By Nene Razaq

Now that you have a job, its so easy to fall into a daily routine or office politics unconsciously. I have seen laziness in offices, loitering, gossiping and such crumble organizations. I have also seen customers very unhappy in banks, hospitals and other service oriented organizations, its very disheartening particularly when you are the business owner and are losing clients based on the incompetence or laxity of your employees. As an employee, It is thus important to inculcate a very strong work ethic, not only does it do your employers a whole lot of good, you stand to benefit more as your career progresses. Work ethic is defined as a value based on hard work and diligence. This is something that coincides with good morals that the employee uses with his approach to his job or career. Good work ethics would include integrity, responsibility, quality, discipline and even teamwork. If one has good work ethic his conscience will be bothered if he is not doing the right thing in any given situation and it is one of the secrets to a glorious career.

Employers seek it
It’s that intangible quality that star employees exemplify daily in their determination to do the best job possible—regardless of whether someone’s eye is on them or not. Why? They take pride in their work. A job well done fosters within them a sense of personal satisfaction and professional fulfillment. These are the kind of workers employers are eager to hire and promote. When an important project needs to get done, these individuals can be counted on, even if it means working longer hours to do so. A strong work ethic will not only expose you to greater opportunities, it will earn you a reputation of excellence in your profession.

Performance depends on it
Companies that want to hold a position of leadership in their industry know it requires talent with the skills and motivation to consistently produce outstanding results. The caliber of their workforce has everything to do with their performance. So, this becomes the standard that guides their hiring decisions. If you are an individual with a strong work ethic, you embody the qualities that will keep you in demand by top companies throughout your career.

Satisfaction is derived from it
No matter what profession you find yourself in, when you are skilled at what you do and people recognize it, there is a deep sense of satisfaction that wells up within you. It’s the result of knowing you have something valuable to offer and seeing your job—whether it is emptying the trash or closing a business deal—as an important part of the bigger picture. Individuals with a strong work ethic derive greater satisfaction from their work because they are fully engaged in what they are doing every day.

Career progression is the fruit of it
If you desire to advance in your profession, a strong work ethic will keep your career moving upward. Every employer wants an employee with this kind of mentality. Your willingness to work hard and give 150 percent will not go unnoticed. When the opportunity for promotion comes, you will be the one shining brightly at the top of the list.

By demonstrating a strong work ethic in your job, you’ll discover you are more marketable, in demand, satisfied and promotable than those content to watch the clock and collect a paycheck!

Many of us cant wait for the holidays, too much hazzles from your boss, maybe you aint even very happy with your work and look forward to a new job for the new year, well its all about perspective. Come to think of it, you may not need to quit that job, don’t forget, job hunting can be very exhausting, so me thinks it would be a great starting point if you can look at how best to make the best of the job you have now, the cup being half full could be a better starting point. I conducted a survey of CEOs and top executives career paths and hiring decisions. From the results, I identified traits, ideals and characteristics that successful leaders seek in developing their workforce and this could usher you into a more fulfilling career experience as we usher in the new year

Aim for Results
Leading the list, and cited by every single executive in the survey, was the fact that not producing measurable results on the job is the sure-fire way of ending your career rise, so change gear!

Passion is the Word.
“People float through life as if it were boring, drudgery or a nuisance – often complaining, yet never determining what would fulfill them,” noted a nonprofit director. Several CEOs commented that you’ll never be happy if you aren’t excited, interested, and enjoying what you do. The true key to success is discovering your inner passion and then finding a way to work in that arena.

Set Giant Goals.”
A key career stopper is setting your goals too low or not being willing to put in the time it takes to reach goals,” Believing ‘I could never do that.’ or, ‘they’ll never give me a raise.’ means it probably won’t happen.” Don’t pay any attention to those well-meaning naysayers who warn you that you can’t do it. Assume anything is possible, and then do it. Take risks, try new things, initiate and learn and grow from your mistakes. “Act and you shall achieve,” notes a CEO. “Then, reevaluate and draw up even loftier goals – that’s how you’ll do more than you ever thought possible.”

Money
A great salary doesn’t equate to happiness. The CEO of a prominent service company says, “A reality I’ve observed for most people – executive or staff – is that they realize money means very little if you are truly unhappy.” Job satisfaction is the No. 1 reason people elect to find a new job.

Positive Attitude.
It kills even the most talented,” said one top executive, who has observed many talented people rise and fall. The CEOs surveyed noted that “Nothing moves you ahead faster than the enthusiasm of a great can-do attitude.”

Avoid Gossiping and Office Politics.
I hate it when someone sabotages a superior to get ahead – that approach never works for long and really ends careers more than it makes them,” one CEO said. “Gossiping is an immediate termination in my company,” wrote another CEO, who’s headed several large corporations. So many top executives noted that these two activities will undermine, cripple and even destroy your career. Another executive wisely noted, “When you get enmeshed in gossiping or office politics, you forget about the goals, mission and getting the job done. It’ll lead to a lack of outcomes – a career killer every time.”

As we bring the curtain down on one year, it also ushers us into a new year, it’ll be very rewarding if you can take note of these points and work on them and till  you get the opportunity to read me in 2016, do have a great holiday!

By Nene Rasaq

Job search is not a bed of roses, when you think you’ve don’t all that is necessary, your potential employer seems to notice something out of the ordinary and boom, the opportunity slips. Job searches, much like first dates, are about giving the other party — in this case the employer — a once-over and presenting yourself in the best possible way. Also similar to first dates, job searches give you several opportunities to make a single mistake that is a real turnoff. You’re on your own when it comes to finding true love, but for staying in an employer’s good graces, we’ve got you covered. So put on your best clothes, style your hair and make sure you don’t make one of these job interview gaffes that are certain to turn off an employer:

Turnoff No. 1: Arriving too early for an interview
Arriving early is better than arriving late. However, from an interviewer’s perspective, arriving 45 minutes early and letting the receptionist know you’ve arrived is just as bothersome as showing up 45 minutes late. Checking in with the front desk five or even 15 minutes early is acceptable and shows the employer you’re punctual.

Turnoff No. 2: Letting your desperation show
Being unemployed can be one of the worst experiences a person goes through, and anyone who has been there understands that eventually you reach a point where you want to scream. No employer wants to hire a person whose primary concern is getting a paycheck, who sounds angry and who might quit the moment a better job comes along. Enthusiasm impresses an employer; desperation does not.

Turnoff No. 3: Being too aggressive with your follow-up
Enthusiasm wins over desperation every time. But pestering employers doesn’t just make you look desperate, it also annoys them. They don’t have time for so many distractions and eventually the first thing they’ll think of when they see your name is, “Oh, that’s the one who wouldn’t leave me alone.”

Turnoff No. 4: Talking trash about anyone
When employers hear you talk negatively about a past boss, they’re wont to think, “One day you’ll be talking that way about me.” You might forget that the same thoughts run through their mind when you talk about other organizations, too.

Turnoff No. 5: Lacking direction
You must have a career direction! Employers like to have some trust in their employees. If your résumé, cover letter or interview suggests that you have no goals, you are not an attractive candidate. If you don’t even know where you want your career to go, how can you know this job is for you? Employers like ambition because workers who have goals tend to care about their jobs and ultimately improve the business in some capacity.

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By Remi Ola-Samuel

Building A Business From Scratch Takes The Right Ingredients. African economy needs a serious diversification and expansion. Jobs are getting more and more difficult to get, the streets are littered with graduates from all fields and the employer database keeps shrinking. Job search can get really frustrating particularly when you fall into the online job seekers club where thousands of websites tell you to submit your vitae and after months, nothing seems forthcoming. We’ve been made to belief that starting your own business needs quite a whole lot of bucks but my experience says no and honestly it’s a No! You can start your own business, at your own pace and with what little you have, the most important thing would be putting the right ingredients, my mum says, ‘ti obe ko ba po, o ma ndun ni’! (starting small, makes sense overtime! Sorry, I’m Yoruba and needs to flaunt it!).

Every business has a why factor. There is a reason why someone starts a business. Whether they are following a passion, see a need that isn’t being met or something in between, there is always something that gets the process started.

Not every business has a how factor. This is the hardest step. A business has to answer how questions before it even starts. How will the business operate? How will it identify and attract customers? How will it scale? Often entrepreneurs know little about marketing, accounting and other business disciplines. Or they simply don’t know how much work it will actually take to be successful.

First and foremost, an entrepreneur has to have passion. Passion is what allows an entrepreneur to work long nights, be patient as the business grows and battle through adversity. As discussed earlier, a business must assess its goals and have a clear vision. Not only should a business know how it plans to succeed, it should know how it could possibly fail. Entrepreneurs can believe in their business too much. No business is fail-proof. There is always competition and obstacles that are visible from day one.

Once everything good and bad is identified, it’s time to start talking money. Many marriages fail because of arguments over money, and businesses are no different. A young company has to assess what it will spend its limited money on immediately, what it can wait to spend on later and what does not need to be considered. That office pool table may look cool, but not every business needs to, or even should, copy Google and buy it. Large purchases should be made later in the cycle of a business. Once a business is operational and starts making profits, expenses like rent and payroll are deductible as taxable income. Before then, though, they are just expenses. That’s why it’s important to delay many operational expenses.

Smart spending combined with bootstrapping – starting a business with the bare minimum costs – can put a young business in the best position to succeed. Most businesses don’t turn a profit immediately. Limiting costs, so a business can survive the lean months, is vital to success. These tips are just the beginning, but are a good start when considering whether or not to start a business from scratch. Anyway, as we all enter into this new year, start dreaming and walk thinking!