Work Harder on Yourself than on Your Job

“Learn to work harder on yourself than you do on your job. If you work hard on your job you’ll make a living, if you work hard on yourself you can make a fortune.” —Jim Rohn

If there is one piece of personal development advice I have to offer anyone, it is the above quote from Jim Rohn.  In fact, this timeless advice is crucial as we move forward into the 2020s.  There is very little job security due to the Covid-19 Lock-Downs.  Because the global economy is in tatters. 

Therefore it is essential that you identify your strengths and weaknesses.  Then you work hard on yourself to develop your valuable talents and attributes.  As a result, you will have the knowledge, experiences and skill-sets to earn unlimited income on a freelance basis.

In other words, by working harder on yourself, you step into the driver’s seat of your life. 

This means you are self-driving your personal development.  You’re not passively waiting to be told or shown what to do. 

Instead, you are investing time figuring out ways to better serve your family, your community, your colleagues, and your clients/customers. 

I challenge you to brainstorm a list of possible income producing solutions.  Then test which work and discard the ones that don’t.

Why Working Hard on Your Job is Not Enough

Firstly, if you are one of the lucky ones who still has a job, make sure you continue to bring value to it.  Because your employer will be grateful for your efforts (even if they don’t always show it). 

Whether you are working for a small business, or a large corporation, remember that your employer is your number one client.  They hired you because they saw value and potential in you. 

Think back to when you applied for the job.  Likely there were a lot of other applicants.  Consequently, you went through an interview process.  During the interview, you sold your talents and attributes.  As a result, you were offered the position.  And you made a commitment to the company when you accepted it.

Remember when you first started?  Most likely you turned up on day one feeling excited and ready to impress.  Probably you were at your best, wanting to prove your worth.  You were alert, willing to learn and be coached. 

More importantly, you intended to work hard on your job and be rewarded with a pay rise.  In fact, you didn’t expect to stay on the bottom rung of the ladder for long, did you?  After all, minimum wage is offered to get you started, isn’t it?  That’s why it’s the minimum. 

No one starts a job on the maximum wage.  They get paid according to their market value.  And when you are starting out in the world of work in your late teens and early twenties, your income will likely be quite low.  To get an increase, you need to prove your worth to your employer.

How Make a Living in a Job

Probably no one expects you to stay on a low wage for long.  And neither should you.  So if you want to be paid more, you must become more valuable to the people who employ you. 

Most importantly, the people employing you are not just the owners of the business you work for.  They are anyone who comes in contact with you as you work in your job.  In other words, the customers of the business, as well as potential customers.  And don’t forget the people you interact with in the wider community on a daily basis.

By becoming more valuable to the people who employ you, you start earning a good living from your job.  For example, your worth increases by providing excellent customer service and going the extra mile.  Because happy customers refer others to you. 

Suddenly the business you are working in is doing more trade.  Which means the business income increases. 

As a result, the business owner or manager recognises and rewards you.  Consequently, you are promoted up the ladder and you get a pay rise, along with other benefits.

Now, some people choose to only make a living from their job.  They turn up, do the minimum and collect their pay each week.  And they settle for this being enough until the day they retire.   This is often referred to as working to live.  In other words, they lack self-esteem and/or ambition and do just enough to get by.  Pretty much they are sleepwalking their way through life. 

But I know you want more than this, right?  You have dreams to build a better life for yourself and your family, don’t you?  You know that life doesn’t have to be this way, am I correct?  Admit it.  You want to be the hero of your life story, not just a passive player in someone else’s drama.

Work Harder on Yourself through Personal Development

During the Covid-19 Lock Down, many people used the time to work hard on themselves.  They enrolled in online learning courses.  Or they looked for alternative ways to earn income.  Because suddenly their jobs were under threat or no longer existed. 

What security they thought they had disappeared.  In fact, anyone working in travel or hospitality faced uncertain futures.  And still do.  This sudden change in circumstances is a wake up call.  Because for many, their whole world has collapsed.  Their job security and stability is gone.  They realise that life is no longer a fairy tale or romantic movie. 

Unfortunately, the grim reality is that no one is coming to your rescue.  You have to become the willing (or reluctant) hero in your personal tale or movie. 

Therefore, it’s your responsibility to find alternative ways to earn income.  And so it’s up to you to sell your value and worth to others once again.  In other words, to either start applying for jobs, or seeking out freelance gigs or casual work to supplement your savings (if you have any) or reduced income.

Most importantly, only you can drive your personal development journey.  No one else can tell you what to do or how to live your life.  It’s the only way you can learn and grow.  Sure, you’re going to make mistakes.  But that is the key to success.  Take a risk.  Use feedback from the results.  Adjust and take another risk.

However, remember that while you are the hero in your life story, you don’t have to go on this quest alone.  Millions of heroes have travelled on this road ahead of you.  Actively seek them out wherever you can.  Make them allies, mentors, and travelling companions.  Some ways you can do this:

• Ask like-minded individuals for fellowship and support.  This adds fun to your journey and proves to be win/win in many cases.
  
  
• Also have courage to ask the people you admire how they achieved success, or what wisdom and advice they have for you.   Then model yourself on them.
  
  
• You can also find evidence of success through inspirational stories and books, such as those in Jack Canfield’s The Success Principles. 
  
  
• Or tap into free resources such as on Jim Rohn’s website, or on mine.
  
  
• Ideally, ask someone to mentor you, or work with a personal development coach.  This helps you to set goals and keep them, as well as be accountable for you actions.
  
  
• And if you really want to fast track your growth, then network and hang out with people who expect and challenge you to become more valuable.

Start Your Life Transforming Journey

Personal development starts with the conscious decision to explore your unconscious self.  In other words, being a hero who goes deep inside to face the demons and obstacles that self-sabotage and hold you back. 

Learn the skills to overcome challenges and blast through blocks. 

Make friends with the dragons that are guarding your valuable hidden treasure. 

Then bring this treasure back to share with your people. 

To get an overview of this heroic quest, I’m giving away my mini-guide, Your Transformative Journey.  You can download your copy here.

Be the Hero in Your Life Story

In conclusion, if you want to improve your life, it is up to you to be the hero of your life story. 

The best place to start is with personal development.  In other words, working harder on yourself than you do in any other area of your life.  Because this builds your self-belief, self-confidence and self-worth. 

Most importantly, your work on improving your known and unknown talents and attributes.  Consequently, your worth and value to others increases.  As a result, you can command the level of income you earn, and not the other way around. 

Imagine if you can do this? 

How will your life look, feel and sound like then? 

Do you like the movie you are visualising in your mind? 

So what’s stopping you?  Will you give yourself permission to pursue a better life?  Then go on, do it.  Commit to working harder on yourself by taking the next step on your transformative journey now.