By Michael Bucci
I remember reading an article a while back in Fortune magazine about James Cramer -- the former Hedge Fund manager and TheStreet.com pundit extraordinaire -- who would wake up at 4 a.m. every day to read five different newspapers so he could get a head start on his work. He would then work all day and go home for three hours of sleep. How he can be alert with three hours of sleep is a mystery to me, but he is who he is for a reason.
Why would anyone work so hard? Perhaps he needs the money to pay off his bookie? Doubtful. Perhaps he wants to be rich? Don't think so; he is already pretty wealthy. In short, he works so hard because he loves his work and it shows. He may be a little bit of an extreme case, but he recently said he would be cutting back on his schedule (slightly) to bring a little more balance to his life.
The point I am making is that to be successful you must have a passion for your work. You shouldn't wake up in the morning depressed about putting on your trousers and heading to work. You have to be happy and anxious to get to the office to tackle your job. Below are some key points that outline just how important it is to have a strong internal motivation to do what you do; because, as you'll see, all the variables that determine whether or not you become successful, such as productivity and willingness to confront new challenges, directly relate to your desire to perform your job.
Challenge is what keeps successful people going. Challenge is to success what water and sunshine is to a flower. Without water and sunshine a flower cannot reach full bloom. Without challenge, the ambitious man cannot actualize his full potential. So don't back down in front of a challenge. Stand tall and face it head on; it is the only way to move forward in work and in life.
As productivity and challenge increase, so will your income and status...
Furthermore, to get to where he is today, he had to overcome many challenges. He built upon his small victories and made it to the top. His reward is a generous income. He is among the top earners in the country, and he enjoys the prestige and perks that come with his position. These things are not given -- they are earned.
But not just anyone can earn them. Ask any corporate boss out there what drives them and you will quickly see it is a passion for their work. They love their company and their job as they love their own child. Now that's passion, and that's what enabled them to make it to the top.
If you are happy at work, your happiness will carry over into your personal life. Moods flow much like a stream going downhill. If you are in a good state of mind at work, that mood will flow and you'll be in a good mood when you get home (at least until you see how much your wife charged on your Gold Card!). Furthermore, the good mood takes time to wear off. Thus, you are a happy camper for most of the day if you love your job. Just don't forget to love your wife, even after the credit card incident.
Also, if you love your job and accept bigger challenges, you will rise to the occasion and you will get promoted. Better yet, with each promotion, you will increase your wealth. And though money does not bring happiness, it sure does make misery more comfortable! What I mean is that if things are going well financially, it will make your personal life more pleasant on the whole. Being passionate about your work is a good way to start on the path to financial independence and security.
Your passion for work will lead you to strive harder and be smarter. This will lead to more professional challenges and increased responsibility. Promotions will follow, as will a rise in income and status. As this happens, you will enjoy your labor as well as the fruits of it. You will ultimately spend your work hours in a state of happiness and your rest hours being even happier. And what, my friends, is the ultimate goal in life if not happiness? You know your marching orders; go out there and find a job you love, then make it to the top!
I remember reading an article a while back in Fortune magazine about James Cramer -- the former Hedge Fund manager and TheStreet.com pundit extraordinaire -- who would wake up at 4 a.m. every day to read five different newspapers so he could get a head start on his work. He would then work all day and go home for three hours of sleep. How he can be alert with three hours of sleep is a mystery to me, but he is who he is for a reason.
Why would anyone work so hard? Perhaps he needs the money to pay off his bookie? Doubtful. Perhaps he wants to be rich? Don't think so; he is already pretty wealthy. In short, he works so hard because he loves his work and it shows. He may be a little bit of an extreme case, but he recently said he would be cutting back on his schedule (slightly) to bring a little more balance to his life.
The point I am making is that to be successful you must have a passion for your work. You shouldn't wake up in the morning depressed about putting on your trousers and heading to work. You have to be happy and anxious to get to the office to tackle your job. Below are some key points that outline just how important it is to have a strong internal motivation to do what you do; because, as you'll see, all the variables that determine whether or not you become successful, such as productivity and willingness to confront new challenges, directly relate to your desire to perform your job.
increased productivityIf you love your job, you'll work harder, longer and better -- doing what you do because it is enjoyable. When something is enjoyable, it is human nature to seek out that thing and prolong the enjoyment as much as possible. Why do guys like sex so much? Therein lies your answer; it feels good before, during and after. Your job should give you the same type of satisfaction (well, maybe not exactly the same type of joy, but you get the picture).
increased challengeIf you love your job, you will give your maximum effort to attain your goals. By doing so, you will be more productive; and by being more productive, you will move up in the company. Finally, by being promoted, you will have increased responsibilities and new challenges that should make you even more passionate about your work.
Challenge is what keeps successful people going. Challenge is to success what water and sunshine is to a flower. Without water and sunshine a flower cannot reach full bloom. Without challenge, the ambitious man cannot actualize his full potential. So don't back down in front of a challenge. Stand tall and face it head on; it is the only way to move forward in work and in life.
As productivity and challenge increase, so will your income and status...
increased income and statusThe janitor at any company is no doubt paid a fair wage for his services, as is the President of the company. The difference lies in the difficulty of the job and the challenge involved. More likely than not, the company President has a lot more pressure riding on his shoulders than the janitor. He has to think of his employees, his shareholders, the general business environment, his customers, and the list goes on. He has to have a handle on the big picture, which is no easy task, even for the most skilled of bosses.
Furthermore, to get to where he is today, he had to overcome many challenges. He built upon his small victories and made it to the top. His reward is a generous income. He is among the top earners in the country, and he enjoys the prestige and perks that come with his position. These things are not given -- they are earned.
But not just anyone can earn them. Ask any corporate boss out there what drives them and you will quickly see it is a passion for their work. They love their company and their job as they love their own child. Now that's passion, and that's what enabled them to make it to the top.
better personal lifeWe spend one third to one half of our lives working. Thus, if work is unpleasant, how can we be in a good mood after suffering for 10 hours every day? Leaving work may signal the absence of pain but it does not signal the advent of happiness.
If you are happy at work, your happiness will carry over into your personal life. Moods flow much like a stream going downhill. If you are in a good state of mind at work, that mood will flow and you'll be in a good mood when you get home (at least until you see how much your wife charged on your Gold Card!). Furthermore, the good mood takes time to wear off. Thus, you are a happy camper for most of the day if you love your job. Just don't forget to love your wife, even after the credit card incident.
Also, if you love your job and accept bigger challenges, you will rise to the occasion and you will get promoted. Better yet, with each promotion, you will increase your wealth. And though money does not bring happiness, it sure does make misery more comfortable! What I mean is that if things are going well financially, it will make your personal life more pleasant on the whole. Being passionate about your work is a good way to start on the path to financial independence and security.
better overall quality of lifeSome say life isn't fair. I tend to think you get what you ask for. If you are willing to put in the effort, then life will pay you your dues; it just doesn't come easily. In today's society, our lives revolve around our work. So by being at the center of our existence, it is paramount that we love what we do for a living. We have to be passionate about our work if we wish to succeed in this increasingly competitive global market. Yes, you've heard this before but it is true and the sooner you accept this fact, the sooner you will be on your road to success.
Your passion for work will lead you to strive harder and be smarter. This will lead to more professional challenges and increased responsibility. Promotions will follow, as will a rise in income and status. As this happens, you will enjoy your labor as well as the fruits of it. You will ultimately spend your work hours in a state of happiness and your rest hours being even happier. And what, my friends, is the ultimate goal in life if not happiness? You know your marching orders; go out there and find a job you love, then make it to the top!
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