Ten Keys To Winning At Work

# 1. Accept Work as God’s gift; not punishment Ecclesiastes 5:19 KJV “…rejoice in his labor- this is the gift of God.” The first and most important key to winning is to rejoice in your labor, finding fulfillment in what you have been called to do. So many people wake up dreading their jobs, ill tempered and anxious. Often, what we think is a marital problem is actually a work related problem. 70% of people are working on the wrong job. This means they have gifts and talents not being fully utilized, which leads to frustration. “Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt When you treat your work as a gift from God- you become a problem solver. Mechanics solve car problems- Lawyers solve legal problems- carpenters solve building problems- Be a problem solver! A. Work is a gift Personally- It helps you discover dormant qualities, exposes you to others, forces you to communicate, think outside self,etc. -B. Work is a gift to your Fellow Workers- You set a standard for others around you when you see work as God’s gift! C. Family – You set an example for your family. And your job provides for your family needs. It is human nature to pursue what brings enjoyment and avoid that which does not. If you enjoy your work, you won’t be trying to constantly get away from it! # 2. Recognize God as your true employer - Celebrate your boss Ephesians 6:7 NIV “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” (As unto the Lord) Matthew 20:27 NIV “…and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” When you see God as your true employer, you no longer get angry when you don’t feel like you’re making enough money. God becomes your source of wisdom, and provision. No longer do you look to man for what only God can provide. You look for your sense of appreciation, job satisfaction, and reward not from an earthly boss, but a Heavenly One! How do you celebrate your boss? Not with flattery, but genuine respect and appreciation. 1. Hear his instruction. Focus. Discern what excellent performance is. What upsets him, or makes him happy? 2. Repeat it. Make sure you have heard it right. 3. Write it down. “Faintest line is better than strongest mind.” This will impress your boss, and make him/her more conscious of verbal instructions. This will give you favor and create a bond between you if you honor his instructions! 4. Do it! Immediately. Completely. This becomes a photograph of your excellence! 5. Become your boss’s NUMBER ONE Problem-Solver! You will be remembered by 2 things- Problems you create and problems you solve! 6. Ask him to help you improve! Proverbs 13:18 NIV “Whoever disregards discipline comes to poverty and shame, but whoever heeds correction is honored.” # 3. Pursue Work compatible with your abilities and interests 1 Timothy 4:14 NIV What you love deeply is a clue to the gifts you contain! What you hate is a clue to something you were created to change! 1. What do you like to talk about most? Hate- love-fear (listen to self and make a list) 2. What books do you like to read? Magazines? Movies& TV? 3. If you could do anything and not fail? 4. If God granted it, what would you do TODAY? 5. What do you want others to say about your life when you have gone on to meet the Lord? Don’t get discouraged if you seem a long ways off…Beginning steps are small…God knows that man’s greatest pleasure comes from a sense of progress. You’re not created perfect! “Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it” – Zig Ziglar # 4. Learn everything possible about your job Proverbs 1:5 KJV “A wise man will hear; and will increase learning…” 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV “Study…” Hosea 4:6 KJV “My people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge.” The distance between success and mediocrity is due to 3 forces- 1. Information. The successful person knows something others have not yet discovered, or cared to follow after. 2. Motivation – The successful person’s projects are more defined and compelling, grabbing attention. 3. Associations- Learn how to be a bridge instead of a barrier between people. Respect people’s time, opinions, goals,etc… Learn all you can about your job. Knowledge is power ” Wisdom is the principal thing..get wisdom.”Prov. 4:7 #5 Don’t be a time thief Eph 4:28 "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of.” Benjamin Franklin Don’t waste time at work. You’ll be more productive, feel better, and be rewarded. Come in early..stay a little late. Don’t exceed limits on breaks,etc… #6 Keep a daily to-do list – Establish deadlines Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJV “The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine.”- Mike Murdock It is easy to get carried away in the flow of busyness…Over 560 advertisements in a single day! Facebook, Twitter, Email, LinkedIn, texting. Without written priorities and schedules, we will get distracted and our pursuits defeated. #7 Ask for God’s wisdom when making decisions James 1:5 NIV “Excellence is to do a common thing in an uncommon way” – Booker T Washington Success depends on decisions. The man or woman living in sin makes decisions which bring a few minutes of enjoyment. They make short-term decisions. Never make a decision when you are too hungry…too angry…too lonely…too tired…without wise counsel. Ask God for His wisdom! Listen to Him with your whole heart! Be still and listen for the still, small voice of the Spirit, the Divine Counselor! #8 Use Criticism to your advantage Proverbs 13:18 Get on the positive side of criticism. Make it work FOR you, rather than AGAINST you! Use it to your advantage! This can take the sting out of correction and make you stand out in the crowd…Criticism brings about change. Change reveals…energizes…stimulates…and makes you use your faith! # 9 Be Honest about your mistakes Proverbs 28:13 “Try not to become a man of success but rather a man of value” - Albert Einstein Mistakes happen. We are just human! Don’t cover them up..don’t lie..don’t shift blame to another. Everybody makes them…Thomas Edison made 999 mistakes before inventing the filament that would carry electricity and produce light. #10 Do more than is expected of you Matthew 5;41 NIV William Marriott, founder of the Marriott Corporation, was known for 18 hour work days. He said, “No person can get very far in this life ona forty-hour week.” Exceeding quotas and expectations accomplishes the following 3 things-- Creativity will soar! Bingo cards with 90 numbers have 44 million possible ways to bingo! Be willing to do more than is expected, and your results will match your effort. Break out of the rut and be different! Others will raise their level of performance! When Roger Bannister broke the 4 minute mile, he had been told along with every one else that it couldn’t be done. (Physically impossible for a human to do it!) However, he became convinced in his mind that he could do it! He trained his mind and body…Now many hundreds of athletes (high school) now do it every year! He set a new standard by doing more than expected! It gives tangible evidence of your walk with Christ! Acts 10:38 says that Jesus went about doing good…His willingness to go beyond the ordinary and the expectations of others is seen throughout the Bible. Others take notice of a man or woman who will step beyond the ordinary and dare to do the impossible! Don’t just stop with service, reach for excellence!