Work Ethic

Nope - can't do exactly.

Good for the 81 year old - I hope that he's happy too.

In my world: Work ethic is gauged by the level of adversity that a person is internally motivated to overcome in order to accomplish things.

That effort may or may not result in financial success.

The strongest work ethic may result in little to no success if it is not accompanied by a certain amount of good fortune... or luck.

Conversely, the weakest work ethic may result in great financial success if luck abounds... however that is probably going to be short-lived success.

OK, enough BS... what's the real definition?

Warren Buffett is often cited in saying that the three essential qualities of an employee are integrity, intelligence, and energy, and that if the employee doesn't have the first trait the other two will kill you.?ÿ I think work ethic is a combination of the first and third traits.?ÿ I don't think intelligence enters into it.

If one has outstanding morals, ethics automatically falls into place. ?????ÿ

I don't understand how integrity enters into the list of characteristics related to work ethic.

I guess it depends on how you define integrity.

Consider the folks who have tunneled out of prison - I'd say they have a strong work ethic... integrity would have to be considered on a case by case basis.?ÿ

SWMBO. and I have agreed on the phrase "No work no eat" that we use to remind our children about the reality of life and to use their talents to make a living as much as possible.

Whatever you do, put your whole self into doing the best you are able to and never stop learning how to better yourself and to allow your best to be seen in your work.

Be proud.

The way I see it.?ÿ Some people are born with it or take it in by osmosis as they are surrounded by it in their home as a child.?ÿ Others develop it over time.?ÿ Some NEVER demonstrate any noticeable level of work ethic.

Some of the happiest people I have ever known have been the most dedicated workers at whatever it is they are out to accomplish, whether it be at work or as a volunteer or related to a hobby.

If we could clearly define the term, how would we go about instilling it in others?

Today there seems to be an endless supply of what I call entitlement cards.?ÿ Those lacking in work ethic tend to "play" or "show" their specific entitlement card(s) to excuse themselves from being expected to be contributors.?ÿ Meanwhile, a very high percentage of those who could play a specific entitlement card do not do so by choice.

Any excuse may be used to describe the entitlement.?ÿ Normally, it is someone else's fault.

I remember the speaker at a Human Resource Development course I attended touched on the topic of "employee work ethic".?ÿ And there were as many definitions as there were foreheads in the audience.?ÿ I don't recall if the speaker ever defined what he though work ethic really meant, but he had some really good examples of adherence to discipline as applied to work.?ÿ I remember a number of people equated employer provided pay amounts or increases as an indication of a good work ethic.?ÿ The speaker was quick to shoot down any theories that paid recompense had anything to do with a work ethic.

One example was of a person that held a low paying and menial job.?ÿ This person's finances wouldn't allow the luxury of "eating out" for lunch and only allowed cold leftovers as a noon meal.?ÿ I think the speaker's example centered around the figure of 1 or 2 dollars a day that this employee "didn't spend" on lunch.

Then he went through the math of daily saving that two bucks and some other loose change along the way and applied it all to an interest bearing account.?ÿ After about 20 years of scrounging two bucks at a whack the speaker showed how a dismal amount of pocket change could be nurtured into a tidy sum.?ÿ

Then the speaker begged an answer to the question;?ÿ "Did this employee show a good work ethic?"?ÿ His methodically saving small amounts of his pay actually gives no evidence of whether his work ethic was poor or stellar.?ÿ One person in the audience noted the employee might be considered to have a "good work ethic" if the same discipline used to save money was applied to the job.

Then the speaker asked, "If the employee applied that discipline to his job but not his personal life, would you still consider it a good work ethic?"?ÿ ?ÿThe answers from the audience varied.

The speaker was quick to point out, in his opinion, that would make the employee a fool.?ÿ He was, after all, just an employee.

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Posted by: @holy-cow

Can anyone define exactly what that means?

Perhaps we all have a different view of what a work ethic is.?ÿ Adjectives such as poor, good, strong. weak frequently are placed ahead of the word work.?ÿ It seems logical that we would wish to employee people who possess and demonstrate a good or strong work ethic, if we knew how to define the term.

To me, a good or strong work ethic is one where the individual goes above and beyond what is essential at all times, or nearly so.?ÿ Sometimes this only applies to their personal aspirations and not to their work functions.?ÿ Does that then reduce the adjective that should be applied?

I am currently working on a survey for a fellow who is 81 years young.?ÿ He works harder and longer days than nearly everyone half his age.?ÿ He was apparently born with that mindset.?ÿ It has nothing to do with a need to produce an income.?ÿ He owns farm land worth in excess of $10 million and it is all paid for.?ÿ He probably has another $5 million in net assets.?ÿ His one son has probably half as much land and other assets and no debt.?ÿ The son has the same work ethic as his father.?ÿ But, they are self-employed.?ÿ It might be different if they were employees somewhere, but I doubt it.

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Several years ago my wife had a patient come in for a physical.?ÿ He was 80 years old.?ÿ She asked him when he had last been to a doctor and he said about 20 or 30 years ago.?ÿ She said his vital signs were all good and he showed no signs of any illness.?ÿ She asked him if he was retired and he said no.?ÿ "Why should I retire, I like what I do."?ÿ He was an electrical engineer who worked in this country for six months and year and then went to Argentina to work for six months a year.

Andy

Work Ethic - Doing a good job, even when no one is looking.

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@dougie

Thanks Dougie -  Forgot all about that. Gonna re-read it for the 6th or 7th time!  ???? 

@flga

Always inspirational!

My work ethic came from my father "I gave you a job, now don't come home until it is done MY WAY"! ?????ÿ

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I can't define it but (in my opinion) I know it when I see it.

James

Posted by: @jaro

I can't define it but (in my opinion) I know it when I see it.

James

Potter Stewart

Great quote that is applicable to MANY "things" (scenarios, concepts, evidence, etc.)

Posted by: @jkinak

That effort may or may not result in financial success.

The strongest work ethic may result in little to no success if it is not accompanied by a certain amount of good fortune... or luck.

Conversely, the weakest work ethic may result in great financial success if luck abounds... however that is probably going to be short-lived success.

This. There is a lot of BS out there about the amount of influence that a single person has over their success as defined by the majority of society. Work ethic is a necessary but not sufficient condition for success.

The "self-made man (or woman)" is a myth. Heck, even one of the most motivated and celebrated Americans with a classic rags-to-riches story (and an immigrant-making-good story to boot) does not subscribe to that bogus theory - Arnold Schwarzenegger.

And I would argue that a society which measures personal/societal worth by financial worth is itself worthless.

Having a work ethic is great. Having ethics is even better. Having both is best and required if one wants to achieve success, although it is not guaranteed.

Why exactly do we rush around doing most of what we do?

Posted by: @dave-karoly

Why exactly do we rush around doing most of what we do?

I don't "rush around", it takes what it takes; at my speed; I don't keep track of my time.

Those that do; do it for money$