Next Stop: The Good Life — Pay Your Dues Now!

Sweet words of wisdom to live by (if you ever want to make something of yourself, that is):

“I’ve paid my dues … time after time. I’ve done my sentence. But committed no crime … we are the champions, my friends. And we’ll keep on fighting, till the end. We are the champions. We are the champions. No time for losers, cause we are the champions – of the world.” — Queen

Seriously … why is the media preaching impatience? Why are they telling an entire generation of idealistic, educated, and aspiring fresh-faced people that they’re wasting their lives away if they’re not making it to the top within two years after college? “The potential is everywhere,” they’re loudly yelling across the airwaves! “Don’t wait, stay restless, and buy everything right now!” This is an unhealthy dose of super-impatience, and the only people benefitting from this mass confusion are the corporations, who are paying for this sort of subliminal advertising. The truth is, however, that it’s utterly destructive to all those who are taking its words as pure gospel.

“Why,” they’re asking, “should I be forced to pay my dues? I want everything, right now, like they’re telling me is rightfully mine!” Well, we all have, or had, to pay them at some point in our lives, despite what we were told, so the best piece of advice that should be promoted across the nation is this: figure out how to make your paid dues work for you! Whether or not it gets you a bunch of promotions or a ton of money, there’s a lot of value to be gained regardless. In the end, paying your dues at work is rarely about paying something that’s undue. Instead, it’s about investing … in your time … your talents … and ultimately your potential. Not just into some company’s goals, but into yourself, and what you want out of life.

So, Gen Y, give yourself the time you need to do, learn, and grow into what you so desperately want to become. It will make the ride that much more fun (and faster) if you slow down and experience the journey. Don’t worry … you’ll eventually get there … and here’s how to do it the right way:

Stay hungry. Become efficient, ASAP! Efficiency is not only the key to doing what’s asked, but it’ll also free up your time for any additional projects on your way to becoming a go-to guy. Though it may not always be the most exciting, doing grunt work builds you a reliable reputation (note: bosses dig that) and eventually you’ll be looked upon as the can-do man, who can get s@#t done!

Don’t be taken for granted. Work the long hours in the beginning, but be careful of setting their expectations too high. Don’t be the first one in, or the last one out — or else your boss will come to expect that. Also, stop replying to emails after dinner hours, or else it will then be consistently expected of you. That time is for you to relax … not to take someone’s s@#t (especially the head honcho’s)!

Always be yourself. Add a dash of personality to your workplace (I know … this isn’t as easy as it sounds). Be outspoken, but not too outspoken (you’re catching my drift, right?). It’s important to establish a corporate persona, but it’s also imperative that you be yourself at work, and lay all of your cards out on the table. Remember: they hired you for a reason … they didn’t hire a robot. Bring who and what you are each day to work with you.

Compete professionally. Competing against colleagues is the nature of the corporate beast. However, if you show them that you’re earnest and eager to learn from them (this includes senior coworkers, and bosses as well) then they’re going to have a better perception of you, because it shows them that you’re not trying to be political or manipulative. Play both the colleague and competitor (this kind of competition should breed sincerity) to get ahead!

Ok young guys, what is it going to be? How much pride must you swallow for your future success? No, I am not talking about being a doormat to all those who just so happen to be at your place longer than you … I’m just talking about not thinking the world owes you something, just because you went to college. Stop looking like a little weak nerd in a playground, by crying out, “I did not go to school for this (note: that’s what p@#$ies do)!” No offense to those who think their bosses owe them a big f@#king favor … but the truth of the matter is, he/she doesn’t (just exercising my free speech here). Now, to those who agree with me, start taking immediate action … maybe then we can kick-start this society with leadership that has the heart of manly men, and not the drive of the almighty dollar.

Sure we all want the good life … but what are we going to sacrifice to get it? Brain work, long hours, elbow grease, grit and determination? Yea, that’s the talk of someone who’s going to be very, very successful in life (while the losers, who will always be losers, sit back and complain about us because they believed in the media’s lies and deception).

You are the champion now, my friend … just don’t forget us little people when you reach the top … LOL!