Steady Income
The diary of making moneyBy Barron SmithAuthorHouse
Copyright © 2009 Barron Smith
All right reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4389-8231-1Contents
Know Your Job Well.....................1Be the Boss............................11Learn a Trade..........................23For the Ladies.........................35Bad Habits.............................45The Reward.............................55
Chapter One
Know Your Job Well
One of the most important factors in making money is doing your job well. Being able to know the position you hold will make you valuable to the company, which could increase your paycheck. If this is a new position, new job, or the same position take the initiative approach.
Ask questions about your job especially, something you don't understand. Employers love to see an enthusiastic employee. Even though an employer benefits more from your work, think of your time there as an investment in your dreams. What ever you do or learn will help you live a successful life.
Get in good with your co-workers. Some co-workers don't like to share their job knowledge, but there are some who love to take people under there wings. Take advantage of that, sometimes a person will tell you the most intimate details about the company. Also, they will tell you tricks of the trade of the job. So when your boss asks you to do something, you'll know how to complete the task in a timely manner.
Overtime has become popular over the years, some people love it and some people hate it. LEARN TO LOVE IT, even if Uncle Sam takes a big chunk of it. It could help you save money fast. Take the money from overtime and put it in the bank. And if you only use the regular amount you receive on your paycheck, you would actually see your money stack.
Get direct deposit if it's hard for you to save and forget about it for awhile, you'll be amazed at your bank statement.
At my present job, I'm the overtime king. Most of my co-workers don't like overtime and when overtime is needed the boss already knows I'll take it. Have goals as an employee. If you know that your position requires certain training of a degree, DO IT, DON'T JUST TALK ABOUT IT.
I hear so many people say, "I need to go to school or school is so expensive". I attended Vatterott College for heating and cooling which is a 2 year course. During the time I was in school, my mother's neighbor was talking to me about a Stationary Engineering program he went through years ago.
I heard of the course, but I never received information on it. He was telling me about the salary, the growth of jobs, and the type of work an engineer does. When I went to the union hall and found out that a class was starting up after I finished heating and cooling school, I was overwhelmed and excited.
I joined the union for a discount on school and then I enrolled. I wasn't concerned about taking a break after I finished heating and cooling school, I was concerned about establishing my future. Needless to say, I finished heating and cooling school with no hesitations.
After I finished that, finding a job was easy. I defied all odds. When you go to an interview you want to be better than the best candidate. You want to make it hard for an employer to decide to pick someone over you. I still attend seminars and short classes just to keep my options open.
Don't be the one to miss out on an opportunity, because of education!!!
Work a part-time or a second job if it doesn't interfere in your personal life to much. Maybe it's hard for you to do at the time, but it's something that could help you if you do it right. Never let a second job become a necessity! That will drain you and cause you to do something unintelligent; like get fired from your main job.
Make the employer on your second job work around your schedule; make them feel as if they need you instead of you needing them. Use your money to satisfy your needs, like for saving towards a vacation. That way it won't be so hard for you to go in to work.
You have something to look forward to. Manage your time wisely and get plenty of sleep, two jobs will wear you out. I used to work a second job over night and then go to the gym and focus on cardio before I went to my daytime job. Try to find a job that's easy on the body.
If you dig trenches in the heat at your main job, try to find a second job in the a/c. Don't make life hard for yourself just to make a dollar, there is more to life than money. Remember, think about your future. Working 2 jobs shouldn't be for the rest of your life. Make sure you save some money for a rainy day.
At one point in time I actually work 2 jobs and went to school full time. I realized that the money from the 2 jobs was good, but one day I want a family and I want to be there for my kids.
So I pushed myself a little harder, now I make enough money on one job because I finished school. Even though I'm still working 2 jobs I use the money from my part-time to keep extra money in my pocket. I love cars, so I also use the money to fix up my cars.
I know its hard going in to work on some days, but it must get done. I had a friend tell me that he wished that the work week was 2 days and the weekend was 5 days and still keep the same pay. That's wishful thinking but learn how to think positive about your job or career.
Some job offer cash out on vacation day if you accumulate too many vacation days in a specific period. To me that spells money, if you're the type of person that like to use vacation days just to be off because you didn't feel like going in you could be missing out on a opportunity for a lump sum of money when you need it the most.
All jobs get boring after you've been there for a while. Make your job worthwhile, be the innovator in your workspace. If you can listen to music bring your head phones in, or if you like decorations, decorate your work space if you can. Since you have to be there for the next 8hrs or so you might as well make it comfortable.
During football season at my last job we had a football pool so on Monday's, which is a bad day for most people you have something to look forward to. Get involve with activities at work, you never know you might meet someone with the same interest as well.
Be the best worker that you can be. Employer's are always watching or have someone else watching your performance. Be prepared, you'll never know if someone is quitting or if they will open up another position. If you have the type of job where you're on an assembly line, cook line or etc; learn the next person's job.
If that person falls ill and miss work, who do you think they're going to call? A person who knows his job!!! Just like in baseball when it's the bottom of the ninth inning and you're down by one. It's a pitcher's turn at bat; the coach is going to use a pinch hitter. Someone that has a better chance at scoring or driving a run in than the pitcher.
Basically someone who can get the job done!!! That's where you come in and get the MVP for the day. Don't be afraid to assume a new position if you feel you have what it takes to succeed than DO IT!!! Stop letting good position pass you by just because it involves more responsibilities.
The more responsibilities the more money you should make like the old clich goes, "The more money you make the less you have to do." That's a true statement, now that I make more money than I did 5 years ago, I find myself doing less physical work. I find myself doing more paper work or overseeing work being done.
Promotions don't come that oft en so be a leader instead of a follower in the workplace.
Don't think you know everything. A person never stops learning in life. Your attitude can cause you to miss out on a lot of things including a job. When I was in the navy, there was a young, low ranked guy that thought he knew everything. He was good at his job because he did the job of high ranking personnel in the engine room.
He was allowed to give orders to people that had out ranked him due to the position he held. But there was only one problem he couldn't pass the test to make a higher rank. When I arrived to that boat I took and passed the test my first time and out ranked him.
So naturally he was mad. But his attitude stopped the higher ranked from capping him to the next rank due to his knowledge and performance. It took him 2 years before he realized he wasn't getting anywhere and after that he went up in rank. It's ok to take pride in what you do but having the wrong attitude will only hinder you in life.
You could be the most valuable guy at your job, but if you can't get along with others your performance will hold little weight. Let your job performance portray your image at work. Believe it or not an employer base's most of their decisions on an employee's attitude during the probationary period.
Who do you think the employer get his info from? Right! Your co-workers. So if you're not getting along with people, you could be headed for the door.
Everybody is expendable. Job security is slowly fading away, there's a lot of outsourcing, downsizing and businesses closing its doors. Even if you've been on your job for years, you're still Expendable!!! Not only do you need to know your job well, you must have the necessary skills to survive if you lose your job tomorrow.
Like I mentioned before education is the key to progressing transgression. I can't stress this term enough, get the training or education to succeed. Nothing is going to fall in your lap. If you were to lose your job today, do you think that you're ready for the job market tomorrow?
Meaning, always up date your resume, occasionally look to see how the job market is doing. Always expect the worst of any situation. Always have at least 2 options in life, don't burn bridges at your previous job. You'll never know if you would need to go back to them.
Stay focus, having a level head can help when times are rough. Don't be replaceable because you lack progress on your job. When a person gets too comfortable, that's when things start to happen. Everyone is replaceable; you just want to make it harder for your employer to do so if the situation occurs.
If you do your job well and get the proper job knowledge, you shouldn't have a problem in your workplace or with your employer.
Do you remember the old clich, "If your 10 minutes ahead you're on time, if you're on time your late"? This is a valuable statement because the number one reason people get fired is tardiness. I think this is the employers' biggest pet peeve, especially if you have a job where you're relieving someone or on a production line.
I think this is the fastest way of getting fired if you're a decent employee. Some jobs have a point systems, (mainly a place with a lot of employees). This is to help employers dealing with lawsuits and employees complaints. The point system is a system were employees that accumulate a set number of points in a given time will get fired.
The job I had with a point system started at zero and went up to 26 points for a 3 month period. After the 3 months, if you haven't accumulate any points than they'll take off a couple of points. Now if you reach 26 points, then you'll get fired, no questions asked.
If you have a no call no show that's 13 points so one more you're out the door. This system got rid of all the people that couldn't make it in on time or didn't like to come in. No matter how good of an employee you are. An employer would rather replace you with someone who can show up on time.
I would rather call off of work than show up extremely late or have a no call no show.
When it's time to go, it's time to go. If you're at a job and you feel like you're not advancing, maybe its time you exercise other options. Maybe it's time to look for another job. For example, if you can't make rank, make more money, or move in a position where you can make more money. It may be time to start looking elsewhere.
If you feel that you're worthy, than don't cheat yourself. Especially if your reason for not leaving is loyalty. Remember an employer only looks out for the well-being of the company. There are plenty of employers that would appreciate your work you just have to find them.
I was at one job in particular for a while and I was qualified for the supervisor position, matter of fact I had more qualification than the position required. I felt the interview went well, but at the end he told me he wanted someone with more supervisory experience. He told me don't give up.
The next time around there was another supervisor position that opened, it was the same job. He told me on the interview that he was going on the outside to find someone. Instead of dealing with being at a job knowing there wasn't anyway for me to advance, I found another job.
I was making more than the supervisors made and the new job had a better atmosphere in the work place. If you've been at your job for a while and your boss is working with you to increase your earning potential, maybe it would be worth the wait. But never settle for less.
Chapter Two
Be the Boss
One thing I can't stand is a boss that doesn't have a clue about the job. Sometimes we as employees have to put up with this until we become the boss. Just because a person is in charge of you doesn't mean he knows more than you. There are only 2 things that your boss has over you, a higher position and money.
I used to hear a lot of people say that they don't want to be the boss. Mainly because of more responsibilities or bosses are usually the first one gone when a company is trying to downsize.
Think about the long term picture especially people that do manual labor. DO YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN DO THIS UNTIL YOU RETIRE? You see there are advantages to being the boss. The first and far most important benefit is the increase in your earning potential!!! This is what you've strived for.
The second benefit is a reduced workload. As a boss, you would have people under you to take on the work load. Remember this old clich, "The more money you make the less work you have to do". People view you different as a boss; they expect you to have more knowledge.
I like that master card commercial about things that are priceless. So here's a scenario about being a boss. To get a job to have money in your pocket equals $19,000 a year, to get a raise every year to get the things you want out of life equals $35,000.
But to be the boss of the company that grosses billions of dollars yearly is PRICELESS!!!
Think about this scenario because it could be true. The first step in becoming a boss is taking charge, whether of a situation or work that needs to be done. Taking charge sometimes means taking on responsibilities. A lot of people just don't like to be responsible for things outside of their normal obligations.
If you know how to do the job, then a little more responsibilities won't hurt. I get tired of hearing people wanting a significant raise but don't want to take the necessary steps to earn the raise. Sometimes employers like your work to a point where they want to give you more money, but the only way to do it is to give you a promotion with more responsibilities.
So they test you to see how you can handle it. If you don't want to do it or if you complain then how do you expect for them to give you more money. Some of us hurt ourselves and don't realize it. Remember this, if you're not the bosses son or etc. Most employers are not going to give you a good raise or increase if they feel that you don't take charge of a job or project.
And besides you'll be the last one a company would get rid of, because you're now valuable to the company. Taking charge is a great way to show how hard of a worker you are and the risk you're willing to take to succeed. Remember this, if you don't do it someone else will. Just have faith and believe in yourself, there's something better for you if believe in it and aim to achieve it.
Some people are born to be leaders, a lot of people work hard at developing their leadership skills and most people just don't have the ability to lead. Whichever one you are, understand that becoming a leader doesn't happen over night. Just because a person is put in this role doesn't mean he or she has leadership qualities.
The definition of a leader is a person that can lead their troops into battle with a successful strategy to win. You can apply this same scenario to your everyday life. A leader is a person that the boss can count on to make things happen. Being a leader starts at home, if you can't take charge at home than it would be hard at the workplace.
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Excerpted from Steady Incomeby Barron Smith Copyright © 2009 by Barron Smith. Excerpted by permission.
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