15th October 2010
"Don't be content with doing only you duty. Do more than you duty. It's the horse that finishes a neck ahead that wins the race."
Andrew Carnegie
Somewhere I read that successful people do everything they are supposed to do and a little bit more and these four words make a big difference in their life. We are paid for doing our duty. Promotion and reward go to people who respond something beyond the call of their duty. In my time management programme, participants walk up to me and complain that they are very sincere and dutiful, but are not recognized and promoted. I tell them that their salary is enough consideration for their sincere work.
Even hard work is not enough reason for promotion and reward, since we are expected to work hard.
Promotion and special recognition go to people who turn out much more than the call of their duty. When you go to a departmental store, you expect courtesy, warmth, a smile, a greeting etc from the staff in addition to the product you pay for. If you merely get the products, then you may not want to go the same shop again and again.
Life is like that. A best product is packaged attractively. A smart company makes the product look attractive and you feel like buying the same.
Over this weekend, do an exercise. Assume you have a balance in front of you. On one side place the salary you draw for the work you do. On the other side, put the quality of work you do and mentally evaluate which side is more. If you receive more than you are paid for, the company is valuable for you. On the other hand, if you are contributing more than what you are paid for, you become more valuable for the company.
The whole issue is how to make yourself more valuable for the society!
N C Sridharan
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