Here’s One Thing You Can Do If You Have a Boring Job

My first week of corporate work, I was assigned 18 company policies to read.

My second week of work, I was given 40 hours to complete a draft of ONE document.

My third week of work, I was in a meeting about a project I might join one day.

My forth week of work, I considered jumping out the 3rd story window (but they’re all sealed… funny how that works).

My fifth week of work, I started reading The Blue Book of Grammar. You know, for fun.

My sixth week of work, I was given nothing to do.

My sixth and a half week of work, I walked down the hall, introduced myself to 5 new people and asked what they did. One of those people had a need that was in my skill set.

My twentieth week of work I called a meeting with that person, my boss, and a few co-workers to show them what I’d made that I thought would address their need. My boss didn’t show up.

My twenty-forth week of work, I had a new job, a new boss, and was making almost double what I started.

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The lesson there could be “meet everyone” or “do work you weren’t asked to” or “don’t jump out high windows,” but frankly all of those things fall under this one:

Set your own standards.

People will ask little of you – set your own standards.

People will expect you stay in line and do what you’re told – set your own standards.

People will assume you are average, but “average” in corporate America means “dead” – set your own standards.