrating and I had two choices: either to resign and start scouting for a better paying job, to look for a position that would heal my bruised ego or to simply stay and work like crazy. 

It was such a long way up the corporate ladder but then I realized the humbling truth that I was without experience, without credentials and without the knowledge needed to contribute to the business. I chose to stay and work from the bottom up. I became the fastest typist in the company, I became the most reliable messenger anyone could find and this was eventually found out. Word spread in the company. I learned fast simply because I worked harder, performed efficiently and was promoted fast. What I was doing (although I didn’t know at that time) was simply following a very effective principle found in physics. That for every action done there is an equal and opposite reaction. But physics came a later than The Bible that says: “For whatsoever a man sows, that he shall reap.” So I was simply reaping the rewards of job promotions, salary increases and the fulfillment of job accomplishments.

Don’t be like the man who says, “this job is not worthy of me. I’m too good to be doing this.” In his contempt for his current means of employment, he refuses to do his best. He is dissatisfied, restless and miserable.

And worst, this person is contagious. Should be sent to solitary confinement to protect other people in the work place. It wouldn’t be long before this person loses his job.

And the lesson behind this is that he didn’t fail his job, someone else is at it working on it. He has simply failed himself.

There is no job too unworthy to do well. There is a favorite line among people who are engaged in show business. This is what they say: “there are no small parts, only small actors.”A person’s abilities work very much the same as his muscles do. They are strengthened by exercise. Rust comes into the picture if you fail to exercise what you have.

Remember this: the nature of the job does not determine the value of the person. The nobility he puts in his job dictates the value of that person.

God never puts anyone in a place too small to grow. We’re the only ones who do that to ourselves. Wherever you may be - in an office, cleaning the floors, washing dishes, waiting on tables, in a kitchen, on an assembly line, give it your best shot.

Perform to the best of your abilities. You’ll be expanding your talents by using them. And the end result is this: that you’ll find personal growth and you’ll be a happier person in the process.