Making deposits in the favour bank

In his book "The Zahir", Paulo Coelho introduces the concept of a "favour bank": a log of favours done for another in the hope (but not expectation!) they will repay them at some point in future. He writes that the first favour should be granted without the expectation of receiving anything in return. But if you can't call on that favour (and let's be reasonable - a night with the debtor's wife is probably not a fair exchange!), then you know not to go out of your way to help that person again.

On the flip side, when a favour is done for you, always keep note of that person's balance in your account.

Keeping a schedule of accounts is one of the qualities that most successful people - in business, politics, the arts and even socially, possess. It's such a simple and rewarding concept, yet one that so many of us ignore.

Empty promises

It was like boarding a rocketship to the moon - a journey full of excitement and surprises, and one that would leave me a changed man forever. At least that was how I interpreted all the great things people had to say when I first started my career.

Ten years on and I have grown a little older and wiser... and ok, I admit it, even a little plump! It's interesting to me that a plumber, a bus driver, a cabbie or even a waiter have a very simple view of their jobs. They clock in, get paid, and clock out. Their work is a means to an end; a way to collect a pay cheque. No different to any other job, really. Yet everyone I know who works in an office has this view that their jobs are somehow magical and meaningful. They often get worked up, stressed, annoyed and agitated when their ideas aren't accepted, when they're asked to do things that are "beneath them" or when they don't get the corner office!

My advice? Think of a career as a series of jobs. And jobs only become stressful or unenchanting when we get emotionally involved. So, as unconventional as this sounds, stop caring! Stop pushing your own agenda, looking for the bigger office and making a point of getting noticed.

Focus more on getting your work done (efficiently, so you can leave at a reasonable time!) and collecting your pay. Nothing else should matter. And I'll bet that when you finally embrace this view, then work will get that little bit more fulfulling!

Image from www.ehow.com

Finance's golden arches

I've been doing a bit of reading, and a lot of thinking. Why is it that whenever you think of coffee, the Starbucks logo pops into your mind? And why do burgers conjure up images of the golden arches? After all, my corner fish and chips shop does burgers - and coffees, too, for that matter - so howcome I don't think of Marge and Ted who run it? The answer lies in one word: marketing. Companies around the globe, especially the ones that pop into our heads every time we think of a cola, a burger or listen to our iPods, have spent billions of $$$ to "own" a phrase, or a word, or being associated with a product or experience.

What if that same concept was translated to you as a person? What if you - if we all - spent time thinking of the word or phrase we want to be associated with and applied it to ourselves? If we marketed ourselves at work as being reliable, or intuitive, or creative, or a straight-shooter? Or in social circumstances we could get our friends to see us as the funny one, the listener, the one with the nose ring, etc., etc., the list goes on?

Sound like nonsense? Well, bear with me for just a moment... I was reading "Who Stole My Mojo?", a book by Gary Bertwistle, and he claims there are heaps of benefits of thinking of yourself as a brand and marketing yourself the right way. Whilst I'm not generally a fan of caring what others think, to the extent it helps you reach your goal - be it that next promotion, the girl in the coffee shop, or more interesting projects - then how can you not?

You can read more about Gary Bertwistle's book here, while I pursue my goal of being the golden arches of finance...

Best of luck!

Image from www.freefoto.com

Getting a life!

I remember my graduate days in the office, where every Friday night the whole firm would go for drinks at the bar across the street. The first time I went, it was interesting. The second time, mildy amusing. But then... I got over it!

Since that time, whenever I politely decline an invitation to watch my inebriated coworkers covort with each other, I am considered the anti-social one. The words "come on, have a life" were even used once. Hmm... I see how it works now: wanting to spend time with one's family, or reading a good book about life experiences that I could never have, or shopping with the girlfriend, playing with my dog or just hanging out on my own listening to old CDs... none of these things qualifies a a "life" in the eyes of my dedicated coworkers. Clearly the only real way to get the most out of life is to spend time drinking with people you work with for up to 15 hours a day!

Get a life? Thanks for the option, but I'd rather not.

Saying too much

P*ssed off! The best way to describe how I felt after watching my boss talk himself (read as "me") into more work.

I was in a client meeting, and we were discussing our fee. The client asked a simple question - whether we could reduce our fee quote. Last time we worked with this client, we seriously under-costed the work; this time around, we were more realistic about work and cost. And therefore, the simple answer to the client's request should have been "no".

And in fairness, at first, that was the answer given. But then the client said nothing. He just looked at us, a half-smirk appearing on his face. Two seconds, four, eight, 15. Then the dreaded thing happened: my boss began to justify. And in justifying, he ended up negotiating with himself. Before long, we had reduced the fee by 30% and committed to an extra 25% of work - I was surprised we hadn't offered the client dinner at the most expensive place in town, plus a free shoe-shine and toilet brush! Ok, so I'm still bitter...

But the moral of the story is, say what needs to be said, then stop. Extra words do not help, instead they get you in a tangled mess. Awkward silences shouldn't be awkward, they should give you time to think of the next topic to discuss. Failing that, just sit there.

Silence is golden.

Photograph from www.maggotsack.com