So, as we close out week number two of this year, we close out the week’s theme of going the extra mile. I wanted to write this blog on habits, and how we need to instill the habits of always going the extra mile to stay successful in our lives. But I scrapped that idea. Then I wanted to talk about the path of least resistance which is doing the least amount possible to just get by. That’s the opposite of going the extra mile. But again It was just not what I wanted to put out.
While I thought about both those ideas, I was talking with a friend online today about how many people are in a place of feeling hopeless. They ask, “What will it matter? How can I go an extra mile and expect success?
Put yourself in the worst shoes possible. You have lost your job and you cannot get any place to work other then be a greeter, or cashier at a local market or department store. How could you take your life and become a success by going the extra mile?
Well to start, you need to take the attitude of “I’m going to do more than is expected of me.” The idea is to go the extra mile without expecting a return. It’s like the movie, Pay It Forward, where a young man comes up with the idea to do something for someone who cannot do it for themselves. The concept of going the extra mile is similar to that. You cannot expect a return on the extra mile.
But over time if you were to give more to your family, be willing to give more in your community, then give more at your job – all with the attitude of going the extra mile – in time you will see the habits of always doing just a little bit more than expected will develop a pattern of success that will continue to grow. If you were in the job like the greeter, or person who gathers the carts at the supermarket, your actions of doing just a little more will make you shine to those who you work for. Soon they will offer you other places to use talents you have, then when an opening comes up you may be the one to get it. Or if you ever need a reference that boss who you did the exceptional job for when you didn’t have to will be there to help you with a reference.
This world if filled with stories of people who feel they are not paid what they believe they deserve. Bottom line is if you are working a job for someone else, chances are you are being paid less then you area really worth. In my eyes the only way to find the money you are worth is to build a business of idea for yourself.
The other thing you could do to go the extra mile for yourself when working a job like that, or any job, is to build an online income. It is not hard to build a store front, of wholsale business with sites like Amazon or eBay. That will allow you to build a blog or site in a niche that you could make money from. To work a side business will require you to work extra hours you are not paid for in the beginning. In the businesses that I own, I’ve spent many hours without pay to get them to the level they earned an income, let alone a living.
So with some minor changes to your life of doing just a little more, you can build a success out of life. While it takes time, this way will become steady, or increasing in value. So take this week and build a habit in 2012 of going the extra mile, do just a little more in everything you do.
I’m Tim Gillette, the Rocker Life Coach. It’s time to live your dream, to love what you do and those you share life with. Go the extra mile in all you do and become the RockStar in your world.
