“People who fail focus on what they have to go through; people who succeed focus on what it will feel like at the end.” -Tony Robbins
Years ago, I came across something that Jim Rohn said: “We get paid for bringing value to the marketplace. It takes time to bring value to the marketplace, but we get paid for the value, not the time.” This opened my mind to a new way of thinking.
I’m sure you’re aware of people being concerned with how much the hourly pay is. I was one of them. I quit my first job to work at another because it paid me more money. I’m sure several of you have done the same.
Yes, some places you have to leave because you aren’t appreciated or there’s no room for upward motion. I agree with you, leave that place! (Just like when your partner doesn’t appreciate you. Leave!)
But sometimes you get lucky and find a great company and great co-workers with good pay. Nice. Just do your job and collect that paycheck, right? I don’t know. Maybe. That depends on YOU. I can’t answer that for you.
I can only speak for myself. And me personally, I want more. I expect more from myself (and those around me). There’s a great book by Robin Sharma titled The Leader Who Had No Title. He explains how we don’t need the team leader title to lead others. We don’t need to be store managers to push the team to do their best.
At every job I’ve had, I’ve always done more than what was expected of me. I didn’t do it for them. I did it for me. Because I knew it had to be done, and I got it done. I don’t wait to be told. I don’t wait for the next person to take care of it. I have standards for myself, and I always try to surpass them.
“Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.” –Robin Sharma
Standards are different than goals. Goals are like shoulds. I should lose weight. I should work out. I should watch less TV. I should drink more water. Standards are what you will or will not tolerate. I have standards with my time. I wasted years of my life doing things I shouldn’t have (the shouldn’t had to become a won’t) and now I will not tolerate wasting my time.
I have standards when it comes to my choice of words. I choose not to cuss because I have control over what comes out of my mouth. I have standards with the music that I listen to and the movies that I watch because I have control over what influences me. I have standards with what people say around me. I won’t tolerate others bad-mouthing someone else who isn’t there, and I don’t tolerate gossip around me. I remove myself from that environment because I have control over what gets put in my head. Our mind is like a computer. It won’t function properly if it’s full of spam, spyware, adware, viruses, and junk files that should’ve been erased a long time ago.
I digress.
By having higher standards in everything we do, we perform better. When we expect more from ourselves, we can love better. When we expect more from ourselves, we can be a better partner to the person we supposedly love. (Supposedly because we say we love her yet we talk down to her and don’t appreciate everything she does for us. Unless she’s the one doing it to you: leave her!)
Side note: Just like with a job, don’t expect a raise if you don’t deserve one. Don’t expect your girl to treat you well if you don’t deserve it. Love her, respect her, cherish her, prioritize her (debatable), spend time with her (turn the phone off), and listen to her. If you don’t, someone else will.
When we have higher standards for ourselves, we don’t let anyone disrespect us. No sir. I have a name, don’t be calling me a bitch. (If you do, don’t be wondering why I don’t come around no ‘mo.)
When we expect more from ourselves, we work better and become better individuals for everyone around us. It becomes contagious. I’ve had a few bosses that demanded so much from us and others hated them; I didn’t. Years later, I still admire them. They pushed everyone to perform at their best. If you wanted to be dragging your feet at work, go work somewhere else. I don’t want to be picking up your slack because you want to be talking to the pretty girl from curbside.
“When you do more than you’re paid to do, you will eventually be paid more for what you do.” -Jim Rohn
What I’ve noticed is that by doing more than what was expected of me, the people that matter would notice it and I’d get promoted. As soon as I get one promotion, I’m thinking about the next. I don’t settle. I don’t want to do better than you or anyone else. I’m not competing with you; I’m competing with the best version of myself.
I’ve flipped my life completely around. I’d have to introduce myself to everyone that I once knew; I’m not the same person. But honestly, I feel like my journey is just now starting.
I have so much to prove, to myself. Not you or anyone else.
Steve Jobs had his “Reality Distortion Field,” and he was able to change the world and inspire those around him. Michael Jordan did the same with his teammates and opponents.
They believed in themselves before anyone else would, and in the end, all of their hard work and determination paid off.
It begins with changing your mind, your world.
“Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” -Steve Jobs
