I’ve always been an early riser, but, I’m not what you would call a morning person. I like the peace and serenity that comes with a sun rise when no one else is awake. I like knowing that when I wake up, I’m guaranteed a hot shower. Lately, I’ve noticed I like getting my daily exercise done early so that it’s out of the way and I can focus on other things for the rest of the day.
Until just a few months ago, I had a day job in the construction industry. Getting up early in that line of work is a prerequisite. On my first day, I was issued an official alarm clock and coffee grinder. If you’re not an early riser, you’re going to become one.
Apparently, I missed a memo, because early mornings at the office aren’t usually spent enjoying the sunrise or improving your health. They’re spent sweating bullets trying to finish work that was neglected yesterday or put out fires that someone else started.
Not exactly my cup of tea, so to speak. I like mornings, but I like them on my own terms.
The Indoctrination
I’m sure you’ve had the misfortune at some point in life of trying to reconcile what you wanted to do with what you thought you had to do. This is exactly the situation I found myself in and it was thoroughly problematic. All these rules that someone else made and I had to follow.
When I was new, I just tried to fit in and do what everyone else was doing. “That’s just how it is,” they said. You show up at 7:00 every morning and leave at 5:00 every evening. It had to be for a reason, right? Besides, I was on an prosperous career track. If I could just get used to this schedule, spending the first hours of every day pulling my hair out in what felt like a incoherent stupor, there’d be years of financial good fortune ahead of me.
This is the part where I state loudly and quite firmly, “Wrong!”
I was fresh to the professional world and wet behind the ears, but it didn’t take too long to figure out why we had this 7:00 to 5:00 rule. Of course, I’ve always been aware that most companies keep set working hours, I just wasn’t always sure why.
Turns out, they had a pretty good reason. Know what it is?
Most employees (in any industry) are completely mediocre and mediocre employees demand (yes, demand!) rules that tell them how to behave.
Setting a schedule that says you show up at 7:00 and leave at 5:00 is an easy way to ensure that average people are at work for an average of 10 hours a day and, if the averages play out, a few of them are productive.
Now, I enjoy sitting around and being unproductive just as much as the next guy, but its not a hobby I care for at work. I like to reserve that kind of activity for weekends and downtime after I feel like I’ve really accomplished something.
At the same time, though, who can kick ass for 10 straight hours? I’m trying, you know, but my bionic brain is still on back order. I felt forced into a position where I either had to completely drain myself every day or adopt this law of averages that just felt wrong.
There’s good news, though. If this is how you feel too, and you’re willing to work a little smarter, you can start making your own rules about your schedule, or about anything at work or in life for that matter.
A Little “Experiment” With Rules
When I realized what kind of system I was in, I knew right away that I wanted out, but I liked my paycheck and I wasn’t really interested in trying to change an entire corporation’s policy.
I’d gotten a lot of praise for the work I’d been doing and it seemed like everyone was really happy with my results, so I decided to do a little test – I quit showing up at 7:00. Yep. I just quit going to work on time. I didn’t do it all at once, and I didn’t just start showing up after lunch, but slowly and surely I started coming to work later and later and doing it more frequently.
And you know what happened? Absolutely nothing! No one even noticed.
You can probably do it too (even though I can hear you saying in your head that it would never work at your job).
Sure, there are some jobs where this kind of stunt won’t work. If you work on an assembly line and all the pieces pile up at your station and break the machine because you’re not there on time, you’re probably out of luck.
But there are far more jobs where it will work. If you’re reading this article between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm at your desk, then yes, I believe you can do it.
The Secret Formula For Changing the Rules
There’s a catch, though. Are you surprised? There always is, isn’t there?
Remember what I said about average employees needing rules to tell them how to behave? You can’t be one of those average employees and expect to pull this off.
Thankfully, it really doesn’t take much to excel above “average.” If you can grasp this concept (it’s the most important one there is to beating “average”) then you’re well on your way to a much happier workplace:
Success is measured in output of value, not input of effort.
A lot of people think that if they put in the hours, they’ll be noticed and recognized for their effort. It isn’t true. Unfortunately, no one cares how long it took you to complete a job or finish a proposal, or do anything else, really. What they care about is that it got done, it worked, and it worked well.
In fact, the only time anyone is going to care how long it took to do something is when it took too long. And that’s not something you want to be recognized for.
Once you have a real understanding of this concept, you can start using simple productivity tricks to abandon the standard corporate work formula that looks something like this:
(1 hr. of half ass work) + (1 hr. of surfing the net) + (30 min. of frantic work to meet a deadline) = 1 happy boss/customer/client
and substitute it for a much nicer formula that looks like this:
(1 hr. of focused productivity) = 1 really, really happy boss/customer/client
Get it done. Make it work. Make it work well. Consistently nail those 3 things, and you can start changing any rules you want to.
Action is a Revolutionary Act
It’s pretty easy to see how fast you can get ahead when you embrace the reality that people appreciate effort, but they expect results. The funny thing is that this is not a revolutionary concept. When you read it, your first reaction was probably, “Duh!” This is something that everyone, on some level, understands.
But actually implementing it is a revolutionary act. There’s a huge disconnect between those that understand the concept of results over effort and those that actually live by it.
It isn’t easy to do. Most people have been trained their whole lives to do exactly the opposite. They’re even programmed to try to put a stop to it when you decide to do it. But resisting the urge to fit in is exactly what makes you stand out.
If you want to change the rules in another man’s game, you must make yourself an indispensable asset to him. Once you accomplish that, you’re free to make the rules as you see fit and what seems like dangerous behavior to many is, in fact, more empowering to you.
The real danger in this idea comes once you realize you’re tired of playing another’s game. Not a danger to you, but a danger to them. But that’s an article for another day.
Now, over to you. What are your tactics for changing the rules in someone else’s game?
~~~~~
Image by: Arty Smokes
You make some great points here, though most of them pertain to work. “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” is a great book that addresses the issue of living as you believe you “have to” versus “want to.” When it comes to work, if you’re working a “job” for someone else, eventually the action you choose to take to change the status quote could very well catch up to you. Showing up late doesn’t work for jobs that actually require clocking in, but suppose it does work for a salaried job where you continue to perform excellently. Perhaps you gain this little victory, and you start to think, “well there’s all sorts of better ways to be doing this job” and you change the way you fill out forms, you change the way you install certain products (in the construction industry), or you start acting on other material changes. Eventually a boss won’t stand for this, it simply undermines their authority and creates liability. They will either reprimand you or advance you (if your ideas are really that amazing). The question becomes, how long does that list of rules you could break for good reasons have to become before the real choice becomes to quit, and start your own business. Of course, I think Tyler implicitly understands this, as this very website is a testament to such productivity: work for yourself, not for someone else. And by extension (if you read “Rich Dad, Poor Dad”), don’t work FOR your money, have your money work FOR YOU.
If we extend this to areas outside of the workplace, do the risk benefits hold up? I’m pretty darn sure it’s completely immoral for the U.S. Government to continue endless unnecessary war campaigns with my money, but if I choose to simply act on my convictions as suggested (withhold taxes), is the risk of fines ending in complete penury or imprisonment worthwhile? This is an extreme example. Are there other areas where this idea holds up, outside of the workplace, and outside of large collective societal issues?
Jason, I think you bring up a good point in that, obviously the bigger the choice you make about how to live your life, the bigger the consequences. It’s worth considering, but at the same time, the world was never changed by falling in line. If enough people refused to pay the portion of their taxes that go to funding wars, then you can bet that your tax dollars would be reallocated.
That doesn’t just happen, though. It starts with one person who’s passionate enough to start the movement, damn the consequences. The question is, will you be that person?
What does everyone else think about Jason’s questions?
For Jason -
I’m not sure if you missed the point or if you are only thinking (questioning) of how this applies to everything else.
Taking risks is one of the ways to do things differently than you do now, it’s something that creates a change in YOU as opposed to applying it to causing a change in another person or situation. And you can choose DEGREES of risk or appropriate ways to step up. Or specifically to explain what this means using your taxes example, I’d assume you would attempt to make an appointment or start a discussion with your area’s politician first, send letters out to places it will actually be noticed, etc….I’d assume you’d have thought it out and picked out the anti war or the anti taxes issue you were upset about.
Risk wouldn’t be refusing to pay your taxes, it would be packing up and moving to an entirely different country, LOL
I imagine other examples besides the workplace are scattered all around this site, as well as insight/ideas on how to pick your risks.
First to address Jason’s question:
“If we extend this to areas outside of the workplace, do the risk benefits hold up?”
In the realm of any art form, the answer is, Of course, a resounding Yes. The only innovators who advance artistic traditions are those that break rules or re-envision the fundamental questions that their art attempts to address. Again though, innovate too radically and you just alienate your potential audience.
I’m interested in the effects of risk taking as it applies to being a student +/ teacher. That is, what risks can one take as a teacher that challenge both student and teacher in galvanizing ways?
Tyler,
Picked up your website off of the MSN article. I like where you are heading with this – have you read “The Four Hour Work Week”? very similar concept. I have been at the PM game and muliple job game for 20 years and have only recently figured out a lot of what you already know. You will enjoy the knowledge – it makes things much more interesting and relaxing. FYI for the comments above – there will most probably always be war, famine, fear,poverty you name it because it is a human condition and all things have a balance – live free and well and enjoy the ride. Look forward to reading more of you stuff Tyler.
I was most of the way through ’4 hour workweek’ and loving it, then I realized that what this guy was advocating was the very reason you can’t get anyone on the phone when you call…well, just about anywhere..what happens when everyone does this ? some great ideas for sure…we shouldn’t just fall into ways of being that our parents and their parents did… ‘just because’…the guy who wrote the book was selling a product by mail order…kind of a ‘no brainer’ as he would say…but not everyone is selling a simple product that involves almost no care or special considerations…some aren’t selling products at all…sure, if someone is giving you a hard time and buying very little while someone else is not causing you problems but buying lots of your product…you can dump the other guy…but I’m a nurse…the clients that require the most energy expenditure from me are usually the ones that I HAVE to pay the most attention to…and as far as not showing up for work…how would you like it if you wiped out on your motorbike and there were no paramedics…no nurses..no doctors…they were off on adventures…this guy is living in a dream world…I wonder if he takes the same approach to his personal relationships? There are certain things I like about the slacker mentality, question everything…..but being basically lazy is not a virtue.
I love this! I’ve got to take some creative down-time to think it through the filter of being a stay-at-home mom of three young kids, but I believe your ideas can be applied. I’ve gotten bored and boring staying at home with my kids, even though I believe in what I’m doing. Risk and creativity are two things sadly missing and the MSN article got me thinking. If you have ideas that apply to my situation, I’d love to hear them. Thanks Tyler – you’ve got an interesting philosophy packed with common sense.
I was a stay at home mom during the day and waitress @ night while my husband worked nights-making one of us always home for our son. The job of a parent is something you don’t want someone else to provide. This is your investment and it should mirror your values and morals. This job is tried & true and the door will never hit you in the but.
My husband & I decided we want to retire on an island, however, I always want to work. My son of thirteen at an impressionable age and my husband being wrongfully terminated under a Statue after 13.75 years- I believe things happen for a reason. He is now “Out of the Box” if I may say.
I have not changed my way of living in that I have always required the same amount for the bills and as something was paid off I then applied that amount plus the payment to the next and so on. We own one pay per minute cell phone and have been driving the same vehicles for six years. For us, they only get us from point A to point B and to an island for enjoyable work because we relize it’s not the car that is going to take us places but “Us”. My husband is now home at a perfect time in my sons life and mine. I love coming home to him and just having meals together. It’s the little things and you don’t know that unless you experienced the things that give you strength – this makes you stronger.
Why not use our knowledge and find a bed’n'breakfast (something small & something enjoyable) live at the establishment and rent out the other. You would get to enjoy your journey a little bit sooner and keep working as I love.
I’m one that has been going to my job for years absolutely miserable, every morning and I have pushed my limits. That’s because I have whatever it takes to to work a job that truely makes me content. I need to incorporate my work around my family because that is what makes me content and thrive. My son would give this all up to have our family on an island, to be able to work, live and be happy because that is what we do best.
Hmmm… I know we can make it, but I want to make it now. Realistically it will be at least five years, however it is a place I can save for as I have in the past.
Everyone tries to save for a rainy day and some times it feels good to use what you made the right decisions on when buying that rain jacket. I believe that time is now, after 16 years of marriage, my husband has opportunity to start all over again-as I told myself daily in my teen years “If things aren’t as you wish, wish them as they are”.
So maybe I can follow you and you me to see where our flip flops take us:) Mine have traveled quite the distance, however they havn’t seen nothing yet.
Kind Regards & Happiness Surrounds You,
JacQueline a.
Hi, Tyler and Jason, Tyler, I was attracted to your site when I read about you in a Liz Weston article on msn Money because I am a quintessential risk taker. Most of the risks I have taken, however, have NOT paid off as yours have. This has me asking what on earth I’m doing, but I can’t help it! I heard that Colonel Sanders had to hawk his idea for Kentucky Fried Chicken 1,000 times before it worked out for him! I keep this and a lot of other inspiring risk-taking and extremely persevering people’s stories in mind to keep me going until I perhaps succeed like Colonel Sanders and some of the others did.
I’d also like to tell a story here about a prodigy pianist who, at around the age of 33 lost the use of his right hand to dystonia, which he only found out about 35 years later when botox (!) cured his condition! During that time, he couldn’t play the piano (until he found piano pieces only for the left hand!) and he couldn’t even open his hand to wash it! He lost his wife and went into a deep depression. However, after the botox, he’d married again and came out with a CD of classical piano music, which I own, called “Two Hands.” Will wonders never cease?!
Now, Jason, I wanted to suggest to you that you read some books on education, which I believe will startle (if not outright shock!), and enlighten you, and perhaps answer at least part of the questions you have asked here about teaching and learning. They are, “Teaching As A Subversive Activity,” by Neil Postman, written in the ’60′s or ’70′s and still seen as revolutionary today. I spoke with his son Andy Postman, who is NOT a chip off the old block, and it seems that Neil Postman, although he was a professor at NYU, never really put into practice his own tenets.
Then there’s: “Dumbing Us Down,” by John Taylor Gatto, who was voted Teacher of the Year in New York State, more than once I believe, for doing just the opposite of some of the things he writes about in his book. He also has a new book out called, “Weapons of Mass Instruction.”
And finally, “The Perfect Panacea,” about the history and development of education in this country, which I found fascinating and a lot of the content of which I never knew, hence my fascination.
It is EXTRAORDINARILY difficult to find a balance between innovating and while not irritating adherents to the status quo! I don’t know many who accomplish it at all, much less without much suffering. Kurt Vonnegut has a recipe for a “mind-opening” team, which consists of three types of people, and without which any innovation, no matter how well-intentioned, is doomed to failure. Unfortunately, I have found that he’s right. Ask me to and I’ll post here what that recipe is. Good luck in your attempt!
Hi Donna,
Please do share the recipe from Kurt Vonnegut!
Thanks…..
Hi, Daniel! Pleased to know you, or of you! Following is the fulfillment of your request:
“For what it is worth: Slazinger claims to have learned from history that most people cannot open their minds to new ideas unless a mind-opening team with a peculiar membership goes to work on them. Otherwise, life will go on exactly as before, no matter how painful, unrealistic, unjust, ludicrous, or downright dumb that life may be.
“The team must consist of three sorts of specialists, he says. Otherwise, the revolution, whether in politics or the arts or the sciences or whatever, is sure to fail.
“The rarest of these specialists, he says, is an authentic genius–a person capable of having seemingly good ideas not in general circulation. ‘A genius working alone,’ he says, ‘is invariably ignored as a lunatic.’
“The second sort of specialist is a lot easier to find: a highly intelligent citizen in good standing in his or her community, who understands and admires the fresh ideas of the genius, and who testifies that the genius is far from mad. ‘A person like that working alone,’ says Slazinger, ‘can only yearn out loud for changes, but fail to say what their shapes should be.’
“The third sort of specialist is a person who can explain anything, no matter how complicated, to the satisfaction of most people, no matter how stupid or pig-headed they may be. ‘He will say almost anything in order to be interesting and exciting,’ says Slazinger. ‘Working alone, depending solely on his own shallow ideas, he would be regarded as being as full of shit as a Christmas turkey.” from the book, Bluebeard, by Kurt Vonnegut.
Don’t be a stranger, Daniel! See my website by clicking on my name in my post and take a gander. Also see http://www.poly-nyc.com, which is one of my interests over the past couple of years, although I just discovered it last year. Ciao!
Sorry, my comment should have been addressed to Tyler and Joe!
Tyler, you are a cool young man. I love your verve and the fact that you speak your truth. It is very inspiring to me. I have worked (and work currently) for some heavy hitters, read all the books, walked the walk and talked the talk….and I thank you for your inspiration and your message, which you present in a totally fresh way. Rock on.
I have been living a dream for my entire life. I have a goal,I set out to obtain that goal, then plot a new course. I’m not an exotic writer nor am I wealthy; just a normal man…(laughs) actually I am far from normal.I am 100% risk taker. I say that ; but I am also a husband,father,friend,and owner among other things.CRIMINAL! Again (laughs) Hell…if your going to take risks, sometimes they bite you. I was young and dumb;but I am an unbriddled horse running free. I like your ideas, and I kinda live by those codes as well. Of course, they are my codes…but they work for me. I own a construction company (kids have to be fed!) which provides exterior coatings ….blah ( I construct Miniture golf courses,and Paint rollercoasters!!) NOW DON”T THAT SEEM FUN?? I live at the beach,and do work around a fun enviroment,EVERYDAY!!! It’s not the best, but I was tired of applying my trade to companys who could care less what the product was; or the hours it took to complete. I had desired to work where it stands alone; head and shoulders above all. I am proud of what i do; I enjoy a million people every year taking photos of the work I do. It keeps me young. One draw back…..I’m broke and have three kids….What now??????
Tyler, you are awesome. I recently quit my job, because we paid so much in income tax last year as a couple, it pretty much voided my take home pay. Now there’s a little less in flow, and I am still struggling on how to enjoy this change instead of fear it. Thanks for your website! You rock!
I’ve been this way my whole life – refuse to be average and refuse to settle. My family thinks I am crazy. Secrete is….I am always content with my life and always will be. I quit worrying about them and everybody else along time ago. Great site!
Here’s another newbie from msn…..
Great place, very nice way of expressing yourself, too, Tyler. You have all the keys to continue an exciting life along with inner peace.
I have a few decades of experience ahead of you. I’m here to tell you, and any doubters, that risk works. In my mind, the number one rule to understand is to not live your life based on other peoples’ rules. Many people won’t take risks, follow their dreams or inner clocks because someone has told them “not to”. Someone they have given power, without even thinking. Hence, the safe way thru life.
I have more to read around here, so that’s my .02 for the moment.
I love this! I took a really boring job in India after I moved here from the UK with my husband on a 2 year stint. (But I’m working my notice period now – phew!) The organisation is in the right field, but my skills/experience isn’t being utilised and my attempts to gain more opportunities here have failed miserably! So each day I get my work done in 2 hours, then spend the rest of my day volunteering as trustee and advisor two charities – fundraising for one in Tanzania, and advising on M&E for another in Nepal. It’s extremely rewarding knowing I’m making a difference, but it’s also great experience and responsibility to build my CV, so should help me find the right job when I get back to the UK. Keep spreading the love!
Cat
This is a great article. I work in one of those desk job fields where my formula has been – 1 hour reading blogs + 1 hour writing in a journal + 30 minutes finishing a job. I find that as long as I am getting my work done, people leave me alone. Mind you I have settled into a stance of mediocrity though so I am sure I am short-changing myself somehow in the long run. I still work the job I hate making good money, but again, blogging and journaling is only taking me so far. I think I need to read your e-book.
I am reading this from my desk at home because I am suspended from work for three days for being consistently late. And I have been warned in the past. Though I fully believe in self discipline and personal accountability, I just can’t bring myself to comply with them on this matter. I think it is because I can’t respect a company who values their “rules” over my ability to perform well. It is a job in which it is rarely imperative for me to be there on time, unless I am meeting a client (in which case I am always on time.) Lateness does not affect my ability to meet deadlines, nor does it affect my relationship with clients. I perform my job well and close an above average percentage of deals in an efficient, profitable manner. However, my company seems to value whether I comply with their rules over how well I perform for them. Maybe I am only average because I was not indispensable enough for them to overlook this flaw. That is okay, I am using my failure to work on my art, for which I have been planning to leave my job soon anyway. So really this free time is a gift. I have been planning to read your “Take This Job and Shove it” guide, and now I have the time!
I have been self-employed more than I have been an employee. At 36, I finally have learned that I enjoy setting my work schedule, pay, days off, etc. I have a Master’s in teaching, but I am also a homeschool mom. I love being home for my family, but I wanted to teach. How did I solve this problem? I opened a private in-home preschool. I am licensed through the county, so I do have to follow their rules, but they are in place for the safety of the children, so I totally comply there. My point is this, I do what I do because it adds passion to my life. I really do enjoy the time I get to spend with other peoples’ children and I get to teach them at the same time to be life-long learners! I personally don’t feel like I am doing anything extra special, but my preschool parents are always happy with the care and education that I provide. Don’t wait until you are 36 to do what makes you happy! Take the risks now, save and invest your money, live and be free!
Good for you, Tyler. It’s inspiring to see people get their eyes open about life before they waste so much of it being a drone for someone else. I wish I had understood more about risk taking when I was younger. This kind of lifestyle seems to be gaining some popularity. I think most of us are tired of being forced to pay through our taxes for things we don’t believe in; sick of slaving to profit people who already have more wealth than they know what to do with, while we have less and less and don’t even really enjoy our time away from work, because we’re so drained by the toxicity of our workplace. I believe in taking risks, but I didn’t prepare for mine as well as you did. However, I am not sorry I left that job. Man, does it feel good to be free!
Good point. I’ve done similar things before. Unfortunately, what can be gotten away with depends a lot on the bosses. One boss may not care if you slack off (as long as the work gets done) but will hammer you if you’re even 30 seconds late to work.
Another will only care that you are where they can see you for 8, 9, or 10 hours a day, because they don’t give a damn about the quality of your work unless it’s so bad they get yelled at themselves. You can’t do much with a micromanaging boss who has more invested in your presence than your output.
Feeling burnt out after a 10-12 hour shift is exactly why I went to working 1 day a week and then quitting altogether. I wish I could have come in later but, no, whenever I came in late (even 5 minutes) I’d get written up. You can probably imagine how this made me feel. Once I went part time though, my following of the “rules” went down a lot and no one really cared anymore because they knew I was on my way out.
Now I’m in the brainstorming stage of “what to do next.” So far I’m absolutely loving blogging and connecting with other like-minded change makers
good to see a common path! I left the average far behind in my construction industry job (and the bar was quite high in that firm), by exploiting what noone else had – programming skills.
I spent 7-9 programming, 9-10 data entry, 10-5 web surfing!
Finally when my f-fund was almost ready (there is a limit to human endurance, even on procrastination) the boss asked me if I wanted out or in, to know if he can count on me.
My answer of course was “peace buddy” (not F*** off).
We still work on-off on some projects and the pay is higher than when I was their employee.
And all that time is now mine (a goldmine from all aspects)
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Hi Tyler,
just discovered your blog through hearing you interviewed on Blogcast.FM
Brilliant site, I love the topic. Also love the formula you quoted about “half assed work”, that made me laugh out loud.
It’s true what you say about most employees being mediocre. 9 to 5 office work breeds mediocrity and dronery. Ive experienced plenty of it over the years, in many companies and it’s mostly all the same stuff and same kind of people. It’s a living death.
I decided a year ago to quit and start my own online business. Now have a series of websites. Revenue is slow at the moment but increasing and I know its what I really want to do. My time and freedom is worth more to me than any employer could pay me for it.
Well done for quitting and Good Luck, I’m certain with your positive attitude that you will make it!
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This reminds me of the quote: “Better to ask forgiveness than permission.” I believe it all comes down to courage. When you are competent in your abilities, and you absolutely know that what you’re doing is the right thing, then it frees you to take greater risks (like showing up later to work).
When you know you’re indispensable, people will feel your energy. Whether employed or unemployed. Yes, there’s hierarchy. But people will always be people.
Presumably you’ve read Lynchpin?
I say, create your OWN job.
This is a very controversial subject. Two of my friends had this argument at lunch, me taking Tyler’s position. My position was that our jobs were created to serve a purpose, to provide something for someone with money and the drive and talent was integral to make that happen. I found that more important as a worker than being a half ass worker bee and showing up earlier than 7:00AM-7:34:59 day in and day out. They couldn’t even argue, they just laughed at me and told me I was ridiculous. Now, how it played out in real life was over a span of 7 years at two corporate work places I always surpassed them, got promoted quicker and was held in a higher regard and made more money. In the end, the tardiness cost me both the jobs and these sub standard guys… or standard I suppose, kept their jobs.
In the end, I concluded if you accept a job, it is immature to disrespect being on-time. I think we can do both, though burning too fast will burn you out in the long run.
My requirements were I commute 25-30 miles, be on time every day 95% of the time at the more lax job, and 99% of the time at the strict job (Verizon). After five lates, you were three warnings from being fired. Lasted five years at Verizon and 3 at the other company.
Now I run my own company and time is not important, getting it done is. I love it but it is much less stable.
This is fascinating – and maybe comes from a non-support line thinking — I recently had a job that was contract (ie non-employee) and this is what I did – I was still doing the work, but I hated that part of the day that invariably came where everyone would stand around the water cooler and wank about their weekend/ family etc. I was there to do a job — however my boss – a firm “boomer” in her approach to work (you have to be there 10 hours / day) saw that I wasn’t there as often and that pissed her off. She was very fearful of her position, and that me – taking less time to do the same job – would take her job. So she cut my contract short sighting a breach of contract, but I wouldn’t let her because I was doing the exact job that I was supposed, except I wasn’t sitting at the office waiting for people to give me work. My role was more of a support role, but there was no need for me to be there during the hours that she stipulated; however, for her being firmly entrenched in that idea that someone has to be at work at 7am every day and *has* to be there at least 10 hours, it made her mad. She also didn’t really grasp technology at all, and didn’t understand the idea of ‘remote working’ – which was something that I was used to from the other firms I had worked at.
So right now I’m working on what my next step is – knowing that I like working later, and more to a project than just sitting around watching a clock. The thing that kills me is – if I’m someone sitting there “just putting in time” – how many other people at other firms are doing the same? And how much money could these other companies save by actually making sure their employed workforce had enough work to do? Crazy sounding, I realize.