Editor’s note: This article was first published in March 2015, and the author’s mention of his own age, 35, is as of 2015.
As a general rule, we carry certain personality traits from our lives into our work and from our work into our lives. People who are passionate in life tend to be passionate at work; people who are disorganised in their lives tend to be disorganised at work. That’s why a lot of advice applies to every area.
We always talk about the importance of leaving a positive impact on the world. But while we work on changing things on a global scale, it’s a good idea to start building some good habits on a small scale, and they’re no less important for that: this is where the theory of “brick by brick to build a great wall” comes in.
It was Victoria Bernal who, more than a decade ago now, gave me an excellent piece of advice that shows her way of thinking and what makes her the great person she is, both personally and professionally:
Always leave things better than you found them. If we’re talking about a relationship and you meet someone who is well and happy, try to make sure that, if the relationship ends at some point, that person has had good experiences, that you’ve helped them grow as a person, and that you’ve brought more happiness and good times into their life. Try to be seen as someone who adds, not someone who subtracts.
Some people leave such bad memories that others lose the desire to start over, while others leave a positive impact that helps that person keep their faith in people.
And of course, if you come across someone who was already in a bad way, try to make sure that person ends up incredibly well after you’ve passed through their life.
See also: Ten choices you have to make today to succeed tomorrow
Over the years, and not only through my own 35 years but through the eyes of people who are well past 80, there’s agreement on the satisfaction that comes from nobody having a single reason to reproach us or criticise any bad action or behaviour on our part; at least not conscious and intentional behaviour.
In the professional world, when you join a company, try to make sure that by the time you leave it’s a better company than when you arrived.
Over the years I’ve seen two kinds of bosses: the one who burns out his workers, and the one who becomes an excellent mentor, or who, without necessarily becoming a mentor, does train great professionals. It’s a notable difference, and you can see it in who is a bad boss or leader and who is an excellent one.
The same happens with certain people in sales: some leave even their own customers disappointed, while others manage to build a good reputation.
Always give your best, at every moment and in every area of your life
It doesn’t matter whether we’re talking about life in general or the business world in particular. Giving your best is always easier and more satisfying than not doing so, although for some reason people go to great lengths to do things badly.
If you’re a salesperson, always leave that company’s revenue much higher than when you arrived, regardless of how long you’re going to stay or how the company treats you afterwards. Let nobody have any reason to criticise your work. That’s your professional image and reputation.
If you’re a university student about to do an internship at a company, give it your best even if you know you won’t be staying, because you never know where and when you’ll see some of the people you’re dealing with at that moment again.
Make sure you often ask yourself at the end of the day or the week: “Have I really been the best version of myself? Have I really given everything I could give?”
When you do things properly, things end up turning out well at some point. And although I don’t believe in karma, I’m completely sure that when you’re the best version of yourself with the people around you in every area, the way those people see you gives you, at the very least, great satisfaction and gratification. That turns into motivation to keep doing things as well as we can, with the rewards that eventually follow.
And don’t make the mistake of falling into the false thinking trap you see on those little Facebook posters: “I don’t care what people say about me.” What people say about you does matter. It’s called reputation, and reputation opens and closes doors in every respect.
Further reading
Featured image: Mount Rainier National Park, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.
