Who Do You Work For?
Author: Michael A. Verdicchio

I don't watch a lot of television, but I do have a favorite
show. I have been a fan of "24" since it first aired.
Season 8 begins this January.

There is a line in the show that seems to come up several
times every season. Most often the line is delivered by
the main character, Jack Bauer. Only, Jack doesn't just
deliver the line, he usually yells it at some suspicious
character, as he tries to find out who is behind yet
another potential catastrophe.

Jack yells, "Who do you work for?" And most of the time he
repeats the question once or twice with even more
intensity. That's because he is Jack Bauer, and he is
trying to save the world.

Actually, when you think about it, that really is a really
good question. Not just in the context of the TV show, but
in the context of our own lives. Who do you work for? If
you ask that question to a number of people you might get a
wide variety of answers.

Some may just answer with the name of their company.
Others might name the supervisor they work for. Still
others might pessimistically say, "I'm just working for
'the man' like everybody else."

Before I tell you who you really work for, let's consider
work ethic. Some people do as little as possible on the
job because they feel that are not getting paid enough.
They have an attitude of, "Why should I work hard when they
don't pay me enough?" And so they do enough to get by, but
usually, the quality of their work is inferior.

Others do a good job, but think it is unfair that the
"bosses" make so much more money than they do. They feel
that their hard work is just making the bosses richer,
while they have to slave away to just get by.

In the days that we are living in, many people have been
laid off and are now seeking new employment elsewhere.
However, wherever they do get hired, they will bring with
them the same work ethic that they had before. And suppose
that the new job pays less than what the old job paid, then
what?

That's exactly what has happened to me. I was laid off in
December of 2008, right before Christmas. Can you imagine
that? Being laid off is bad enough, but right before the
holidays? That is definitely some added fuel if someone
wanted to play the sympathy card and host a number of pity
parties. No thank you! Not me.

Here is my point. The job I recently got does not pay me
anywhere near what I was earning at the old job. So, how
do I approach my work at the new job? Do I work harder and
do my best only if they pay me what I was earning at the
old job? No. Am I doing just do enough to get by,
because, after all this job doesn't pay very much? No.

I am just as dedicated and disciplined to do my absolute
best regardless of what the pay is because that is a part
of who I am; that is the work ethic that I have developed.
And, I continue to learn and grow and expand my skill sets
and my abilities because I am really working for myself.

Who do you work for? Very few people realize that no
matter where you are employed, you are always working for
yourself. If the way you work is determined by your
salary, then you have a lousy work ethic, and you are
limiting yourself.

Many people feel unappreciated at their job. They feel
that their talents and abilities go unrecognized. That may
be true. But never allow that to stop you from increasing
your own skill set and abilities. If your present employer
doesn't recognize your value and worth, don't worry;
someday, someone else will.

Those who have developed a good work ethic not only perform
at their best, but they are consistently improving their
skills. They are concerned about improving their abilities
so that they will have more to offer. In other words, they
are increasing their worth and value as an employee.
Improving your skills and abilities will also allow you to
move into other avenues of earning money.

If your work ethic needs a "makeover," begin today. Start
changing your bad habits into good habits by remembering
that you are really working for yourself. You are who you
are, and you will take that with you wherever you go.

And, if Jack Bauer happens to grab you by the collar and
yell, "Who do you work for?" you can simply tell him, "Me."


About the Author:

Michael A. Verdicchio offers a FREE LIFETIME MEMBERSHIP to,
"Enriching Your Life Now!" as well as a FREE NEWSLETTER at
http://www.ConfidenceAndJoy.com He also offers a FREE
series of articles on success at
http://www.ReducingStressAtWork.com
Michael is a husband, father, minister, author, and
broadcaster. He has also been the voice on numerous
projects and productions including Mike's Pep Talks!