Reliable is not boring

August marks my 17 years as an employee. Where I started my career, there were many who worked their whole life in the company and at that time, knowing of anyone who has worked 20 or 30 years made me go wow..that's a long time. But here I am now, 3 more years into my own 20 year mark :/

I didn't find the transition from school was hard. School was fun but I believe school always feels more fun after you leave it :P

Anyway, back to the topic today. Throughout my career I have probably had around 12 bosses (must have forgotten a few too when they really didn't make an impression..haha. we'll talk about bad bosses next time. I'm sure we've all had one). I want to talk about what I found common including for me as a leader today.

All bosses want reliable employees. By reliable I mean someone I can trust to deliver any task required, in good quality and on time. Someone who may not know 100% of everything but will ask and manage my expectations on timelines.

Opposite to this is someone whom cannot be trusted with deadlines. That I have to keep following up with and asking what is progress. Worst, someone who just keeps his or her head down until the work is overdue and come up with a million excuses why it wasn't done.

So you see, while being super intelligent, competent, innovative, proactive, high energy, diligent bla bla are qualities all bosses like to see, let's not forget the basic of just being plain old reliable. It creates trust and that believe me, is important to be happy at work. Trust is fundamental to empowerment and empowerment means freedom. Freedom means happiness.

So what's your reliability rating?

Confetti and such

You may say I've been on a blogging sabbatical. I know I know, there are those who tell me I have to be consistent to capture followers. That is undeniably very true. Some days I get carried away with the routine of everyday that I forgot how important this is to my future dream. The dream of early retirement and running my own business. What has it got to do with blogging you ask? Apparently, famous people are more successful in business....so I have a few more years to get famous!

I popped confetti in the air today. Me along with about 100 of our business partners. It was fun. Like those shower type fireworks, but of course a lot more tame. By business partners I don't mean the kind whom you co-invest in business with. Business partners here are business owners who work together with us to take our products to market, reach our customers and for many, are the face of our brand. The people who make or break us.

Whether you're working for a company or managing your own business where you depend on others to 'sell' your services, this post is relevant to you. I find this relationship is most fragile in most business. To reach that win win situation, a term so freely used actually takes a lot of hard work and consistency. Trust need to be built and honoured. Like all relationships, it can get personal as at the end of the day we are dealing with people. Loyalty is hard to gain but easy to lose.

And as in life, you cannot please everybody. Nevertheless, the common values (sometimes uncommon!) holds...sincerity, humility and willingness to listen. Ultimately of course, actions speak louder than words. Hence, promises need to be delivered. By both sides.

Choose the right partners but don't forget to also be the right one! Good night.