Sometimes the progress in one’s career is slow going, slow enough to trigger thoughts of quitting and looking for opportunities elsewhere. And though changing one’s job is always an option—one which, after much careful thought and self-examination could be the right one—this is not always the case. It could be that from the frying pan, one ends up in the fire. The new job that promised so much may prove to be rather mundane, offering even less opportunity than the one you just left.
What often happens in the career life of a dissatisfied employee is that the dissatisfaction produces a less-than-willing, lethargic work attitude, which in turn produces sloppy performance. All of this results in being overlooked when better opportunities and promotions do arise. After all, what supervisor or business owner would promote a slouch? Promotions and career progress go to the ambitious, the consistent hard workers, the ones with a “Can I help?” and a “What more can I do?” attitude.
In view of this, I recommend you do some careful, honest self-examination before you change jobs, as your slow progress may well be your very own fault. And if that proves true, you’ll find the next job to be no better than the one you just left. We take ourselves with us wherever we go, so if you don’t make a point of changing your ways, the attitude that caused the slow progress in one job will also cause slow progress in the next. A new attitude is needed to produce the progress you’re after. And since that’s the case, you might as well get on it right away: adopt the new attitude and new work ethic now, where you currently are, and see what happens. I venture to say that the pace of progress will pick up.
Why? Well, all workers are always being observed, by supervisors as well as co-workers, and when someone is an outstanding worker—or a mediocre one—word soon gets around. So when they observe you, what kind of a worker do they see? Ask yourself that question and give yourself an honest answer. Do they see a person who excels? If yes, then progress is pretty much guaranteed. This is what it says in Proverbs 22:29 (as paraphrased by Eugene Peterson in The Message): “Skilled workers are always in demand and admired; they don’t take a backseat to anyone.”
Evangelist Bob Gass says this: “Whether you realize it or not, you are being watched on the job. Your character, your work ethic, and your attitude are being observed. And you’ll be rewarded not according to the tasks you complete, but for your attitude, and the way in which you complete them.”
So, before you look for another job, examine yourself—your performance and attitude. If they need changing, change them! You’ll soon see progress happen.
Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men. —Proverbs 22:29 (NKJV)
