This Work Ethic Will Make Every Well-meaning Employer Smile



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A couple of years back I was one of four young graduates from institutions of higher learning who had been recruited after our one year of compulsory National Service to do a year of voluntary service with a Junior High School. Each one of us had a unique approach to duty and in as much as every one of us contributed our bit I was particularly impressed by the work ethic of one of our colleagues.

            David was a voluntary service personnel who would frequently report to work much earlier than most staff members and yet be one of the few to exit the school premises long after school hours was over. He would get so absorbed with his duties to the extent that he sometimes forfeit his meals while on the job; he was evidently passionate about his work.











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One of the admirable traits that stood out for me was David`s commitment to continual improvement upon his job performance. He seemed to operate by the philosophy, “good is not good enough” or perhaps had imbibed lessons taught in the brief, yet remarkable poem popular among kids:

Good, better, best.

May I never rest,

Until my good is better and my better best

A case in point had to do with the terminal reporting system of the school. He and I were members of the team that was responsible for making final grade entries into students` report forms. The filling of these reports was manually done and this had been the case for years. This practice was slow, demanding and time-consuming. We, however, continued this practice with much diligence until my colleague came up with a brilliant idea; he will prospect for and teach himself the usage of a students` terminal reporting software that would in time replace the manual filling of the report forms. It took a while but David kept at it until he had developed the report form template and had become conversant with the relevant procedures required for optimal usage of the software.

Alas, the manual filling of the student report forms with its associated delays and drudgery had become a thing of the past. “Teething” problems came to the fore with the use of the software. However, with the passage of time, those challenges were ironed out. Here was an employee who took his work so seriously that he was willing to acquire new knowledge and skill to be of better service to the institution he worked with.  It brings to mind what Brian Tracy once stated: “You can learn anything you need to learn to achieve any goal you can set for yourself, there are no limits.”
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Not only was David conscientious about his work but he was great at relating with both students and fellow employees. He will smile broadly and shake hands heartily with staff members. He was affable, friendly, supportive and dependable. A work ethic such as that David exhibited is highly commendable and worth emulating; such a work ethic will definitely impress every well-meaning employer. So much could be accomplished if you gave off your best at your place of work. You could become an asset rather than a liability to the business entity you work with. You could climb high the corporate ladder. Just give it a try. I sign off with this perceptive quote from Orison Swett Marden: “Make it a life-rule to give your best to whatever passes through your hands. Stamp it with your personal character. Let superiority be your trademark.”

Written by Daniel Dela Dunoo

A freelance writer/editor, blogger & author of six e-books. Daniel`s articles, short stories and poems have been featured on several websites, blogs, newspaper publications and magazines such as HR Focus Magazine, MM Focus Magazine, Optimum Magazine and Step Magazine, The Daily Graphic, The Mirror, The Business & Financial Times, www.ghanatalksbusiness.com, www.kuulpeeps.com, www.yen.com.gh and on several other platforms.

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