by Richard Foster

Created on: January 20, 2009

Success in any job comes down to individual responsibility. Having a self-employed attitude where every decision is important and should be treated with attention is crucial. The more responsibility you embrace the more likely you are to come out on top. Responsibility is defined in the broadest sense, so it is not just about specific tasks but more about personal involvement and commitment. Those that succeed, approach their roles with a healthy amount of personal investment.

Irrespective of the sector or level of work, the high achievers will be those that are able to deal effectively with problems. They will have a very positive attitude which overcomes the barriers and difficulties that lie ahead because it is not simply a function, but they understand the bigger picture of helping the business attain its long term goals. Their dedication is absolute and rarely wavers, and the instinct is always to make a significant contribution as it helps the cause.

In our working lives we have all met people who stand out from the crowd because of their great sense of enthusiasm, belief and confidence. Alternatively, we have also come across those workers who have little or no attachment to their work and display their attitude through cynicism and weariness. You cannot be in the cynical mold if you are self-employed, and the same is true for those employees who want to progress and develop.

Another guiding principle in succeeding in a job is the level of enjoyment and that will be influenced by the amount of time and energy invested by the individual. There are very few jobs which are naturally enjoyable and there will always be aspects of a role which are more of a struggle but the successful ones apply themselves to finish these parts of the job without complaining or whining because they understand what needs to be done. If you are self-employed you do not have any option but to complete such tasks or find a different way of approaching the problem. There is no room for passing the buck.

One of the reasons people choose self-employment is to give themselves greater freedom but ironically this is allied to an increase in responsibility as there is generally nowhere to hide and nobody to blame if things do not go according to plan. With the right mentality the chance of performing to the best of one's ability is greatly enhanced. By taking a self-employed attitude into a job personal success is much more likely.

Learn more about this author, Richard Foster.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.