How Creativity Can Backfire in the Workplace

Want to get a job or want to keep your job? There, that ought to cover just about everyone between the ages of 18 and 120.
As Obama and the rest of Washington draw up job plan after job plan, let's make sure we do our part rather than waiting on the government to do their part; it may take them a while anyway.


I love being creative and coming up with the next  'new thing,' being adventurous and trying those 'new things' out(www.acouplecomments.com), and just having fun. Yet, at times, you just have to get back to basics and follow the instructions. Here are a few...

To Get a Job:

1. Research the company. Employers often ask questions to guage your interest level in the position and the company. No research, no interest, no job. Sorry Charlie, you just shot yourself in the foot.
2. Follow the instructions. "Please fill this out and when you're done, let me know," the job screener says. Then why are you sitting there waiting for someone to call your name after you filled it out? You'll probably hear something similar to "we'll let you know" when they snatch away the clipboard you should've handed to the proctor. If you can't follow very simple instructions at an interview, here is what an employer thinks: he doesn't listen well. She won't follow procedures. I can't trust that person. Let's not waste our time.
3. Be real. Enjoy the interview, rather than dreading it. Show genuine interest in the company and the people who are interviewing you. Rule of thumb: you will always communicate proportionate to how you feel. Feel scared? That's the way you'll come across. Feel under qualified? They'll smell it with every word you speak. Be you (unless you're a hot mess, in which case, be on the lookout for people just like you in places you spend money and try to work there. You'll fit right in).

To Keep Your Job:

1. Listen to your boss. Listen to what he says. What he doesn't say. Act accordingly.
2. Keep your promises. If you're not going to do it, or capable of doing it, don't do it. If you say you're going to do it, then do it. If you don't know how to do it, but want to do it, then learn to do it.
3. Take responsibility. Don't blame others for your failures, but give others credit when you succeed. Ouch, that may seem painful and humbling. It is, but heck, you'll still have a job and people will respect you for it.

Not a lot of creativity in those tidbids. It'll come later after you have the trust and respect of your employers. Maybe then they'll want to listen.

Get to Work

It’s about time.

It’s about time that all the workshops, webinars, e-mail subscriptions, cd’s, podcasts, speeches and preachers and teachers and keynote feature speakers' talk

Stops.

It’s really about where the rubber meets the road and becomes our own with the practical hands on, real life, tried-and-tested, true to form, hands-down, read deal, easy to understand, and easier to do.

It’s about time.

It’s about time that getting by, inching on, just ‘getting through the day,’ one step forward two steps back, and lack of concern or lack of attack, ‘cause it just makes nothing but a life of naps and dilapidated crap.

It’s about time.

It’s about time that all reservations, inclinations, and tentative conversations take a back seat to implementation, vitalization, and radical transformation because complacency and apathy have no part of who we are, what we do, or who influences you and me. We’re better than that and we've got to give up blame because it's a steady rain that leaves a stain that's name is "not my fault."

It’s about time.

It’s about time that we stop hugging stress like it’s our best friend and send it packing back to the pretend land where it has no upper hand.

It’s about time.

It’s about time to stop making excuses cause they’re useless. They leave us nowhere in life but clueless and in duress, held captive by their false sense of security. See, it’s just you stopping yourself telling everyone else that it’s their fault that you’re not free to succeed.

It’s about time.

It’s about time to stop starting over and wasting time because we have no guarantees for tomorrow so why not make the most of every today.

Make the most of every day.

Of every. 

Single. 

Moment.