Working The Dream

Keys for Success

Three Angels Broadcasting Network

Program transcript

Participants: Eric Kelly (Host)

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Series Code: WTD

Program Code: WTD000004A


00:30 Hi, welcome to "Working the Dream"
00:35 I'm your host Eric Kelly and today we're going to
00:37 share tips on how your performance
00:41 can pave the way to further career success.
00:44 Years ago, I was blessed to learn from a mentor,
00:47 from Atlanta, Georgia, the unwritten rules
00:50 of career success.
00:52 Now the acronym for the unwritten rules of success
00:55 that I'm going to share is: "PIES"
01:01 Please don't get these confused with the kind that we
01:05 demolish at Thanksgiving.
01:07 But these are going to be the kind that ensure
01:10 that at work we are successful.
01:13 Let me share what PIES stands for...
01:15 The first letter is for "P" - performance.
01:18 We must be known as good performers.
01:21 The second letter is for... "I" - image,
01:24 and that image - does it match the image of the organization
01:28 that you're working for?
01:29 The third letter is... "E" - exposure.
01:32 How many people know you and how many people know
01:35 you positively?
01:37 And the last letter is... "S" - spirituality.
01:40 The other letters don't matter if you don't have that one.
01:44 Okay, let's look at it...
01:47 Excellent performance is the price of entry
01:51 in today's workplace.
01:53 Now, here's the funny thing...
01:54 People say, "Price of entry - yes,"
01:57 unless you are a good performer, you'll get fired
02:03 because companies only want to pay for people
02:06 that get their job done.
02:08 They only want good performers, so, how do I get there?
02:12 Well, great performance starts with picking a field
02:16 that you want to work in and picking something
02:20 that you will enjoy doing for a long time.
02:24 You see, if you are just doing something for the money,
02:28 you probably will not be nearly as engaged as if you were
02:32 in a profession that you have a passion for.
02:35 Let me share a story that illustrates what I mean.
02:39 Several years ago, there were some students that
02:41 complained to the leaders of their university that something
02:45 was wrong with their education.
02:47 You see, these students had chosen fields of study
02:52 based on what they thought those positions in those
02:55 fields would pay when they graduated.
02:58 I mean, they went to the internet and they put in
03:01 the position they were studying to have and they looked
03:04 at the pay grades and they said, "Ha, ha, these jobs
03:08 are going to be at the very top of the pay grade."
03:11 Now, here's reality, 4 or 5 years later, the work landscape
03:17 was nothing similar to what they had started.
03:21 In fact, some of the jobs had been sent overseas;
03:25 some of the jobs had been completely changed
03:29 or eliminated due to technology.
03:33 Imagine a typewriter repair specialist now versus
03:39 50 years ago - I mean, technology changes so fast,
03:42 what you think is going to happen, it may be gone,
03:45 so at the end of these students' studies,
03:48 the job markets had changed so drastically,
03:51 that they were no longer going to be in the
03:54 top paid professions.
03:56 Now, let's not feel sorry for them...
03:58 they got their degrees, they were educated,
04:00 and they were going to have some pretty good,
04:02 well-paying jobs.
04:04 But the moral of the story is... to enjoy what you do,
04:09 pick a field that you are truly going to enjoy working in,
04:13 and your passion is going to come out of your performance.
04:16 There's nothing worse to running into somebody at work,
04:20 and they say, "They don't pay me enough money to do this job."
04:24 So, let's look in on our friend, Ron, and determine how his
04:28 performance might be viewed by his upper management team.
04:39 Ah, hey Ms. Green...
04:40 Hey Ron... I need the revenue projections for next quarter
04:44 for all business segments, how quickly can I get them?
04:47 I can have them for you in 5 minutes if you need me to.
04:49 Now did you want those with the Hillsdale account on there
04:53 or without - since that contract is still pending,
04:56 it could greatly affect our revenue and run rates.
04:59 So, I took the liberty of creating both scenarios.
05:02 Ahh... good work!
05:04 Yeah, I'd like to take a good look at both of them
05:07 and I think Mr. Martin would appreciate analyzing the impact
05:11 the accounts on the company, so YEAH - good work!
05:15 Thanks, no problem.
05:17 Oh, Ms. Green, do you want those in the spiral bindings?
05:21 I can run down to office support and have them do it for you.
05:24 Ron, you think of everything, don't you?
05:26 That's a good idea, excellent job!
05:29 Good!
05:40 Did you notice how Ron was proactive as he talked about
05:44 what was expected?
05:46 He asked questions to ensure that he did what would
05:51 satisfy Ms. Green.
05:53 Do you notice that he made sure that whatever it is
05:56 she wanted, he had a clear expectation in his mind
06:01 before he took off.
06:02 You see, he understands if Ms. Green is happy,
06:05 and if he delivers, he gets that BIG gold star...
06:10 And by the way, Big Gold Star performances... ha, ha,
06:14 they create manager comfort when assigning bigger
06:18 and better and more important projects to employees.
06:22 The more important the project, the more value that you have
06:26 as an employee.
06:28 Now in contrast, let's look in on Kim and see how
06:32 she's handling her work assignments.
06:36 Girl, I didn't finish the episode though, I feel asleep.
06:40 Anyway, finish telling me about this date you were on.
06:42 No way, who takes a girl out on a romantic dinner to a
06:47 fast food restaurant? That's just craziness!
06:50 Oh hey, I gotta go, the evil ice-queen is on her way, bye.
06:53 Good afternoon, Kim.
06:56 Hi Ms. Green - I love those shoes, they really compliment
07:00 your outfit well. Thanks
07:02 You were supposed to get the
07:03 Winkler Supplemental Report to me.
07:06 Yes, I am still working on it.
07:07 What's the hold up?
07:09 Is it systems? Have people been too
07:11 slow in getting you the information?
07:13 I... uh.. uh..
07:15 Look, it was due last Friday, this is the fourth Wednesday
07:21 of the month - you know that every fourth Thursday
07:24 we have an executive team meeting about this project.
07:28 I need that report.
07:29 I know Ms. Green, I'm so sorry.
07:31 And you know what, I'm working on it and
07:33 it's just that with the special projects and the quarterly
07:36 reports all due at the same time, it's...
07:38 This is an opportunity for you to shine and get recognized
07:41 by the executives, Kim.
07:43 I know, Ms. Green... You know what,
07:45 I'll have it for you by tomorrow morning!
07:47 No. I need it tonight.
07:49 Before you go home, I need that report.
07:52 So, you may stay late. Okay, Ms. Green.
07:55 I understand.
07:57 Thanks dear.
08:00 "Thanks dear."
08:09 WOW!
08:10 I'm sure you're going to agree with me...
08:12 Kim's future - is about as secure as a germ
08:15 at a Lysol convention.
08:17 Her boss has no confidence in her whatsoever,
08:21 and she's so disingenuous when she's talking to her boss.
08:25 I'm pretty sure, Ms. Green, she's not feeling
08:28 good about her work performance.
08:30 You see, in performance, there's only one answer that's
08:34 ever acceptable and it is, "Yes, I got it done."
08:37 Performance is expected.
08:39 Now, we are fans of performers.
08:42 Just a few weeks ago, I got sucked into an argument
08:46 of who was the greatest basketball player
08:49 to ever play the game.
08:51 Michael Jordan versus LeBron James...
08:54 And we argued and we argued performance stats,
08:57 and we talked about who did what when
08:59 and what years they did it.
09:01 Well they were all younger than me and I sprung the
09:04 Dr. Jay answer on them and they
09:06 had no idea who I was talking about.
09:07 But here's the reality, whether it's sports, football,
09:10 basketball, golf, hockey, soccer, it doesn't matter,
09:14 we only talk about performers, the best performers.
09:19 Sports performers who cannot perform are dismissed
09:23 from the team... it's the same in the workplace.
09:26 Your performance is going to be proportionate to your
09:30 ability to get other people to cooperate and work with you.
09:34 Now, I was in an office one time,
09:37 doing my little consulting work and I walked past
09:40 an area where people were walking and talking and working.
09:43 So, I watched a supervisor take some work over to a
09:48 worker, but it seemed like the supervisor
09:51 was a little afraid to go there.
09:52 In fact, I actually heard the employee say,
09:56 "I know you're not trying to give me more work, are you?"
10:00 "Hmm," I thought to myself.
10:03 Uh, the supervisor can only give you work, hm, at work
10:09 which we go to work, so that we can work,
10:14 and we get paid for working.
10:16 So, yeah, of course the supervisor is bringing you
10:20 more work - where else would she bring you work? At home?
10:24 Now I thought about this person and wondered...
10:26 "I wonder how they're viewed," and I'm pretty sure
10:31 I don't have to wonder how they're viewed in the workplace.
10:34 They're not really ready to perform.
10:37 So here's what I want you to do...
10:39 I want you to grab a pen and paper and I want you to
10:42 take a performance quiz and if you have somebody that knows
10:47 you really well, have them around also
10:50 because I would like for them to help you give
10:54 the right answers.
10:56 Now, if you're ready, here we go...
10:59 Okay, true or false... are you ready? Good!
11:03 #1. My assignments are completed on a timely basis.
11:11 #2. I am always seeking to expand my skills.
11:16 #3. I belong to a professional organization or group
11:21 that supports my career goals.
11:23 #4. I present solutions to my boss, teacher or professor
11:29 instead of problems.
11:31 #5. I take on new projects, new responsibility without
11:37 hesitation.
11:38 #6. I work hard to make my boss look good.
11:42 #7. My work is neat, clear and thorough, usually more
11:48 than what is required.
11:49 #8. I'm willing to sign my name to any work I complete.
11:54 #9. I am continually seeking new challenges.
11:59 And the final question...
12:01 #10. I readily assist my peers even when not asked.
12:05 Now some of you might say, "Does this make a difference?"
12:10 Let's look at the first question...
12:11 "My assignments are completed on a timely basis."
12:16 Now let's look at what happens when the answer is "no."
12:21 I was in an office working with a client and the director
12:25 came out of the office and he said, "Tomorrow I have a
12:29 meeting with the vice president, a very important meeting."
12:32 But he had asked all of his direct reports for their
12:37 smaller reports - so that he could get ready to have his
12:40 meeting with the vice president.
12:42 Well only two out of six people had their
12:46 reports in on time.
12:47 So he stormed down the hall, brow was furrowed,
12:52 he walked into their office and said, "Where's that report?"
12:54 And people came up and said, "Oh, I forgot to get it to you."
12:57 And they quickly scurried to do something.
13:00 And he went to the next one... "Oh, I forgot to get it to you."
13:03 He went to the next office... "I forgot to get it to you."
13:07 Four times... On the way back, he passes me, he said,
13:10 "I need to fire them."
13:13 Now, if you're assignments are completed on a timely basis,
13:18 your boss has confidence that when they give you something,
13:21 it will be done when it needs to be done.
13:24 So imagine, when it's time to get a new assignment
13:27 or an assignment that has a lot of visibility,
13:30 would you give it to the ones who are late?
13:33 Or, would you give it to the person that gets
13:36 their stuff in on time?
13:37 Second question... "I am always seeking
13:42 to expand my skills."
13:44 Whether we like it or not, the world is changing
13:46 and new things are coming out all the time.
13:49 If you were a software expert 20 years ago,
13:53 I don't even know if we use any of the same stuff
13:55 we used 20 years ago.
13:57 So, how am I going to stay on top of my profession
14:00 if I'm not seeking to expand my skills and learn new things?
14:05 By the way, I've talked to people who have said,
14:08 "I just want to do my job and go home and nobody bother me."
14:13 Please wake up! Not going to happen.
14:16 See, the reason your skills need to expand is because
14:19 the people that are coming up the organization
14:22 have bigger and greater skills and sometimes,
14:25 just to stay comfortably where you are,
14:27 you need to be in the habit of expanding your skills
14:31 and your abilities.
14:33 Question #3... "I belong to a professional
14:38 organization or group that supports my career goals."
14:41 Now here's why that's important...
14:44 Let's say you are an up and coming accountant,
14:49 and you join a professional accounting organization,
14:53 think about the benefits of the networking.
14:55 There are going to be accountants that have
14:57 far more experience than you, so you're going to be able to
15:01 ask questions and get answers that you may not
15:03 be able to figure out on your own.
15:05 You're going to be at meetings where maybe there's a new
15:07 software package that comes out and all of the accountants
15:11 in your area are talking about it.
15:12 In this group, in this organization, you're going to
15:15 have access to information and that is going to make
15:19 an incredible difference to your career.
15:22 #4... "I present solutions instead of problems to my boss,
15:28 teacher or professor."
15:30 Now, there are going to be problems in the workplace,
15:34 but I had a pet peeve as a manager - when someone would
15:36 come into the office and say, "Hey boss, you have a problem,"
15:41 and kind of plop it on my desk.
15:44 Do I have a problem or do WE have a problem?
15:47 Are you a member of this team?
15:49 You see, if you walk into the boss's office, the teacher's
15:51 office, whoever the authority figure is,
15:54 and all you do is present problems,
15:56 YOU are a problem.
15:59 However, if you walk in with this technique, here it goes...
16:02 "Boss, we have a problem... the problem is A, B, C,
16:06 but I believe I have a solution, it's D, E, F,
16:11 what do you think?"
16:12 At that point, you are no longer just a bringer of a problem,
16:17 you are also the problem-solver.
16:20 And, if you ever want to be perceived as an incredible
16:23 performer, be known as a problem-solver.
16:26 That's the greatest reputation you could have at work.
16:30 #5... "I take on new projects, new responsibilities without
16:36 hesitation."
16:37 Now this one might kill people if they're lazy...
16:41 simply because at work, you're going to get new
16:44 responsibilities, you're going to get new projects,
16:46 and supervisors and bosses that we work for - they want to
16:50 feel comfortable with giving us those projects.
16:53 They want to make sure that we're willing, we're able,
16:57 and we do it without hesitation.
16:59 Why should they have to beg us to take on new projects
17:03 and new responsibilities?
17:04 In fact, let's say that you're skilled at making your
17:08 supervisor take that project or responsibility
17:11 to somebody else, guess who gets the visibility
17:15 when the project is done? That person!
17:18 Long-term - THAT person is who is valued.
17:22 So, I want to make sure that if my supervisor
17:25 needs me to do absolutely ANYTHING,
17:27 if it's within my skill set, I'm going to do it
17:30 without hesitation.
17:32 Now, question #6... this was a little difficult for me to
17:37 handle for a while.
17:38 Question #6 simply says, "I work hard to make my boss look good."
17:44 The first time I met my mentor, we went into a session,
17:47 a training session and he was an incredible leader,
17:51 an incredible communicator and he had 12-15 of us
17:56 young, professionals and we believed we were going to be
17:59 upwardly mobile...
18:01 He said, "Gentleman, what is your purpose at work?"
18:05 Well we started coming up with all sorts of answers...
18:09 "My purpose is to bring new ideas."
18:11 And someone else said, "My purpose is to bring
18:14 my creativity and problem solving skills...
18:17 and each answer was more outlandish than the next.
18:21 And each time someone gave an answer, in is calm way,
18:23 he would simply say, "No sir, that's not it."
18:27 Well at the end of all these answers...
18:29 which went from the ridiculous to the sublime,
18:32 he simply said, "Gentleman, you have one purpose at work,
18:37 and that's to make your boss look good."
18:40 What? Our sole purpose is to make our boss look good.
18:46 Well, here is the rationale and it makes so much sense,
18:49 and after all these years, I will tell you,
18:50 it is true... the workplace is built on hierarchies.
18:54 There's the CEO, above him there's the chairman
18:57 of the board; below the CEO there are vice presidents;
19:01 then there are directors and senior managers,
19:04 and managers and so forth.
19:05 And everybody that's in that pyramid is looking to do well
19:10 so they can move up.
19:12 So, anybody that works for them, that makes them look good,
19:16 becomes an asset that they value.
19:20 So, if I work hard to make my boss look good,
19:23 who is valued?
19:25 In fact, if they have to make a choice during a merger
19:27 or a downsizing, who do you think we should keep
19:30 and the list of people includes someone
19:33 that makes them look good?
19:34 Human nature, tell me what do you think their
19:38 choices might be?
19:39 Question #7... "My work is neat, clear and thorough,
19:45 usually more than what is required."
19:48 Now it's the last part that throws folks...
19:50 A lot of folks can be relatively neat and clear,
19:54 but when you are giving more than what is required,
19:57 you are a standout employee because most
20:01 employees - they probably aren't going to do that.
20:04 Now remember, whatever work you turn into your boss,
20:07 they may be moving that upstairs to their boss,
20:10 so the better your work product is, the better
20:13 their work is and that's again something that they
20:17 praise and pride in a valued employee.
20:21 Question #8... "I am willing to sign my name
20:24 to any work I complete."
20:27 When things are thrown together and just, you know,
20:30 hodgepodge and just a mess, do you really want to
20:34 sign your name to it?
20:35 Because when you sign your name to it,
20:37 that's how you are going to be viewed.
20:40 #9... "I am continually seeking new challenges."
20:44 There is no such thing as treading water in a career.
20:49 Either you're getting better and you're learning more
20:51 or you're getting passed by everyone else.
20:54 Look for new challenges daily, God wants us to grow.
20:59 And 10 is - "I readily assist my peers even when not asked.
21:07 Now when I think about that, wouldn't Christ want us
21:11 to help the people around us?
21:13 So it's not just a business principle,
21:16 this one kind of comes from a higher power.
21:19 Now, does it make a difference?
21:21 Well, let's uh, let's see...
21:26 Phone dialing and ringing...
21:32 This is Analytics, Cynthia Green speaking.
21:34 Hi Ms. Green, Jonas here, how are you?
21:37 Oh hi Mr. Martin, what can I do for you?
21:39 Well, I'm calling you because I've got a very special
21:41 project I'm going to need your help on.
21:43 We've got something we're doing here and your group has
21:47 always done a very nice job for us here.
21:49 Graphics are good, your analytics are great,
21:52 and that's what I need on this particular project.
21:54 Uh, I think it's going to be about two weeks,
21:58 highly visible, so I'm going to need somebody that
22:03 I can really count on.
22:04 Do you have anybody like that?
22:06 Well yes, as-a-matter-of-fact I do and I think you'll really
22:09 enjoy working with him.
22:11 Great, great - I'll call you back with the details
22:13 and then we'll get together and set up a meeting, all right?
22:15 Oh sounds good, thanks. Excellent! Bye bye.
22:20 Now to win in the workplace, you must have a reputation
22:24 of being a strong performer.
22:26 It's not only what our employers are looking for,
22:29 it is what God expects of us.
22:31 We're His hands, we're Him in the workplace.
22:34 1 Corinthians 10:31 says the following:
22:45 Years ago, there was a good friend of mine
22:47 that I used to play basketball with and it was
22:51 quite a long time ago, and he translated that a
22:54 bit differently.
22:56 We'd be at a pickup game at the park or at the gym
22:59 or wherever we were and we'd come in to get dressed
23:02 and we're putting on our shoes and our gear and whatever,
23:07 and the guys that we were going to play against
23:09 they would start to share with us why it was futile
23:14 that we even showed up that day.
23:17 They would tell us about all their superior skills,
23:21 "alleged superior skills," and they basically said,
23:26 "You guys are no competition, there's no reason
23:29 for you to even be here."
23:32 Uh, but when you think about performance,
23:36 it's not just talking about performance,
23:39 you actually have to perform.
23:42 My buddy would simply say, "Gentleman, you gotta bring
23:47 some to get some."
23:49 In fact, the sportscasters put it a different way...
23:53 We talk about what's going to happen in the Super Bowl
23:56 or what's going to happen in the championship game,
23:59 and we're always guessing and the pundits are saying,
24:02 "We think this is going to happen,
24:04 we think that is going to happen,"
24:06 but actually, we have no idea until it actually happens.
24:11 I heard a sportscaster say, "Folks, the reason why
24:16 this game didn't turn out the way we thought it was,
24:19 is because you actually have to play it."
24:23 As far as performance is concerned,
24:26 you can have all of the education,
24:28 you can have all the skill, you can have all the talent,
24:32 but you've actually got to play the game.
24:36 We LOVE performers!
24:40 Now I don't know if you're like me, but the Olympics,
24:44 they turn me on to something that I only watch
24:48 once every four years, swimming and gymnastics.
24:52 But the Olympics has given me new household names that
24:57 I didn't have before the events.
24:59 I'm watching swimming and these guys jump into the water
25:03 and they are stroking and they're pulling and they're
25:06 giving everything that they have and when they finally
25:10 touch the other end and the buzzer goes off,
25:12 and the flag goes up and they were winners,
25:14 I'm cheering, but I'm cheering their performance.
25:19 I was watching gymnastics and I'm watching these young
25:22 ladies go through the air and do things with their bodies
25:25 that are absolutely unbelievable,
25:28 but at the end, as they stand on the podium
25:30 when they get their medals, I'm cheering for their
25:34 performance.
25:35 Now, when we're at the work place, it's the same thing.
25:41 When I wrote a resume, I wrote on my resume
25:44 "I am a performer."
25:46 Hey, they even called me for an interview and during the
25:49 interview, I went into the office and I told them
25:53 "I am a performer."
25:55 And then on my first day, I was dressed up,
25:58 I walked in and I said, "Yes, absolutely, I can
26:01 prove that I am a performer."
26:05 So if I am a performer, I must bring some to get some.
26:11 Remember, you are powerless over what they can
26:15 do to you, but they are powerless over what God will
26:19 do for you.
26:20 Until next time, I'm Eric Kelly,
26:22 you keep "Working the Dream" and the dream will keep
26:27 working for you.


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Revised 2017-08-24