| Ever hear the story about the rich man who | | | | using their unique gifts.People who are |
| asked his unemployed son to build him a new | | | | winning at working aren't looking for the |
| house while he traveled for a year? "Build it | | | | easy way, the fast way or the most |
| well," he told his son. "Of course, you'll be | | | | comfortable way. They want the satisfaction |
| reimbursed for everything, including your | | | | of knowing they offered their best-self to |
| time, when I return."After the father left, | | | | their work. And while they understand |
| the son decided it didn't make sense to work | | | | accomplishment can be difficult, require |
| that hard. He had more important and fun | | | | enormous efforts and tax their determination, |
| things to do. So, the son applied just enough | | | | they persist in the quest to find the best of |
| personal effort to accomplish the task within | | | | who they are and bring it to the world.You |
| the timeframe. He even cut corners on | | | | see, people who are winning at working aren't |
| materials and construction staff to save | | | | competing with you, they're competing with |
| money that he could spend on personal | | | | themselves. Their challenge is to do better |
| whims.When his father returned, he paid the | | | | this time than the last, to grow, to improve, |
| expenses promised, then asked his son, "Are | | | | to evolve. They're not into half-hearted |
| you happy with the quality of this house?" | | | | attempts because it diminishes their ability |
| "Oh yes," said the son, "it's a great house. | | | | to maximize their potential, discover their |
| "I'm glad to hear that," replied his father, | | | | strengths and accomplish their dreams.As |
| "because I'm giving it to you."Too many | | | | football coach John McKay puts it, "All that |
| people I've encountered, in my twenty years | | | | matters is if you can look yourself in the |
| in management, operate like that son. They do | | | | mirror and honestly tell the person you see |
| just what they need to do to get by. They cut | | | | there that you've done your best." Want to be |
| corners. They trade short-term whims for | | | | winning at working? Use the mirror test. And |
| long-term gains. And like the son in the | | | | by the way, what are you saving your best |
| story, they end up hurting themselves.You | | | | efforts for, anyway?(c) 2006 Nan S. Russell. |
| see, get-by-effort reduces opportunities (not | | | | All rights reserved.Sign up to receive Nan's |
| to mention income), hijacks self-esteem, | | | | free biweekly eColumn at Russell has spent |
| hides talents, limits soul-potential and | | | | over twenty years in management, most |
| ultimately shortchanges your life. It's no | | | | recently with QVC as a Vice President. She |
| surprise half-hearted efforts yield mediocre | | | | has held leadership positions in Human |
| results.But people who are winning at working | | | | Resource Development, Communication, |
| aren't interested in getting by, and they're | | | | Marketing and line Management. Nan has a B.A. |
| certainly not interested in shortchanging | | | | from Stanford University and M.A. from the |
| their life-potential. They're excited to | | | | University of Michigan. Currently working on |
| explore their life's equivalent of Olympic | | | | her first book, Winning at Working: 10 |
| Gold. They're intrigued by seeing what they | | | | Lessons Shared, Nan is a columnist, writer |
| can do, finding what they're made of and | | | | and speaker. |